by Clay Schmitz | Feb 15, 2018 | adventures, foil, how to videos, surf videos, videos
I made a foil surfing tutorial series for SUP The Magazine. Designed for newbies and beginners. I made it now when I am still learning myself. I have found that after I have progressed and developed advanced skills it is challenging to remember how difficult being a beginner was.
Also I suspect down the road will be fun to have a video record of where I was and my thinking about foil surfing. I wish I had this from my early prone surfing days. Now it’s hard to imagine not being able to paddle out and catch a bunch of waves and do whatever turns I want…
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by Clay Schmitz | Sep 25, 2017 | adventures, how to videos, surf videos, videos
Learning to move my feet rail to rail made a huge difference in my turns, control, and confidence in any conditions. In this video I break down the footwork that empowers us to do radical maneuvers, make sections, and kick out. I slowed down and enlarged the footage so we can see how the pros move and position their feet to enable them to do stylish fluid turns.
For beginners this footwork helps us stay in control and have more confidence when taking a large SUP into a crowded surf zone. With the right footwork we are safer for everyone around us and ourselves, this is an important skill to have on these bigger boards. Also we are enabled to have longer rides and do those carving turns that feel so good…
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by Clay Schmitz | Aug 23, 2017 | adventures, how to videos, surf videos, videos
A few weeks ago we had an epic super fun mass downwind surf outing – Glidezilla.
So fun to get together with this many surfers and water folks. Often I go alone or with a one or two people, so going with over 25 paddlers was a first for me. Awesome to have the social gathering before and after at the BBQ. I hope this becomes a regular event.
I enjoyed Glidezilla so much I felt inspired to make a how to downwind video. Seeing so many wonderful SUP surfers all around me I was able to confirm what works and what skills are needed…
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by Clay Schmitz | Aug 1, 2017 | adventures, how to videos, surf videos, videos
One fine day the best SUP surfers in the world came to Ocean Beach in San Francisco. When the pros come to town I do my best to go out and watch and learn I can from them. Seeing them on TV or at a break I am unfamiliar with is one thing. Then seeing them doing things I have never seen anyone do at one of my favorite beaches is mind expanding and inspiring…
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by Clay Schmitz | Jan 7, 2017 | adventures, how to videos, surf videos, videos
I spent decades trying to create a safe place. Safety in numbers, safer neighborhood, alarm systems, weapons, and self defense classes. After trying all these methods I still felt unsafe.
Listening to a guided meditation the speaker asked me to imagine a safe place. I thought of all the places I have been to and it dawned on me that I didn’t feel safe anywhere. Now that I was aware of the problem I was actively seeking a new solution. It snuck up on me through a mandatory meditation walk, required training for a martial arts class.
On that meditation walk I felt scared I would get poison oak, and I realized how unnatural it is for a human being to be afraid of nature. As part of a group I saw and heard a broad range of comfort with being in a forest. This showed me where I was at and what feeling really comfortable and safe looked like.
I heard being in nature spoken of as a satisfying sexual experience.
What?!? Really??? At the time I didn’t feel this way, I was however very inspired to continue the practice and see where it led me…
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