Llanes Garden

Children and surfing

Llanes Garden — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 09:18:54 +0000

Now that we’re on holiday, we’re all starting to think about getting our children into surfing. Whether at a school, on their own, or with us, if we enjoy surfing ourselves.
For the first option, it’s a matter of choosing a school that appeals to you. Whether for the equipment, the location, … But what’s really important from our perspective as instructors is the teaching method. It’s key, along with the instructor’s approach.
The second option is more ‘one-off’, encouraging self-teaching, something that happened to many of us due to a lack of instruction in this sport, until a few years ago when it really took off. It carries the risk of picking up bad habits that are very difficult to eradicate or correct in the future.

And then there’s the third option, which is a combination of the previous two: if we’ve learnt at a school ourselves and want to pass on that knowledge and those experiences to our children.
Or if we want to send them to a school whilst still combining that with learning as a family.
We’ll be honest with you: from the point of view of learning and experiencing the activity, this is the best option. You’ll see how you progress together, building a stronger bond and sharing some really enjoyable moments. As well as the famous ‘feedback’—both intrinsic (your own experience) and extrinsic (showing others what you can do)—you’ll see these aspects reinforced in a positive way. The great thing about this sport, with the resources available today, is that it has a very high success rate when it comes to getting up on the board (take-off). After that, riding the wave along the face is simply a matter of practice until you overcome that initial hurdle of just moving forward through the foam. It’s just a matter of time.

That’s why we encourage you to give any of the options we’ve mentioned a go (the important thing is to take part), rather than just standing on the beach watching, or wishing you were there.
At our school, we offer all three options, although in this particular case, we’ve opted for the third one.

Surfskate, surf on dry for everyone

Llanes Garden — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 14:26:00 +0000

Surfskating is a popular training tool for improving balance, coordination, and movement while surfing on land. Many surfers and surf schools have found that using it can help accelerate their progress in learning to surf in the water.

A surfskate is a type of skateboard specifically designed to simulate the movement of surfing on pavement. Like surfing, it requires the user to use their weight and movements to steer and control the board. Surfskates have trucks that tilt to allow for tighter turns and a feel more similar to riding a wave.

Using a surfskate allows you to improve your technique and confidence without the pressure of water conditions. Some benefits include the ability to practice anywhere, anytime, and the opportunity to work on specific skills, such as body positioning on the board and pumping technique.
Overall, using a surfskate as a training tool accelerates progress in learning to surf in the water. However, it’s important to keep in mind that surfing on dry land can’t completely replace the experience of riding a real wave. Therefore, it’s crucial to continue practicing in the water to improve your technique and skill in real surf conditions. There are shops, such as TablasSurfShop, where you’ll find a wide variety of surfskates, depending on your skill level and preferences.

Also, once you’ve started surfskating, you can practice at different facilities, such as wave ramps, which are very popular lately and whose shape makes the movement even more similar to riding a wave. Or, you can try a pumptrack to generate more speed and improve your power transfer during the pumping phase. The nearest one is in Gijón.

The hips, the great steering wheel of the surfboard

Llanes Garden — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 15:33:00 +0000

As we progress in surfing, we try different movements, skills, trajectories, and so on.

Like everything in life, some people have an almost innate ability to develop these techniques. They are so connected to the board that they feel it’s an extension of their body (like Rafa Nadal with his racket).

When we surf, we need to use our hips to make the board move forward, slow down, gain momentum, shift its center of gravity, and release the fins, or conversely, dig in a rail to carve, etc.

All of this, and much more, depends on the action of the hips, which at certain moments shift their position, transmitting the necessary thrust or lightness to the rest of the lower limbs and the soles of the feet. Since we’re talking about a kinetic chain, we can’t forget the upper body (the arm action) and the help of the head and gaze, which contribute to a streamlined and fluid movement, even mimicking a dance in certain surfing styles (retro, logboard, etc.). Similarly, for more radical maneuvers, these movements throughout the chain intensify, generating greater power, which is ultimately transmitted to the board.

What’s certain is that the key connector is the hip, home to one of the most powerful muscles in the human body: the iliopsoas, which connects the lower body (lesser trochanter of the femur) to the spine (lumbar vertebrae and internal iliac fossa).

At Llanes Garden, we have a foolproof technique to help improve these types of movements in a preparatory setting. Using a Bosu ball or a surfskate, we can enhance hip control and make corrections even while standing still, so we can later replicate those movements on the surfboard.
For this reason, the surf lessons we offer on the various beaches of Llanes incorporate the use of this equipment on the sand or even on asphalt.

Surfing in school-age children and surf camps

Llanes Garden — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 15:38:00 +0000

BenefiTs

It seems that the age at which children begin to abandon or reduce their participation in sports is approximately when they transition from primary to secondary school (around 13-14 years old). There are several reasons that affect boys and girls, but these are mainly due to social factors and, above all, a lack of motivation.

According to the latest study by the Mapfre Foundation, in conjunction with several Spanish universities, conducted by María Martín et al., based on 3,578 students between 12 and 16 years old, motivation is precisely the issue. What they enjoy most is practicing a sport that motivates them, that they find fun, and this is where surfing comes in and shines. It’s a sport where, like many others, the most important thing isn’t competition (although that’s also an option for those who want it), but rather the level of enjoyment and well-being it produces.

Today, we can see how surf camps are experiencing exponential success among this age group. It’s no mystery: it’s a sport you practice with other surfers in a healthy, friendly, and enjoyable environment. You don’t need to be in great shape to start, nor do you need to invest heavily in equipment. The secret lies in the sensations and experiences it offers. It also brings with it the freedom of being in nature, respect and care for the environment, and the camaraderie and camaraderie with other surfers.

At Llanes Garden, this summer we’ll be running our surf camps for these age groups, with whom we work year-round. We know exactly what they enjoy most and how to offer it to them in a fun, healthy, and educational way.

Surfing as a couple. Benefits.

Llanes Garden — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 14:41:00 +0000

Often, couples decide to take up a sport together, but they don’t know what the path will be like or what it might lead to. In this case, surfing is a constant source of uncertainty, since it is precisely that: a sport of continuous adaptation to the weather (wave type, wind, tide, current, etc.) and to the equipment (softboard, longboard, fish, mini-malibu, shortboard, etc.). (In Llanes, we are lucky to have many surfable beaches with varying tides and conditions.)

Although in this case, it’s inherent to the sport. But if we look at the psychological aspect, motivation can provide constant encouragement: improving together with my partner helps to get “hooked” on this sport. Be careful not to get discouraged if progress isn’t as expected. For this, we have dryland lessons or surfskating. (I’ve included a link to our previous post about surfskating.) Everything helps.

Another benefit is the lifestyle it fosters. When you go out to find your spot depending on the day, you share that journey, which is often done alone, and you “gain” a deeper emotional connection with your partner. It also helps to talk about and anticipate the type of swell you’ll encounter, gradually immersing yourself in the experience.

Once in the water, the ultimate therapeutic environment, we experience a state of weightlessness, which helps us relax overall.
And then, when we manage to surf the waves, the joy is twofold, as the satisfaction of riding our own wave is multiplied by seeing our partner’s success.

That’s why we say the benefits are exponential, helping to overcome barriers, connect body and mind, and experience sensations that gradually build. Thus, once the session is over, there’s a greater anticipation and desire to return to the water again for the next session, and naturally, with your partner, strengthening your relationship.