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In this episode of the Basis Surf Podcast, we have Matteo Blevins of Nica Time (@nicatime) at Playa Colorados, Nicaragua. We get into wave positioning, paddling at the apex, and angling your takeoff. He breaks down his go-to boards, twins and quads, and how they help him make impossible sections. We also dig into his unique backside pig dog stance and how the right paddle technique can help with your pop-up.

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Chapters 02:12 Why Colorados Is One of the Best Beach Breaks 04:38 Seasonal Changes and When to Go 07:06 How Tides Affect the Wave 10:09 Wave Reading and Positioning Tips 12:11 Paddling Is 80% of Getting Good Waves 14:10 How to Take the Correct Line on a Barrel 16:08 Why Strong Paddle Technique Helps Your Popup 17:03 Backside Pig Dog Technique Breakdown 20:26 Recommended Quiver for a Trip to Colorados 23:48 Twin Fins vs. Single Fins in the Barrel 26:29 Common Mistakes Surfers Make at Colorados 27:00 Mindset and Favorite Board

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In this episode of the Basis Surf Podcast, we have Augusto Carrara, founder of Underwave Training (@underwave.training). A breath and apnea coach specializing in land and water-based breath-hold training designed specifically for surfers. We’re gonna talk about how to acclimate to repeated CO2 exposure, discover your own personal relaxation triggers, adjust the gears of breathing for surfing and the importance of being a good swimmer/paddler.

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Chapters

01:23 Meet Augusto from Underwave Training

02:16 Augusto’s Early Breath-Hold Background

06:25 Why All Surfers Need Breath Training

08:38 Functional Breathing for Surfing

10:55 Regulating Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide

12:41 Prepping for a Hold-Down in Real Time

14:40 Relaxation Techniques During Wipeouts

20:17 What Happens When You’re Exhausted

23:07 Training Your Body to Tolerate CO₂

26:25 Underwater Drills for Realistic Surf Scenarios

33:57 Never Train Breath-Holds Alone in Water

35:33 The Swimming Gap in Surf Culture

44:03 Surf Intentions, Boards, and Dream Waves

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Train your paddling anywhere, anytime so you can catch more waves and have more fun with the Basis Paddle Trainer. Shipping globally now at https://www.surfbasis.com/

In this episode of the Basis Surf Podcast, we have Didier Piter (@didierpitersurfcoach), who was the head coach for Germany in the 2024 Olympics, a 4 time European champion, and a semi-finalist at Pipeline. We’re gonna talk about the key to bottom turns, paddle training for Teahupo’o, common mistakes that most surfers make, and the importance of balancing art and technique.

Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:30 Coaching the German Olympic Team 08:36 Techniques for Major Maneuvers 09:58 The Art of Balancing Technique and Flow 13:45 The Key to Bottom Turns 15:12 Embracing Plasticity in Surfing 18:00 Training Neuroplasticity for Surfers 23:25 Preparing for Teahupoʻo 25:42 Paddle Training for Teahupoʻo 28:02 Coaching his son, Sam Piter 31:08 Secrets to Progressive Surfing 33:16 Common Surfing Mistakes 36:40 What Board to Bring If Stranded on a Deserted Island 38:05 Intention When Surfing

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Subscribe for more interviews with pro surfers, coaches, shapers, and everyday surfers like Tom Carroll, Zeke Lau, Victor Bernardo, Matt Parker of Album Surf, Matt Meola, Ryan Lovelace, Eric Arakawa, Noel Salas of Surf n Show, Parker Coffin, Dane Gudauskas, Kassia Meador, Clayton of Ombe Surf, Dylan Lightfoot, Derek Dunfee, Magnum Martinez, and more!

