Intermediate videos

These videos are designed for you if you want to progress from intermediate level to advanced.

Fast waves

Many intermediates get stuck at their level because the waves are too fast for them, so they do not get enough ride time. This video gives four tips for riding a powerful, fast wave at Uluwatu: make the fast sections in a functional stance, look at the lip as the wave slows, pivot on your trailing arm into the bottom turn, and open your arms wide through the top turn.

Stance

Many intermediates get stuck at this level because they do not stand correctly on the surfboard. If you have been surfing for more than 2 years and are still intermediate, it is probably because you do not ride in a functional stance — feet across the stringer, knees bent, weight centred and head up. Fixing your stance is usually the single biggest unlock for progressing.

Arms over rails

Intermediates who are stuck at this level for a long time generally are so because of poor stance and body positioning. The left arm controls the left rail and the right arm controls the right rail. To be able to manoeuvre and control the surfboard, your arms need to be correctly positioned.

Paddle the board

Do you want to paddle like Kelly Slater? Efficient paddling comes from engaging your back and lats, lying in the right spot on the board for trim, and reaching long with a high elbow to pull cleanly through the water. Better technique means you catch more waves with less effort. This video is for both intermediate and advanced surfers.

Lie on the board

This video gives some guidance on where you should lie on the board. Getting your position right is what lets you catch more waves and is essential if you want to step down to a shorter board, where the margin for error is much smaller.

Duck dive

Many intermediate surfers have issues duck diving due to the size of their board, poor technique and not enough practice. The key is to push the nose under with your hands, sink the tail with a foot or knee to drive the whole board beneath the wave, then guide it back up as the wave passes overhead — and timing matters as much as strength. We have written the ultimate guide to duck diving.

Catching waves

The fastest way to improve your surfing is by catching more waves. If you find you miss a lot of waves or get caught in the white water on take-off, the fix is usually better positioning and paddling early so you are already at wave speed when it reaches you. This video is a must-watch.

Surf Skate

It is difficult to acquire the feeling for how to pump a surfboard and generate your own speed. Riding a surf skate on land mimics that same rhythmic, rail-to-rail motion and is the quickest way to train the feeling, so it transfers straight into the water. This video is a simple 3-step tutorial.

Pumping a surfboard

The waves in Bali are particularly fast, especially the Racetrack section of Uluwatu where Scotty learned his craft. This video shows Scotty pumping some fast sections at Balangan. Pumping is a rhythmic up-and-down weighting of the board that generates your own speed, and it is the skill that lets you make the fast sections that would otherwise leave you behind.

If you are an intermediate surfer and you are looking to advance to the next level, we invite you to join our surf school at Uluwatu’s top surf camp, where we will teach you how to stand on the board correctly and how to steer and turn the surfboard. Our land-based coaching is the best in Bali. Most days at the surf camp we provide a photo or video review.

Check out our surfing tutorials for advanced surfers to continue your journey to understanding the fundamentals of surfing. You can also read our 20 essential questions about technique, equipment and waves.