**Improve Your Speed and Momentum at Surfing**

Beginner's Guide to Surfing: Improving Your Speed and Momentum

Are you new to the world of surfing? You've probably heard that catching waves is all about timing and balance, but did you know that there are specific drills and techniques that can help you improve your speed and momentum on the surfboard? In this beginner's guide, we'll explore some effective practice drills to help you catch more waves, pop up faster, and ride longer.

Example Scenario: Catching a Small Wave

Let's say you're at the beach with an experienced surfer who wants to teach you how to catch small waves. They show you how to paddle out to the lineup, wait for the right wave, and then explosively pop up to your feet. As you're catching your first few waves, they ask you to try a drill called "The Snap".

Drill 1: The Snap

The Snap is a fundamental technique that helps you catch waves by snapping your hips out of the water quickly. Here's how to do it:

1. Stand in the lineup with your surfboard facing the wave.
2. As the wave starts to lift you up, explosively snap your hips down towards the board, using your legs and core muscles to generate power.
3. Keep your arms relaxed and let them swing naturally behind you.
4. As you snap your hips, your body should be in a slightly forward lean, with your weight centered over the board.

Repeat this drill several times, focusing on exploding out of the water quickly and using your entire body to generate speed. With practice, you'll start to feel more comfortable catching waves and build up your momentum.

Improving Your Speed

To improve your speed while surfing, you need to focus on quick movements and explosive power. Here are a few drills that can help:

1. Paddle Drill: Paddle the ocean out to the lineup at high intensity for 10-15 seconds. Focus on keeping your body straight and your arms in line with the board.
2. Catch-and-Ride Drill: Find a small wave that's not too crowded, and paddle out to it. As you get closer to the wave, explosively pop up to your feet and ride the wave all the way to shore.

Increasing Your Momentum

Momentum is key to surfing - it's what allows you to keep moving forward even when the wave starts to lift you up. Here are a few drills that can help increase your momentum:

1. Paddle-and-Ride Drill: Paddle out to the lineup and then explosively ride the wave for 10-15 seconds.
2. Pop-Up Drill: Find a small wave, paddle out to it, and then quickly pop up to your feet using a combination of hip snaps and arm swings.

Practice Drills for Speed and Momentum

In addition to these drills, there are several other practice sessions that can help you improve your speed and momentum:

1. Running with the Current: Find a spot in the lineup where the current is strong, and paddle out at high intensity for 10-15 seconds. Focus on keeping your body straight and your arms in line with the board.
2. Kicking Drills: Kicking can help increase your power and speed when paddling or popping up to your feet. Try kicking drills like "Kicking with Your Legs" or "Kicking with Your Arms".
3. Riding a Slab: Find a spot on the beach where you can ride a small wave all the way to shore, using momentum to carry you forward.

By incorporating these practice drills into your surfing routine, you'll be able to improve your speed and momentum in no time. Remember to always stay safe, listen to your body, and most importantly, have fun! Here is the information in a table format for easier comparison:

Drill 1: The Snap

Step	Description
1	Stand in the lineup with surfboard facing wave
2	Explosively snap hips down towards board, using legs and core muscles to generate power
3	Keep arms relaxed, letting them swing naturally behind you
4	As wave starts to lift up, explosively snap hips again

Improving Speed

Drill	Focus Area	Intensity
Paddle Drill (10-15 seconds)	Paddling out to lineup at high intensity	High
Catch-and-Ride Drill	Finding small wave, paddling out, and popping up to shore	Medium-High

Increasing Momentum

Drill	Focus Area	Intensity
Paddle-and-Ride Drill (10-15 seconds)	Paddling out to lineup, riding wave for 10-15 seconds	High-Medium
Pop-Up Drill	Finding small wave, paddling out, and quickly popping up to feet	Medium-High

Practice Drills for Speed and Momentum

Drill	Focus Area	Intensity
Running with Current (10-15 seconds)	Paddling out in lineup with strong current	High-Medium
Kicking Drills (Kicking with Legs or Arms)	Increasing power and speed while paddling or popping up to feet	Medium-High
Riding a Slab (Riding wave all the way to shore)	Using momentum to carry forward across beach	Low-Medium

Note: The intensity levels are subjective and can vary depending on individual surfing abilities and preferences.