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Train your paddling anywhere, anytime so you can catch more waves and have more fun with the Basis Paddle Trainer. Shipping globally now at https://www.surfbasis.com/

In this episode of the Basis Surf Podcast, we have Tai Buddha (@taibuddha), a pro surfer of Maori descent, spent his years surfing between Australia and Bali. He’s a master of the Indo strike mission and established the iconic beach bar called the Single Fin in Uluwatu. We’ll be diving into the importance of having the right board, the key to taking off and the importance of paddling and committing in big waves.

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Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Paddle Power

01:57 Tracking Swells and Planning Strike Missions

06:28 The Thrill of the Chase

11:16 Risk and Reward in Surfing

13:33 Preparation for Adventure

16:00 Essential Gear for Strike Missions

20:01 Developing the Big Horse Board

26:39 Eliminating Doubt in Heavy Waves

28:53 The Joy of Surfing with Family

30:09 Mastering the Pop-Up: Tips from the Pros

33:19 The Importance of Training and Conditioning

36:14 Backside Surfing: Techniques and Preferences

39:59 Mindset and Intentions in Heavy Waves

44:20 Life Lessons from Strike Missions

Subscribe for more interviews with pro surfers, coaches, shapers, and everyday surfers like Tom Carroll, Zeke Lau, Victor Bernardo, Matt Parker of Album Surf, Matt Meola, Ryan Lovelace, Eric Arakawa, Noel Salas of Surf n Show, Parker Coffin, Dane Gudauskas, Kassia Meador, Clayton of Ombe Surf, Dylan Lightfoot, Derek Dunfee, Magnum Martinez, and more!

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Shipping globally now! Train your paddling anywhere, anytime so you can catch more waves and have more fun with the Basis Paddle Trainer. Shipping globally now at www.surfbasis.com

In this episode of the Basis Surf Podcast, we have Rafael Kroeff a.k.a. RK (@rktraininghawaii) who’s a big-wave surfer/surf coach on the north shore of Hawaii. He has trained athletes like Rio Waida, Erin Brooks, and Shino Matsuda and other big-wave surfers like Jack Robinson and Ian Gentile. Tune in as we talk about his innovative surf training methods—combining physical conditioning, cognitive drills, and breathing techniques—to help elite and everyday surfers improve reactivity, creativity, and performance in unpredictable surf conditions.

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Chapters

00:00 Reactivity and Surfing Performance

02:01 The Purpose of Reactive Drills

03:31 Stability as the Foundation

05:18 Overloading the Brain to Unlock Creativity

08:07 Innovative Tools: Body Blade & Muscle Activation

12:19 Skate Balance vs. Indoboard

18:31 Mini BOSU Ball Plyometrics

21:22 Surfing’s Resistance to Innovation

26:01 General vs. Maneuver-Specific Training

28:54 The Full Training Protocol

31:52 Advice for the Everyday Surfer

35:33 Foundational Plyometric Progressions

36:34 Lightbulb Moments & Training Insights

42:06 A Fins Revelation at Jaws

45:30 The Role of Paddling in Big Wave Surfing

50:12 Surfing as a Spiritual Experience

52:16 Where to Find Rafael Kroeff

Cover Image Credits:

• @yusurf

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Shipping globally now! Train your paddling anywhere, anytime so you can catch more waves and have more fun with the Basis Paddle Trainer https://www.surfbasis.com/ .

In this episode, we dive into Alistair’s experience as one of the original beta testers for the Basis Trainer. He breaks down what worked, what didn’t, and why common training methods like elastic bands don’t always translate to better paddling. We also explore how the Basis Trainer transformed his wave count, positioning, and overall performance in the water.Sign up for our free surfboard guide for sizing down volume, video library and newsletter

