I started surfing last season to improve my wave sailing and have more time on water when there is no wind. Came to a point where i can catch and popup on most waves with a longboard but looks like it is a slow progression to reach a level where my wave sailing would benefit from.
Then i got a surfskate 3 months ago to practice surfing and wing foiling on land while i was back home, before going to ocean waves again. Quickly got to a point where i can link frontside and backside pumping and climb uphill, mimicing bottom and top turns after getting the feeling of pump timing.
Now i am at wave spot again and can feel massive improvement at my top turns; last time i was just carving at top turns, using the sail a lot to steer, but now i can pump the back foot and do proper top turns, being able to do faster rotations this way gave me the confidence to climb higher to peaks and chose more vertical approaches. First time feeling the pocket throwing me back down the wave was a great feeling, especially in smaller waves its more obvious the fun i can get compared to last time.
I didn't feel much improvement in surfing though, i am not at a level where i can do good enough backside riding to able to feel any difference, frontside may be different story but didn't try any lefts yet.
I would highly recommend to people with no or little wave riding experience. It looks really fun if you have a bowl or a skatepark around, and if you don't (like me) flat land is still a good workout.
Which one did you get and size.
I've been riding my sons 28 its a bit small but heaps of fun.Wish I had one
20 yrs ago.
I have this one;
yowsurf.com/yowsurf/yow-pipe-32-surfskate/
Wanted to get chiba model as it has a wider deck but it was not available and this worked great for me as i am a small guy (165cm). 32" deck length and front track being close to the nose allows a wide stance closer to surfing stance even for me, so yes 28" may be too short for comfortable stance for most men (for surf practice). Keep in mind wheel base is olso important for stance, you don't want your front foot in front of the front track.
Yow was top of my list as they're not made in China.
Christmas present for me when it goes flat over summer.
Echo that, learning to wavesail and a surfskate helped. Sold it though as so many people injured hands, wrists and shoulders
I use a Smoothstar Toledo with Oranga Love Handles, great Board which really helps me to improve my surfing. Used it also a couple of times in the skate pool but therefore a Carver CX feels a bit more comfy. Due to risk of injury I've stopped pool skating.
Surfsk8 beginners. Infinity loops are challenging unless on a smooth, zero slope surface. First board YOW Meraki. Only other board. Loaded Bolsa with Carver CX. Short and small feet (mondo 25). It fits me fine. YOW lacks concave. Too soft for most RipTide bushings and pivot cups on the Bolsa. Switchout the std 4Presidents for the Orangatang Love Handles due to wheel bite with the larger diameter 4Ps.
Prefer the Carver CX over the YOW spring loaded system. Simpler, less maintenance, more versatile. Change out the bushings and/or torque to tune for riding needs of the day. Radical sharp to cruising carving.
Beginner longboard surfing back in the mid to late 90'. Nothing really locally. No nice break up here unless you like real cold and a road trip.
For selecting board consider: Your natural stance distance, axle to axle wheelbase (not truck mounting bolt dimensions), width needs, concave. Choice of brand and model of trucks? Can become a touchy subject. Wheels and bearings. Another sensitive topic. My bias. Most boards lack sufficient concave. Wish boards had a front foot pocket/nose kick like tail does. Boards that look like surfboards (pintails, swallow tails...) are not ideal for surfs8. Check out Shane Lai YTube Channels for reviews and tutorials. Still looking for the "perfect" board.
Can any of these function with pneumatic tires? Our local tarmac makes my feet numb after 20 minutes and the noise is annoying.
Had consider a mountain board but they turn like a barge on tarmac.
I bought a Smoothstar to improve my surfing, to try and improve my wave sailing (back in the COVID lock down days). Definitely a big fan, after getting the basic pumping skills progressed to bottom turn top turn links which definitely helped my surfing. Decided to then teach myself riding goofy for wave sailing in WA, wow that was an experience, it has helped me but in a different way to the surf board. Enjoyed riding it so much I ended up getting a Sector 9 Long Board as well, long carving fun.
It just looks like a skateboard to me, not sure how it would improve anyone's wavesailing, the hard surface isn't moving or popping up in sections, there's no sail to use, stance is different. Feel free to convince me.
Select to expand quoteR1DER said..
It just looks like a skateboard to me, not sure how it would improve anyone's wavesailing, the hard surface isn't moving or popping up in sections, there's no sail to use, stance is different. Feel free to convince me.
