Everyday We’re Shufflin’! Surfcuit Training Day 5

I can say Day 5 is the most fun so far, since we were taught how to cross step! I’ve always been amazed how longboarders do it, because I myself couldn’t even get the stance right (my feet being too far apart).  They effortlessly work their way up to the nose, do hang fives or hang tens. If it were myself, I would have connected with the water in the most ungraceful way, with my board hitting me on the head. This day gave me a fighting chance to do it in the ocean!

Cross stepping apparently is more than just working your way to and from the nose of the board. You have to get the timing right, and you have to be in the right angle in the wave. On Day 3 we were taught about timing and placing to catch a wave but this day gave me an idea of what I can do when I’m already on one. And, though I don’t have a photo or video here of overcoming this in the wave pool, I was able to do it. Yes!!!  Okay fine, there were a couple of unflattering crashes because my feet were scampering all over the place. I would get too excited and rush towards the nose (or back to the tail). This day taught me to be more patient and take a bit more control of my body.  It was really great that the instructors were telling me what I was doing wrong, so I would try my best not to do it once I’m on a wave again. Finally when I was able to pleasantly cross step (*insert happy dance*), one said, “Tsamba ka lang ata eh! Isa pa at maniniwala ako!”. In my head I was yelling, “Oh no you didn’t! It’s on Kuya!” Haha! I am a bit competitive and with that challenge, I got even more driven to prove I can really do it, no tsamba added. And, I did. After a couple of tries, turning at the right part of the pool and positioning the board as they explained, led me to doing 2-3 steps forward and back without falling on my butt or face. I was able to do that a good number of times. So Kuya, you just got served! (And THANK YOU for your very “encouraging and supportive” remarks! It really did push me!)

In a week will be Day 6 of the program, the LAST day for Batch 2! Time flies by so fast! Hopefully nothing comes up so I won’t miss it. Please join me as I pray to graduate on time!

Here are some photos I took. I know there are not too many action shots, and obviously I couldn’t take photos of myself in action. But PSA did take some and I’ll share a link to that album once it’s out :)

Some yoga to warm up. Thanks Rozie for correcting our form!

Why are we doing different poses? We were doing self-practice. First time I did this with other people around too!

Cross stepping 101

Very attentive students. We were only 6 that day. A lot were sick due to the weather, even Coach Pao. :(

This should say “Caution: Karla in the pool, PLEASE GET OUT” :)

Waiting for waves to come

Wooot!

Nice!

Look at A go! Cross stepping like a boss!

Good job!

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Want to learn more about PSA or interested to join the Surfcuit Intensive Training Program? Check out the contacts and links below:

Tel: (+632) 631 28 05
Mobile: (+63917) 582 78 78
Website: http://philippinesurfingacademy.com/

http://www.facebook.com/philippinesurfingacademy

http://www.twitter.com/philsurfacademy

How about having your very own customized board? Click here for Skwala! And if you want  to see a sample, here’s my Cookie. <3

Take your friends and family to Club Manila East Resort in Taytay, Rizal too! Share the stoke!

Surf…Like a Sir. Surfcuit Training Day 2 (Surf Etiquette)

Day 2 of Surfcuit! And oh what a day it was!

Who signs up for a 10k run the same day as a 4-hour surf training session? Ehem, ehem. When I registered for that run, I already knew I had Surfcuit in the afternoon thinking that “Hey, I’m going to work my legs in the morning and I won’t really need them in surfing that much.” I was right since I survived it… barely. My arms were working, but my brain I think decided to go on strike. Driving home required extra effort to stay up, since I’ve been up since 4 am that day! So note to self: “Di ka si Darna.”

Now here’s my WOD for my arms, after the brave bahala na si batman run.

