Does Surf Skating Help Your Surfing?
If you’ve ever watched someone glide around on a surfskate and thought “That looks fun, but does it actually help in the water?” – you’re not alone. It’s a question most intermediate surfers wrestle with at some point. And the short answer? Yes – if you use it the right way.
Surfskate = On-Land Reps for Real Surfing
What makes surfskating unique isn’t just the styling or fluid turns – it’s the spring-loaded front truck, which allows movement patterns that mimic real surfing far more closely than a regular skateboard. You're not just cruising; you're training:
- Compression and extension mechanics (the rhythm behind speed generation)
- Head–shoulders–hips coordination (crucial for flowing through turns)
- Front-foot pressure and leading the turn
The real benefit? Unlike in the ocean, where you might only get a few chances to try something during a session, the surfskate lets you repeat key movements over and over – without waiting for waves, paddling back out, or fighting for position.
Coaches – and Pros – Use It Too
Ten years ago, some of the world’s best surf coaches were already using surfskates as a cross-training tool. Whether it’s learning how to bottom turn with your head and shoulders, or breaking bad habits like “pumping” with your arms, surfskating builds the neural and muscular patterns you actually want when you drop into a wave.
And it’s not just for pros. If you’re an intermediate surfer struggling to generate speed, hold your rail through turns, or even just balance confidently, a surfskate is a powerful tool to build the muscle memory you need.
But Only If You’re Practicing the Right Things
That said, surfskating can hurt your surfing if you reinforce poor technique. Just going out and “wiggling” around the streets might look cool, but if you’re not practicing surf-relevant mechanics – like proper stance, compression, timing – you’re more likely to groove in bad habits.
How TRAX Makes Surfskating Actually Work
Here’s where TRAX takes this to the next level. Instead of guessing what you should work on, TRAX analyzes your surfing session – turn angles, weight distribution, flow – and tells you exactly what needs improvement.
From there, TRAX connects those insights to tailor-made drills you can practice on your surfskate. No more vague advice or wondering if you’re “doing it right.” Whether it’s loading your front foot more, extending more cleanly through a cutback, or cleaning up your entry into a bottom turn, TRAX gives you surfskate-specific exercises that actually match your surfing goals.
So yeah – surf skating can absolutely help your surfing. But surfskating with intention? That’s where the real progression happens.
How to Do a Cutback – Apply what you learn on land to this key surfing maneuver.
Why Surfing Is So Damn Hard – And why tools like surf skates can help shorten the learning curve.
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