Why Video Analysis Will Rapidly Improve Your Surfing - Surf Sistas

We keep lots of tools up our wetsuit sleeves to help women joining our surf courses progress with their surfing - from small-ratio coaching, drills, and technical feedback to creating a safe, positive, and supportive atmosphere that empowers you on your surfing journey.

One key tool that we think is a real game changer, and you may not have considered, is video analysis of your surfing. If you’ve ever watched yourself surf on video, chances are you’ve had one of two reactions:

1) You might be surprised by how different your surfing looks compared to how it felt, OR 2) You may have wished the ground would open up and swallow you out of sheer embarrassment - and that’s totally normal. No matter your level, cringing at footage of yourself is almost always guaranteed.

But if you move past the inner critic there are 4 key reasons why we think video analysis is a game changer and why we always include it on our Surf Sistas Courses & Retreats. 

1. Bridge the Gap Between Feeling & Reality

When you're in the water, everything happens fast. Even if you've just received tips on the beach, chances are, the moment you go to catch a wave, everything you've learnt slips your mind.

Instead you make split-second unconscious decisions based on instinct and muscle memory. And what felt like a smooth cutback back to the pocket, might actually have been a small wiggle. That monstrous wave you thought was towering over you? Might have not been so big and scary.

Watching yourself surf strips away any guesswork. You see exactly what you’re  doing compared to what you think you’re doing.

With our video feedback, we’ll guide you to first replicate the movement you're currently making, and then practice the movement you want to be making. For example, with a cutback, it might be as simple as exaggerating the opening of your shoulder and holding your line a little longer. By building that muscle memory through video coaching and dry-land practice, you'll be able to bring that improved feeling back into the water.

2. Spot Technical Mistakes You Can’t Feel

You may have got in a rut with you surfing? Perhaps your pop-up has become a little too wobbly, this could be because you’re making the same mistakes without even realising. Common mistakes can be bending at the waist instead of the knees or looking down when you pop-up, you might not even realise you are doing these things.

Video analysis allows you (or your coach) to pause, rewind, and slow things down to identify issues frame by frame. This lets you focus on one specific correction at a time. You might even have a few lightbulb moments - like, "Yes, I remember that wipeout!" or "oh, that’s why that keeps happening"

3. You can use it to help visualise your surfing

Watching yourself (and other surfers) perform manoeuvres can help create a mental image you can then visualise in the water. Sometimes it’s really hard to visualise something you’re being taught on the beach and it’s often easier to consolidate when you see someone else do it in the surf.

When we teach our video sessions, we’ll often compare your footage alongside examples from other surfers doing the same manoeuvre. This can highlight exactly what needs fine tuning; whether it’s timing, positioning, or building confidence. 

A common surfer we refer to on our Longboard Weekends is Josie Prendergast (we’re super fans!) she effortlessly demonstrates all sorts of manoeuvres which we use as a visual aid when we’re teaching longboarders how to develop their technique or try something new. 

4. It builds your understanding of how to read waves

Surfing well isn’t just about physical ability - it’s about reading waves, positioning yourself correctly and anticipating how the wave is going to peel and how you flow once you’re up and riding. Effective wave reading can up your wave count and save you a lot of paddle energy. Video analysis is as helpful with this aspect of surfing as it is with making adjustments to your body.

You might notice you’re always too far on the shoulder when you paddle into waves or you’re missing the best sections. The more videos you see of yourself on different waves, the more you build your “bank of wave knowledge” meaning the next time you rock up to a spot you can tune into how the waves are breaking and where you need to position yourself to catch them and maximise your ride. 

So while it can be a little humbling to watch yourself surf, we think Video Analysis is an amazing tool. Whether you’re trying to develop something more technical or just refine your style or surf with more flow. 

If you’ve not got someone to film you or you need some support paddling out join one of our Beginner, Improver or Longboard courses to receive conscientious coaching and video analysis.

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