6. Becoming An Advanced Surfer In Three Years - Nicole Brait Did It And Here's How
Becoming an advanced surfer in three years. That's exactly what Nicole Brait has done the last three years and she shares how she progressed her surfing so quickly. Most remarkable is her mindset towards surfing, her full commitment to herself, her sport and her progression. Hearing her story is not only inspiring but also motivating for every type of surfer, it shows how progression is not just luck and talent but also a commitment to creating a sustainable practice for yourself.Subjects we talk about are:- How she started surfing- Why she gave up everything for surfing- What she did to progress her surfing so fast- What her best investments are into her own surfing- What other surfers can learn from her journey- What training she does for her surfing- What techniques are most important to improve her surfing- What she is working on right now and what's ahead the upcoming months(00:00) The Bold Decision to Pursue Surfing(01:20) I Did Not Want To Go Surfing At First(02:45) From Professional Soccer Dreams to Medical Aspirations(06:23) I Gave Up Everything And Then Went For A Surf(09:38) Mindset and Resilience As A Muscle And A Skill(14:51) How Do You Deal With Setbacks In Surf Progression Journey(17:12) The Moment I Committed Fully To Surfing And Wanted To Become A Competitor(23:02) The Athlete Inside Of Me Hates Losing (27:51) The Enjoyment Of The Challenge And Getting Through Difficult Moments(30:10) The Variability In Surfing and How To Surf In Any Wave(32:26) The Steps Taken From Beginner To Advanced(36:30) Accelerated Progression By Training In The Wavepool And With A Surfskate(41:30) Surfskating And How To Use It For Progression(46:20) Why You Have To Get Video Footage Of Yourself Surfing(48:40) I Don't Want To Waste Time By Not Working With A Coach(50:22) Investing Into Surfing Saves Me Money & Gives Me A Lifestyle That Fits With me(58:11) Most Important Things You've Learned That Improved Your Surfing(01:10:26) Combination of Video Analysis and Physical Conditioning(01:11:06) The Mental and Physical Commitment to Surfing(01:13:17) How To Get Video Clips Of Yourself Easily And How Often Should You Get Filmed(01:22:22) Future Plans For Nicole Brait(01:30:44) Conclusion and Final ThoughtsConnect with Nicole Brait via:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebraitlife/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebraitlifeWebsite: https://www.thebraitlife.com/Follow Pepijn and his coaching:Instagram: https://instagram.com/pepijntiggesWebsite: https://iampepijn.nlOnline coaching program - Surf Academy Pro: https://www.surfacademypro.com/
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5. Line up positioning - How To Consistently Be Where The Best Waves Break
If you feel like you're always just slightly too deep, too wide, or just in the wrong place when the set rolls in… this episode will change how you position yourself in the line-up forever.These often technique are used by elite surfers to position themselves always in the right spot and catch more (and better) waves.(01:00) Good surfers paddle purposefully in the lineup(02:30) Analyzing where and what kind of waves break(04:00) Spotting the A-frame or “Christmas tree” in the foam (05:00) The hack: How to use land markers (like trees/houses) to stay aligned(07:30) X marks the spot: using two markers for precise positioning(09:00) Not all waves break the same — adjust to the spot (09:45) How to adapt your positioning(10:30) Cheat code: How to steal the best surfers their markers(12:00) Final tip: How to get good at positioningFollow Pepijn and his coaching:Instagram: https://instagram.com/pepijntiggesWebsite: https://iampepijn.nlOnline coaching program - Surf Academy Pro: https://www.surfacademypro.com/
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4. Why Your Board Won’t Turn (Fix It In 1 Simple Step)
