By Marcelo Matos - On the cover photo: Slater in a very early version of Surf Skate 

There are many different systems and brands of skates to imitate surfing movements, of those I know I feel that Carver is the one that offers the best results for what I will explain later.

It is also important to understand what a Surf Skate can and cannot help you with.

What is the difference between surfing and surfskating?

Beyond the obvious fact that one is on concrete and the other on water, these being opposite surfaces, there are a few points to take into account.

CONS:

1 - The stance on Surf Skate is always narrower than on the board.

2 - Properly used surf skating is based on pivoting with the front track while the board (properly used) should pivot with the back foot.

3 - In many cases (and I can't explain why, but it happens) the skater and the surfer don't stop the same way. I've seen it hundreds of times where they surf with one foot forward on the board and the other on the skate (there are goofballs on skate who are average at surfing, like Noa Deane).

4 - No matter how many times you practice something on a ramp, surfing has that magical factor that each wave is different (and don't tell me that the pool is blah blah blah), so automating a movement from start to finish is not so advisable since the art of surfing is based 200.000% on improvisation, reading the wave and instinct, and not on repeating a movement as if it were a routine.

But not everything is dark about four wheels, if used well it can have its positive points.

IN FAVOR:

1 - If the body gets used to executing certain movements or postures before other movements, and we practice them alternately in different situations, our brain will be able to understand and visualize some movements before they are executed and thus send the correct signal to the muscles that execute them.

2 – Although a routine is not recommended, there are very basic movements that are extremely difficult to practice in the water due to the short amount of effective time we are on the board, for example the pump, drive or acceleration, as you like to call it and above all, the “master move” which we will talk about later.

3 - Although the carving or pump movement for right-handed goofies (another long topic to talk about) would be easier and more effective in the carver (as I said before because the energy is translated more from the front foot), the regular right-hander (who tends to pump with the back foot) will have to adapt his position and weight a little further forward and that is where he benefits since it is usually the Achilles tendon of the regulars (almost always having the weight very far back, which is an advantage sometimes and a disadvantage at other times).

4 - And now, speaking of the “master move” (upper torso movement, including arms, shoulders, chest, etc.) that precedes almost all maneuvers, it is a very good way to practice this movement, especially for maneuvers that require several steps such as the cutback, the round house or the backside bottom turn.

On Kelly's remarks:

About what Kelly said (“stop kookearing”), I agree that you can see anyone exaggerating movements and know that they are training with a surf skate, and that is where you have to be careful, moving your arms does not make you execute the maneuver. The order has to come together with the “why”, it is not enough to tell someone “move your arms like a choreography”, because in surfing, from the first hair on your head (not in Kelly’s case), to the last millimeter of your board, including the leash you drag, there are factors that enter into the equation of a maneuver (some more and some less), because everything is connected.

Of course, Kelly can probably feel the difference between a thinner leash and another, or the angle of the fins or 1/16 in the thickness of a board, not all are equally sensitive and not even that depends on the level, but it is important to understand that when executing a maneuver everything is connected and it is not just one movement that determines the result.

On the other hand, the Russian clarifies that this method has helped him personally and that is very valid, he also clarifies that he does not believe himself to be the best coach in the world, although he is wrong when he says that he has 100.000 followers, which I am not sure means anything when it comes to whether a method is effective or not.

In order to have a more thorough opinion on his method, I would have to see it, and honestly, I'd rather go into the water.

I also want to clarify that this is a personal opinion, feel free to disagree, feel free to decide for yourself what works best for you.

Now yes! I'm going into the water!