It is the day when I got introduced to poi. It was training, as I see it, for control, timing and flow. I thought it was easy to do whenever I see performers at the beach or in events. I told myself, “How hard could it be to swing a ball tied to a string?” The balls answered that question quite quickly and clearly…on my face…three times. We were taught basic turns and switching, both I found really hard! But a few hits won’t stop me… When I got home I picked MY FREE poi up and tried again. And yes, I got the same answer the fourth time. :) Where do I get to buy hand-eye coordination please?

YEY FREE!!!! :) (photo c/o Bianca Cueva the “Poi Warrior”)

And then we were off to yoga. At the start of every Surfcuit day, we do this to stretch and warm our bodies up. A couple of sun salutations really did the trick to get us ready to paddle hard. Namaste.

Say hello to my monster back muscles. Guys, please put a bit more power on my paddles!

The Main Event.

Day 2’s focus was Surf Etiquette. Paolo sat us down and shared what kind of mindset and attitude we should bring with our board as we paddle out. With all the surf lessons I’ve had in the past, instructors always teach some pointers before we head out to the open sea. But then again, those are just snippets of what’s what. The good thing about the Surfcuit program is there is a set agenda for the day, for 4 hours each session. Students would have more time to understand the lesson, apply it and ask the coaches.

Check out the photo below. I just Googled “surf etiquette” (you can say I tried to do some homework after the session that day) and saw this. It basically summarizes the do’s and don’ts, plus information on priority in the water.

Source: http://www.surfrider.org.au/

I will not go through each one here, but I do want to talk about 2: Do not drop in/snake, and Respect. I thought I knew these do’s and don’ts, but after Surfcuit Training Day 2, I realized that I knew so little about them. I have been making a fool of myself in the ocean all this time. Really.

Why am I saying this? For example: the drop/snake in. I knew what they meant, but I just learned what are the different ways to actually execute them, and I’ve been doing both unintentionally every time I’m in the water. When I’m in the line up all I would think of is, “I paddled so hard to get here, so I have to catch a wave… there’s one now! Go paddle!”. So easy to forget too when you’re used to having an instructor with you to just tell you what to do, without you having to look around if you’re about to be a jerk to someone. When Coach Paolo explained details on who gets priority in the line up, I wanted to disintegrate in my seat. I thought I was doing fine out there as long as I catch waves at the side wherein only a few people stay, but apparently I’ve understood it wrong. What I do is I’d keep on paddling for a wave even when I’m not in position, and someone else is. I would hang out at the shoulder and wait. Then I’d TRY to catch a wave without even looking if someone else has it already from the peak. I just realized that I have been cutting and dropping in all the time on surfers riding a wave. I feel very thankful that it was explained to us in detail so we stop making such ignorant mistakes. I don’t want to piss off other surfers. I guess I’m lucky enough that people I’ve been with are very, very nice… or they do realize that I am a complete idiot and left it to the sea to get back at me… Yes, I think all is fair considering the wipe outs I got the last trip in La Union.

Another vital lesson every surfer should have at heart is R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Well for this, EVERYONE should be able to practice it, surfers or non-surfers alike. For surfing specifically, there is a hierarchy.

1. The locals – born in the area and lived there all their lives
2. The regulars – those that moved in the area and been there for a long time.
3. The visitors – really good surfers like the pros, then followed by the intermediate ones
4. Buoys / Logs

By the way, I’m under number four. I didn’t want to feel left out so I made my own category. :) Although I know based from experience what’s the hierarchy, Coach Paolo’s story of a surf trip abroad made it even clearer. It was awesome to find out those that’s been surfing a long time are still humbled by other surfers, give proper respect towards them and then get respect back.

Don’t forget Mother Nature! She’s one woman I would not want to annoy.

From our butts to our bellies… it’s surf time! This round I used a smaller board – an 8’0. Much closer to my board Cookie (7’8″), so I was happy I can practice with it the whole afternoon :) We tried catching waves by ourselves in the pool and it was really tough! They said it’s harder to catch one there, so I’m thinking if by the end of the program I get one, I’ll be okay out in the open sea! *crossing fingers*.

