"SAVE YOUR SATURDAY NIGHTS"
Coach Earl said during the intro with a huge grin.
As a parent, that's all you ever do to keep as much sleep as you can.
But Surfcuit is one of a kind. It's been six hours since the session and I'm still stuffing my face out of hunger while writing this.
Last night, I stayed up late cooing my daughter to sleep and I quickly felt the effects of losing a good night's rest while going through the program.
I can only imagine what would be left of me after a night of hardcore partying. I'd probably pass out. In the water. And drown a bit.
Surfcuit is a gruelling four hour intensive training program that pushed the known limits of my endurance in the water and on a buoyant board.
I don't think I've ever paddled so much at one go in my life. Not even while eating white water on a bad day at sea.
Our first round, we were made to paddle 10 laps wall to wall. By the end of the first session, we would have paddled 400 meters in the span of four hours.
After being out of the water for years, my arms were burning halfway through the first exercise.
(all smiles despite the pain)
(zig zag paddling exercises)
After each paddling exercise, we were treated to a 20 minute cycle of continuous waves. I thought I could finally get stoked.
After a few attempts at trying to catch my own waves, I was exhausted.
You see, fresh water is less buoyant than sea water. Waves generated by a wave pool are much harder to catch. Position and timing are everything. Your committed paddling may not be enough to get you an actual ride.
A few rounds of tips from former graduates and encouragement from the coaches, I was able to catch my own waves. And it was true, position and timing over frantic paddling. But once I got to relax, my paddles were deeper and harder. And I really did feel the difference in the push.
During breaks, we were required to do a variation of paddling exercises including steering, pivoting and eskimo rolls.
This really showed me in what areas I needed improvement in. Personally, my eskimo rolls look like a recipe for disaster in the water.
Despite the fatigue, we were all smiles, stoked from our rides and satisfied with how we pushed the limits of our endurance. The coaches' laid back demeanors definitely lightened the mood.
(coachly advice to a student)
After four cycles of continuous waves and more paddling in between, the session ended at 5:00pm. By the end of it, I had some form of gratification but a whole new excitement of what I needed to improve in my surfing.
Day one of Surfcuit and I already know the problem with my stance, steering and paddling just in a matter of hours.
All in all, the intensity and the pain were worth it. I'm still smiling now while reviewing the pictures. Can't wait for next week.
(class picture with the coaches)
vaporwave
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