Here’s a simple plan you can add to your flat water training to help you improve your OC1 downwind surf skills:
- Brace Stroke: Practice flying your ama at the beginning and end of every session. You should have two goals in mind: lean right out of the canoe, putting all your weight on your paddle, and lift and hold the ama off the water for 10 seconds with complete control.
- Acceleration: Take 10-15 strokes at the fastest tempo you can manage. Repeat this 5 times on one side, pushing yourself to move a little quicker each time. Take a break in between each effort to allow your nervous system to recover and adapt, then switch sides and repeat it again.
- Tempo Changes: Alternate between 5 slow strokes (40-50 per minute), 5 fast strokes (70-80 strokes per minute), then 5 slow strokes again. Focus on smooth transitions and a big change in tempo between fast powerful strokes for acceleration, and slower strokes for glide. Ultimately you want to be conditioned to repeat the changes in tempo and power without fatiguing so you can link waves for the entire downwind run.
- Weighted Ama: For an advanced challenge, place a weight on your ama and practice paddling as if you’re leaning to the right, unweighting your left glute. This will help you master balance and stability but only attempt this after you’ve perfected your brace stroke (and huli recovery!).
See the Results for Yourself
The paddlers I coach who develop these specific skills in flat water consistently see improvements in their downwind paddling. This isn’t about practicing in the surf; it’s about laying a strong foundation in easy conditions. Practicing these skills separately from actually surfing has made me and the paddlers I coach stronger and more stable on the water, which leads to faster downwind paddling.
By applying the concept of “practicing hard moves in easy water,” you’ll set yourself up for success at next year’s Gorge Downwind Champs!
Read Part 1 – Sharpen Your OCI Downwind Skills by Practicing on Flat Water