Whether you’re a beginner or have surfed for a while, pumping is a crucial element to surfing that even advanced surfers recognize is one of the most important skills to learn and master. It’s often the first “trick” many surfers learn since you need to know how to pump in order to do other, more advanced tricks. Think of it as a base for everything else, like learning how to push a skateboard fast and hard. Pumping is a very similar thing, and once you get it down, everything else becomes much more possible.
What is pumping?
Pumping is a surfing technique that has a lot to do with the motion of your feet against the board. It’s a heel-toe, heel-toe motion that allows you to build speed while you’re traversing a wave. It’s really important that you maintain this motion against your board if you want to stay connected to a wave and to continue a speed that allows you to stay upright and not topple over. If you’re a beginner, it’s definitely the best thing to learn right off the bat since you’ll need to be able to pump effortlessly once you start learning more advanced maneuvers. Overall, pumping enhances your surfing experience and is a foundational skill every surfer should be able to perform.
Basic Principles of Pumping
Your body position and balance are the basics here: you should be at a low stance with your knees bent always, distributing your weight equally on both feet at first. Hold your arms out to maintain better balance, and try not to look downwards but up and forward. Looking down means you’re going down!
Timing is crucial, too. If you start pumping too fast, the momentum won’t hold: try imagining your board is part of the wave, and the feeling of the wave rolling underneath your board should indicate your timing. Faster, larger waves mean you need to be pumping harder and faster, while smaller waves don’t need as much physical force. Smaller waves are a better place to start when you’re just learning how to pump.
The Pumping Motion
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of what, exactly, you’re doing physically while you’re pumping:
- First, start from a crouched position.
- Push down on your right foot to gain speed.
- Release and rise slightly with your knees and your ankles to reduce drag.
- Repeat the motion in rhythm with the wave.
Some common mistakes that you want to avoid are over-pumping, standing too tall, and losing balance and control. Don’t be afraid to crouch lower than you think you need to!
Practicing Pumping on Small Waves
When it comes to catching wave and getting to the point of pumping, Hanalei Surf School can help. You need to choose the right conditions to begin learning how to pump. Smaller waves are an ideal size for beginners since the pull of the tide and the strength of the wave will be a lot more forgiving. Catching huge waves when you’re still a beginner is a recipe for wiping out and risking an injury. For your first surf trick, keep it chill and simple with a small beach and low waves. If you keep on wiping out even in calm waters, try practicing the same motions you need to do in the water on land, with your board on the sand. Getting the feeling of the motion down without the stress of catching a wave will help you in the long run.
Hopefully, you’ve learned a thing or two about pumping! It’s a super important technique to master, and the earlier you get it down, the smoother your surfing will be. Once you can catch huge waves and keep the pump going, you’ll be unstoppable in the water!