14 Clayton Nienaber - Surf Coach, Ex Pro Surfer, Surfboard Shaper.

What's holding you back from reaching your full surfing potential? Former WQS surfer and top surf coach Clayton Nienaber shares how small changes in mindset, technique, and training can transform your surfing journey.

Do you feel stuck in bad habits, overwhelmed in crowded lineups, or unable to progress despite countless hours in the water? Clayton explores how to break through these barriers by focusing on muscle memory, wave reading, and body control to improve flow and consistency.

• Learn how to stay calm and relaxed to eliminate anxiety in crowded lineups.

• Understand why mastering muscle memory and cross-training are the keys to better performance.

• Discover actionable steps to improve your bottom turns, twists, and wave reading for more enjoyable sessions.

Listen to this episode now to discover practical techniques and expert advice that will elevate your surfing to the next level!

Key Points

• Clayton explained that surfboards are designed for turning, with features like the wide point in the middle, rounded rails, and banana rocker to facilitate turning and acceleration.

• He discussed the importance of leaning into turns, especially at high speeds, to engage the rails and maintain speed and flow.

• Clayton emphasized the difference between pushing hard with the back foot, which can cause stalling, and leaning and twisting to maintain speed and flow.

• He explained the concept of 'power zones' on a wave, where the water draws off the bottom and the lip throws water down, and the importance of joining these zones through turns.

• Clayton highlighted the role of body positioning, such as arching the back and keeping the head up, in maintaining pressure on the tail and enabling easier paddling.

• He discussed the importance of reading the wave's power and energy, slowing down when the wave slows, and speeding up when the wave speeds up.

• Clayton stressed the need for relaxation and breathing when surfing barrels, as well as anticipating and reading the wave's behavior.

• He emphasized the importance of training muscle memory through activities like skateboarding and balance exercises, rather than relying solely on surfing to improve technique.

For the passionate surfer—whether you're a weekend warrior, a surf dad, or an older surfer—this podcast is all about better surfing and deeper stoke. With expert surf coaching, surf training, and surfing tips, we'll help you catch more waves, refine your paddling technique, and perfect your pop up on a surfboard. From surf workouts to handling wipeouts, chasing bigger waves, and mastering surf technique, we're here to make sure you not only improve but truly enjoy surfing more—so you can get more out of every session and become a wiser surfer. Go from Beginner or intermediate Surfer to advanced.