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Wise is the surfer who seeks instruction
While in Santa Cruz my surfing benefited from a group lesson and some private coaching with Richard Schmidt. Richard is a sports instructor of the highest caliber, and an inspiration as an outdoorsman and athlete.
Raised on the big surf of Santa Cruz, Schmidt went on to excell on the North Shore of Hawaii. Later he came home to new challenges at Mavericks, just up the coast. Through it all he has set aside surfing time to instruct thousands of students over the past twenty years.
Richard Schmidt with a student at Cowells
This girl had brought a five foot shortboard along to learn on. Fortunately he was able to talk her out of using it in favor of the long softboards he uses for instruction. They provide maximum flotation and wave catchability, and paddle like the wind. This girl got up on her own, right in the curl, within a half hour after I took this picture of their first paddle out.
A choppy and windy day with no one on it. Very unusual for Cowells. In my three lessons with Richard, this was the one where I felt the most focused. Normally it takes great concentration to weave through the crowd. This day we were able to concentrate on just the waves.
The author working on his takeoff.
(Photo by Richard Schmidt)
On this wave Richard was instructing me to bring both feet quickly forward as I stood up. He was also able to snap this picture. The board I'm riding is a 9'6" Soft Top, made by Surftech.
As Richard starts you into a wave he actually gives your board a push to get you in it. Then he catches up somehow and rides right alongside! This for me was the best part of the lessons. Instead of the voice in my brain that usually gives me bad advice while surfing, Richard was there telling me when to shift my weight back and forward, when to turn, and where.
As we paddled out through the channel, Richard provided instruction on getting out and how to best use objects on shore as reference points to stay in the lineup. He gave me tips on gaining position to catch an advancing wave, as well as how to avoid oncoming surfers.
Richard Schmidt demonstrating a smooth longboard turn.