Yuan. The youngest in the class… and the best too! He has awesome parents that signed him up for this!

Cheerleader knees finding it soooo hard to bend! Sorry, I was trained for years to keep them locked to balance :(

Get back on your board and try again. PADDLE!!! :)

There ya go. I know I’m not the best person riding a wave, and could even be the worst, but I feel I’m a better surfer already than other beginners with what I learned on Day 2. With that, I’m soooo thankful!

Another tiring but fulfilling session.

Let’s now surf, like a sir…shall we?

Photos taken by Earl Calunsod

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Want to learn more about PSA or interested to join the Surfcuit Intensive Training Program? Check out the contacts and links below:

Tel: (+632) 631 28 05
Mobile: (+63917) 582 78 78
Website: http://philippinesurfingacademy.com/

http://www.facebook.com/philippinesurfingacademy

http://www.twitter.com/philsurfacademy

How about having your very own customized board? Click here for Skwala! And if you want  to see a sample, here’s my Cookie. <3

Take your friends and family to Club Manila East Resort in Taytay, Rizal too! Share the stoke!

Someone got bored.

Eka pada galavasana – Flying pigeon

Learned this the other night from yoga class. Thanks Roanna ofFitness First for another awesome session. Namaste ;)

Yes, i still need to perfect this – my back’s too rounded and my stretched leg should go higher – but i’ll get there!

Project Starfish: Operation Get Pimpin’

And so I find myself again in Skwala ‘s shop to check on my bf. Overprotective girlfriend?! :) Bribe: Mang Inasal + extra rice.

It’s such an experience seeing YOUR weapon of choice being made in front of you, your companion in something you love doing. And I don’t even care even if I got resin in my hair watching my board getting laminated (an expected stupid move when you have me in a small space with lot’s of things to get me distracted). If you decide to have your board be customized by anyone (well I’d recommend Skwala of course), make sure you visit once or twice before it gets finished. It’s not only the fact that the size, shape and design were yours, or the board is really made for your size and skill level, but being there physically while it’s created makes it a lot more personal and special. I’m even thinking twice now if I’d let anyone else use it! Haha!

I actually would have helped, but I was afraid clumsy Karla will kick in and knock down the whole shop.

Anyway, just a few more days… :)

Resin (i think…) And I got some in my hair because I couldn’t stand still.
And say hello to the Master of All Seasons Din Litangan! Looking sexeh there brotha!

hello there. :)
What’s the design? The writing along the left-hand side of this photo is an old sanskrit Upanishad (quote/saying). It means “You are what your deep driving desire is. As your desire is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny.” This is to remind me to be positive and be grateful all the time, especially while on my board. I have the same quote inked on the right side of my body ;)

Shine baby shine!
A black stripe in the middle of the crispy white body. I initially wanted it to be colorful, but then I decided to make it simple for now :) I’ll crowd it with stickers and doodles anyway! I had a lotus be in the middle against the black stripe also. It reminds me of the actual flower unsoiled and still blooming in muddy water.
…and Namaste to you too :)

oooh la la! I’ll see you next week, get ready for me. :)
Skwala’s logo on the other side!

Signed, to be sealed and delivered (with a smile pa!) <3 This could be the best part of the board – MY NAME ON IT! Of course, with the Master’s autograph pa. Salamat bro!

See you next week, baby.

TMI: After clicking on “Publish”, I will roll around my bed with my legs kicking up towards the ceiling like a little kid with a brand new toy. (okay fine, not really “like”)

PS: Check out and like Skwala’s facebook page :) Skwala – http://www.facebook.com/Skwalasurfindustries

Hey you… Vote for me!

Hi! Please be an awesomazing person, click on the photo / link below and LIKE my entry! I think the prize would be free yoga classes and I really want to win! Help me!

This is Eka Pada Koundiyanasana I, one of my favorite among the arm balancing poses. <3

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=362804043769073&set=a.362803757102435.72624.292449764137835&type=1&theater

Thank you in advance!