In Episode 4 of Surf Simply’s animated exploration of surf science, we explain how to improve your progress rate by understanding what is the best functional volume for your surfing level using Surf Simply’s Volume to Weight Calculator and Tree of Knowledge.
Use the Surf Simply calculator here:
Www.surfsimply.com/volume-to-weight-calculator/
Use the Surf Simply Tree of Knowledge here:
https://surfsimply.com/tree-of-knowledge/
This episode was written by Surf Simply Coaching Director Harry Knight, and animated and edited by Surf Simply Coach Will Forster.
Season 1 will cover 4 episodes over the next 4 weeks:
Ep1: Understanding Speed and Grip
Ep2: Generating Speed and Grip
Ep3: What is Surfboard Volume
Ep4: Using an Online Volume to Weight Calculator
Transcript:
In this video we are going to learn how to use the Surf Simply online Volume to Weight Calculator, along side the Surf Simply Tree of Knowledge to determine both your surfing level, and the suitable surfboard volume that will help you to either learn a new skill, or perfect existing ones.
For this chart, we’ve decided to use percentages to describe the ratio between a surfer’s weight in kilograms, and surfboard volume in liters. We think this is the most intuitive way to express these ratios. As an example, an 80kg surfer riding a 40L board would have a ratio of 50%, while a 40kg surfer on the same 40L board would have a ratio of 100%.
There are 2 important things to understand before you start using this chart:
1. This chart will not tell you what size board you should ride. It will tell you the smallest board that is practical for developing the most common surf skills. Riding a board smaller than suggested is not impossible, but will result in slower progress for a variety of reasons.
2. Remember that with the correct technique and timing, any board can be used to perform almost any maneuver and that bigger boards are often helpful when learning new skills. Perhaps surprisingly for Levels 1-3, boards with ratios of 200% or higher are still completely functional (as demonstrated by SUP or petite longboarders.
To begin using the Surf Simply Volume to Weight Calculator, first you need your weight in Kilograms, as this will make the most sense should you want to know your own percentage.
We use a level system from level 1 to level 4. This can be acquired by using the Surf Simply Tree of Knowledge, and looking for the area of skills you are working on.
For example, if you are new to the sport, then within Level 1 you will see skills such as Standing up in the Whitewater or Stalling and Accelerating, where as if you are learning to Cutback on an Unbroken wave, then you will see that this skill is introduced within Level 3.
Now you have the components needed to determine your minimum functional volume need to progress through these levels.
So, to find that volume, let’s look at the Volume to Weight online calculator. First, find your weight on the Y axis, and then up to your determined surfing level. You will see that the minimum functional volume is then displayed on the X axis.
And there we have it, a volume calculated using both your weight, and surfing experience. Now you have the information for that first surfboard, or a chance to explore a further diverse quiver, and for now, thanks for watching.
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