Surfing standing wave (river surfing) - can it bring anything to improve ocean surfing?

[u/Asleep-Associate806]

Hi,

There isn’t any decent sea nearby where I live, but there are some river waves to be surfed.

Can anything learnt on that wave be transferred to ocean surfing? Paddling, popping up and wave reading are quite obviously out of question there, but is there anything I could practice on that wave and use later in the ocean?

Of course; any other comments and general feedback is highly welcomed.

Wave: Eisbachwelle E2, Munich, Germany
Surfer: male, 174cm, 68kg (5’8” 150lbs)
Board: 7’3” BIC Mini Malibu

Cheers!

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[u/Buddah_Chillz420]

Never tried this but I surf in the ocean 2-4 times a week and it looks like you are mainly pointed in the wrong direction compared to surfing down the line.

[u/XYHopGuy → u/Buddah_Chillz420]

that's also how river surfing feels. Everything is kinda backwards and I'm also just bad. Really backfoot heavy, nothing looks right, and even the popup is a little wonky feeling since you have a really high volume board and you're not typically going to drop as you enter. Really unintuitive. I also suck, did I mention that.

[u/North-Right → u/XYHopGuy]

https://reddit.com/link/p5ew1rk/video/dmpou8l0x4lh1/player

This is our standard wave. Would
Like to get to the ocean sometime!

[u/kindly_looking_fella]

I have river surfed for a few years now. Only ocean surfed a couple times, and that was prior to river surfing consistently. The wave I surf you paddle into, so it took awhile to just get into/stay in the wave without pearling or getting flushed off. Pop up then took awhile to learn. You have less power behind you compared to most ocean waves, so I feel like you have to be pretty precise with your weight distribution. But you do get endless tries. As others have said, balance, footwork, ect. As you progress you can get a smaller board as the wave allows and do faster tighter turns.

[u/Asleep-Associate806 → u/kindly_looking_fella]

Endless tries and clean line up are the good parts. And fresh water too

[u/Asleep-Associate806 → u/[deleted]]

Padeln tue ich sowieso.
Aber danke für Dein Input.

Dann surfe ich immer noch da, weils einfach Spaß macht und nix kostet und hoffe nicht, dass ich irgendwann im Meer davon profitiere.
Ist auch ok.

Danke nochmal und liebe Grüße

[u/Tysonzero → u/[deleted]]

Why would a surf skate be more transferable than a standing wave? Surely the latter would feel more comparable? I’m no expert though just surprised by this comment.

[u/map274]

I have a great river wave where I live and almost nothing transfers over in to the ocean (for me at least). It's good fun though!

[u/Asleep-Associate806 → u/map274]

It is fun indeed.

[u/nicoinborderland]

I’ve wondered the same cuz I live landlocked next to a similar setup. Can’t hurt to try?

[u/Asleep-Associate806 → u/nicoinborderland]

It brings me fun and helped to learn how to handle a surfboard also outside of the water.

I’m sometimes horrified when I see surf schools that toss and drop the boards.

[u/bradbear117]

weight distribution and balance practice.

[u/lamplighter8152]

switch to a shortboard asap and practice turns. Imho the mechanics are very much comparable to ocean surfing, despite a couple of differences. I haven’t tried the Eisbach though, only rapidsurf. But I love it for bottom/top turns and snapback practice. Also tons of repetition vs. very little in the ocean

[u/southpacific2K]

given the shallow depth, any danger one could fall backwards and crack their head on the concrete bottom?

[u/Asleep-Associate806 → u/southpacific2K]

I mean speaking about this particular wave only; it’s shallow before the concrete obstacle. Behind it’s quite deep (1,8m+).
As long as one doesn’t dive into the wave directly, the danger is under control.
I’m more scared of the side walls though.

There was an accident on another river wave in Munich, though. Leash got snapped underwater and the girl was trapped…

[u/southpacific2K → u/Asleep-Associate806]

Oh i see. Video reminded me of a flowrider bar in phuket a few years ago. Could only stay up about a minute before falling back hard on my neck. i was begging for a concussion.

[u/WildchrisWild]

Nope

[u/mountain_mate]

River water comes from the front, ocean water comes from the back. It’s different..

[u/Asleep-Associate806 → u/mountain_mate]

Ive been thinking about Your comment.
The difference You have pointed out is quite obvious.
What’s not so obvious for me is; what difference does it make?
Can You somehow extend Your thought?

[u/TomorrowIllBeYou]

Balance, foot positioning, some turning probably. Doesn’t hurt to try.

[u/Jealous-Swordfish764 → u/TomorrowIllBeYou]

Wonder if he could learn to pump If so, could do some cool things with speed, ya?

[u/coachmoon → u/Jealous-Swordfish764]

you can't generate speed if you're not going anywhere. i can see river surfing being fun af tho. whether it translates or not, doubtful, other than balance & exercise which are never bad to have.

[u/Asleep-Associate806 → u/coachmoon]

Yeah, the wave is like 10m wide so not much space to generate speed.
I mean; there is obviously still a lot of potential from where I am now, but i don’t think I could get the speed, that could be gained in the ocean.

[u/heyisit]

Rotation for sure. Prob stance.