Blog / October 27, 2026
Surf skate: why we put you on a skateboard to surf better
In a good surf session you might ride a dozen waves, and each one lasts a few seconds. On a surf skate you can carve a hundred turns in an hour. That repetition is why surf skating has become one of the best training tools in surfing — and why it’s included in every week at West Wave.
What is a surf skate?
A surf skate is a skateboard with a front truck that swivels much more than a normal one. It lets the board turn tightly and generate speed when you pump with your legs and rotate your shoulders — just like riding a wave.
What it teaches you
- Rotation. Turns start with your head and shoulders, not your feet. On a surf skate you feel it straight away.
- Compression. Bending your knees at the right moment is what drives a bottom turn. Skating trains the rhythm.
- Pumping for speed. Linking small turns to keep moving is the same skill you need on a slow, fat wave.
- Stance and balance. Your feet learn where to sit on the board without thinking.
How our sessions work
We skate in the late afternoon on quiet, smooth roads near the camp, when the light goes golden and the traffic is low. Your coach starts with stance and basic carving, then adds the movement you’re working on in the water that week — usually the bottom turn or the cutback. Boards are provided; just bring closed shoes.
For every level
Beginners use surf skate to get comfortable standing on a moving board. Intermediates use it to fix the turn they keep missing in the water. Either way, it’s also simply a lot of fun — some of our best evenings start with a skate and end with mint tea on the rooftop.