The axis construction is different to normal skateboards which makes it more turny. You can check out YOW Meraki, Carver C7 or Smoothstar Thruster just to mention a few different systems. The market is big, the difference between Boards is big too and you have to try a lot to find your personal setup. This has kept me busy for a while.
For me it improves surfing e.g. generating speed, build up and train motion patterns for bottom turn, roundhouse cut backs what ever, not wavesailing at first sight.
For wavesailing, the first thing people will learn on a surfskate is to bend their knees when initiate bottom turning. They will quickly understand what it means for turning if they stay small or tall. Every day on the beach I see 80% of the people wasting numbers of waves with crappy bottom turns because they are not bending their knees, bring their weight into the right position to push the rail into the wave. 
Select to expand quoteGrantmac said..
Can any of these function with pneumatic tires? Our local tarmac makes my feet numb after 20 minutes and the noise is annoying.
Had consider a mountain board but they turn like a barge on tarmac.
Probably not. Had an MBS mountainboard. Have an Evolve GTR electric board with pneumatics. Neither as they are set up could be pumped.
The truck design, geometry is what allows for easy pumping. Wheel size, contact area, and duro effect pumping efficiency. Personally wouldn't use a wheel larger than 69-70mm and contact over 53mm.
I surfsk8 barefoot. Really dislike some of your "seal coated" (hot tar with crushed rock packed smooth) roads. Can shake your teeth off. The vibrations are irritating to the soles of the feet. Resorted to wearing a pair of Vibram 5Fingers when skating rough surfaces. The compromise for feel vs. discomfort on rougher surfaces. Plus there is always that one pebble that sends you. On the Es8 with the pneumatics it's a sweet surface. I prefer the smoothest surface possible for surfsk8.
I think it can be a great cross over, I used to wake and snowboard on twin tips and plenty of time riding switch to get better at Port tack wave riding.
Check out the board in the music video 
Select to expand quoteOldGuy3 said..Grantmac said..
Can any of these function with pneumatic tires? Our local tarmac makes my feet numb after 20 minutes and the noise is annoying.
Had consider a mountain board but they turn like a barge on tarmac.
Probably not. Had an MBS mountainboard. Have an Evolve GTR electric board with pneumatics. Neither as they are set up could be pumped.
The truck design, geometry is what allows for easy pumping. Wheel size, contact area, and duro effect pumping efficiency. Personally wouldn't use a wheel larger than 69-70mm and contact over 53mm.
I surfsk8 barefoot. Really dislike some of your "seal coated" (hot tar with crushed rock packed smooth) roads. Can shake your teeth off. The vibrations are irritating to the soles of the feet. Resorted to wearing a pair of Vibram 5Fingers when skating rough surfaces. The compromise for feel vs. discomfort on rougher surfaces. Plus there is always that one pebble that sends you. On the Es8 with the pneumatics it's a sweet surface. I prefer the smoothest surface possible for surfsk8.
I'd be using it with a wing, so less concerned about efficiency.
Select to expand quoteHanstholm said..R1DER said..
It just looks like a skateboard to me, not sure how it would improve anyone's wavesailing, the hard surface isn't moving or popping up in sections, there's no sail to use, stance is different. Feel free to convince me.
The axis construction is different to normal skateboards which makes it more turny. You can check out YOW Meraki, Carver C7 or Smoothstar Thruster just to mention a few different systems. The market is big, the difference between Boards is big too and you have to try a lot to find your personal setup. This has kept me busy for a while.
For me it improves surfing e.g. generating speed, build up and train motion patterns for bottom turn, roundhouse cut backs what ever, not wavesailing at first sight.
For wavesailing, the first thing people will learn on a surfskate is to bend their knees when initiate bottom turning. They will quickly understand what it means for turning if they stay small or tall. Every day on the beach I see 80% of the people wasting numbers of waves with crappy bottom turns because they are not bending their knees, bring their weight into the right position to push the rail into the wave.
Yep I agree, I ended up naturally compressing into the turn and extending out where as previously I was consciously having to think about it. For wave sailing goofy I started connecting rotation (eyes, shoulders, hips) and applying better heel toe foot movements, balance between the feet into turns.
I think a paddle surf board is more similar and appropriate to improve your windsurfing in waves. smoothstar skates will indisputably improve your soul surfing... keep using it... surfing is not easy
That's awesome! I personally had no idea that we could slide on hard ground. Then got a set of wheels made to slide (there are different hardness) and was able to practice my moves during covid!