Chapters

00:00 The Journey to Surf Fitness

03:13 Challenges of Surfing as an Adult

09:28 The Importance of Paddle Fitness

12:24 Training Techniques for Surf Fitness

16:02 Understanding Energy Systems in Surfing

22:40 Training Techniques for Optimal Performance with the Basis Paddle Trainer

24:36 The Limitations of Elastic Bands and Swimming in Paddle Training

26:31 Understanding the Specificity Principle in Sports Training

30:43 The Importance of Recovery and Wave Count

33:38 Basis Paddle Trainer Results

40:12 Maximizing Joy Through Paddle Power

Subscribe for more interviews with pro surfers, coaches, shapers, and everyday surfers like Tom Carroll, Zeke Lau, Victor Bernardo, Matt Parker of Album Surf, Matt Meola, Ryan Lovelace, Eric Arakawa, Noel Salas of Surf n Show, Parker Coffin, Dane Gudauskas, Kassia Meador, Clayton of Ombe Surf, Dylan Lightfoot, Derek Dunfee, Magnum Martinez, and more!

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In this episode of the Basis Surf Podcast, Paul Godette ( @gaul_p ) and I talk all about ding repairs, the dos and don’ts for wet foam, delaminated boards, snapped boards, etc. We also talk about how important it is to stay paddle-fit for inconsistent surf spots like Rockaway and how the Basis Paddle Trainer is able to help you get there through cold wintery flat spells.

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Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:06 Ding Repair Basics

04:48 Temporary Fixes vs. Professional Repairs

06:34 Understanding Ding Repair Kits

11:05 Common Mistakes in Ding Repair

16:01 Dealing with Wet Foam

21:02 Repairing Dings and Delaminations

25:25 Repairing a Snapped Board

27:20 Fin Box Repairs

28:15 Repairing Concaves on Surfboards

29:17 Understanding Ding Repair

30:27 The Journey of Shaping a Surfboard

33:51 Lessons Learned from Shaping

36:12 The Art and Science of Surfboard Design

40:14 Tips for Surfing Cold and Tricky Beach Breaks

42:52 Choosing the Right Equipment for Rockaway

45:47 The Importance of Paddle Fitness

50:11 Light Bulb Moments in Surfing Technique

53:01 Finding Your Perfect Surfboard

Cover Image Credits:

• @zane.elias @__moaj_
• Yury Tsednov

Subscribe for more interviews with pro surfers, coaches, shapers, and everyday surfers like Tom Carroll, Zeke Lau, Victor Bernardo, Matt Parker of Album Surf, Matt Meola, Ryan Lovelace, Eric Arakawa, Noel Salas of Surf n Show, Parker Coffin, Dane Gudauskas, Kassia Meador, Clayton of Ombe Surf, Dylan Lightfoot, Derek Dunfee, Magnum Martinez, and more!

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In this week’s episode of Basis Surf Podcast, I’m joined by Clancy Dawson ( @clancydawson ), one of the coaches at @surfingaus who’s focused on preparing elite Australian surfers for the world stage. We dive deep into the importance of training in the gym, getting paddle fit, ways to improve your cutback, and more importantly, how to stop caring about what other people think and start focusing on improving your techniques.

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Chapters

00:00 Embracing Failure in Surfing

06:02 Innovative Training Techniques for Surfers

14:53 The Role of Gymnastics in Surf Training

12:06 Balancing Strength and Surfing

15:04 Preparing for Surf Trips and Competitions

16:24 Training Power Surfing in the Gym

25:26 The Importance of Paddling in Surfing

33:20 Mental Aspects of Surfing and Paddling

39:25 Tactical Approaches to Competitive Surfing

46:02 Intention and Focus in Surfing

50:10 Dream Waves and Ideal Surfboards

Subscribe for more interviews with pro surfers, coaches, shapers, and everyday surfers like Tom Carroll, Zeke Lau, Victor Bernardo, Matt Parker of Album Surf, Matt Meola, Ryan Lovelace, Eric Arakawa, Noel Salas of Surf n Show, Parker Coffin, Dane Gudauskas, Kassia Meador, Clayton of Ombe Surf, Dylan Lightfoot, Derek Dunfee, Magnum Martinez, and more!

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