This episode, surf coach Pepijn Tigges breaks down a game-changing technique to make your board turn if you have difficulties with it. And it's so much simpler than a lot of people think.Most surfers fall or struggle to turn simply because they’re standing in the wrong place.Pepijn shares:- Why body rotation is more important than muscle effort- What your stance says about your board’s reactivity- The simple adjustment that makes your board actually follow your turn- How to practice better foot placement before you hit the water- Why tail pads, pillows, and bigger boards can all help you progress faster- Whether you're falling on bottom turns or struggling to carve, this episode will change the way you think about body-mechanics and board control.(00:00) Intro & Common Issue – Falling mid-turn or board not responding to input(01:30) Look Where You Want to Go – Vision initiates rotation & sets direction(02:15) Point With Arms – Extends the line of intention and begins upper body twist(03:00) Rotate Shoulders, Chest & Hips – Body chain engages full rotation(04:00) Throwing a Ball Analogy – Using kinetic energy via rotation, not strength(05:50) Full-Body Lean Creates Pressure – Not about forcing it with legs(06:45) Why the Board Doesn't React – Board doesn't respond if back foot is too far forward(08:15) Move Back on the Board – Positioning back foot over the back fin increases control(11:30) Avoid Too Much Tail Pressure – Must offset back-foot pressure with front-foot weight(13:00) Practice With a Tail Pad or On Land – Train positioning + feel off-wave(14:45) Use Bigger Boards for Feedback – More speed + control = better learning conditionsFollow Pepijn and his coaching:Instagram: https://instagram.com/pepijntiggesWebsite: https://iampepijn.nlOnline coaching program - Surf Academy Pro: https://www.surfacademypro.com/
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3. How To Turn Your Surfboard Front- and Backside (The Art of Being Off-Center)
Pepijn Tigges discusses common mistakes that surfers make when attempting to turn their boards, emphasizing the importance of proper leaning technique to get pressure on the toes or heels.The key points include maintaining a balanced stance, properly shifting weight towards toes or heels without bending at the hips, and the subtle nuances of leaning are similar to the 'leaning' when you're riding a bicycle. (0:00) Introduction to Common Surfing Mistakes(00:54) Understanding Weight Distribution(01:38) The Importance of Leaning(02:33) Practicing with a Surf Skate and Bicycle(04:06) Applying Leaning Techniques to Surfing(06:00) Practical Exercises for Better Feeling of The New Technique(07:17) Nuanced Tips for Backside Turning(08:09) Final Tips and Encouragement(09:40) Conclusion and Call to ActionLinks from the episodeFree beginner course: https://www.surfacademypro.com/beginnerFree board choice quiz: https://www.surfacademypro.com/boardchoice-quizFollow Pepijn and his coaching:Instagram: https://instagram.com/pepijntiggesWebsite: https://iampepijn.nlOnline coaching program - Surf Academy Pro: https://www.surfacademypro.com/
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2. The Four Fundamentals That Hold Back Your Surfing (and How To Fix Them)
Learn how mindset, fitness, board choice, and technique can speed up your surfing progression. Whether you're a beginner struggling to catch waves or an intermediate surfer looking to level up, this podcast reveals the four fundamentals that hold back improvement.Key Topics:Pro Surfer Mindset SecretsPaddle Endurance TrainingChoosing the Right SurfboardTechnique OptimizationMental Performance StrategiesPerfect for surfers of all levels who want to:Develop a winning mindsetImprove physical fitnessChoose better equipmentMaster advanced techniques(1:30) Mindset of a Pro Surfer(3:45) Prioritizing Health: Sleep, Nutrition, Training(5:30) Investing in Knowledge and Experience(6:45) Setting Small, Achievable Goals(10:01) Long-Term Progress vs. Short-Term Expectations(12:30) Rewarding Effort, Not Just Results(13:45) Optimizing for Fun and Community(16:14) Paddle Endurance and Strength Training(17:10) Specific Surf Training Techniques(19:30) Combining Training with Surfing Schedules(22:15) Board Choice Mistakes(24:30) Importance of Testing Different Boards(26:30) Understanding Board Volume and Shape(27:15) Technique: Focusing on Turn Setup(29:30) Concentrating on Single Goals in a Surf Session(31:45) Video Analysis for Technique Improvement Follow Pepijn and his coaching:Instagram: https://instagram.com/pepijntiggesWebsite: https://iampepijn.nlOnline coaching program - Surf Academy Pro: https://www.surfacademypro.com/
The surf podcast for surfers, by surfers who help to surf better. Practical tips, handy tricks, inspiring stories from personal experience by Pepijn Tigges and interviews with experts.
For every level of surfer who wants to improve their surfing.
Hosted by Pepijn Tigges.
Personal online coaching with Pepijn Tigges via www.surfacademypro.com
Instagram: @pepijntigges
Netherlands