Hey Zuz, I’m confused: Should I ask Reddit for surf feedback?

Oh surfing Reddit. The good, the bad, the ugly—but some surfers take it at face value, and that’s not necessarily a good thing. There’s a limit to what you should expect from a bunch of surfers surfing the internet. Asking for surf feedback on Reddit borders masochism.

😵‍💫 hey zuz, i am confused

Hey Zuz, I am confused. I see a lot of people post their surf videos on Reddit and ask for advice on what they’re doing wrong or could do better. Is this a thing now? I was thinking of uploading some of my recent wave pool rides and getting some free feedback.

🥰 dear reader

Ah yes. The ancient ritual of offering yourself to the internet. Bend the knee! And you will get feedback. You will get a lot of feedback.

But let me answer your question first: yes, posting videos and asking for specific advice is very much a thing now on Reddit. Question: have you ever actually read the comments?

How can I explain it without sounding like a little be-atch. The “how can I improve” videos seem to be bringing out the most judgy attitude you may see online.

If you post a Surfline video, you may be told to get a better camera. If you post a wave pool video, you may get told that’s not really surfing. If you post in /surfing subreddit you will be promptly kicked out over to the beginners sub.

So, is it worth it? It can be if you’re pretty thick-skinned. Because Reddit can be very good at technical analysis offered by experienced surfers with too much time on their hands. But it’s awfully bad at remembering they are speaking to a human being.

If you want posture tips, timing advice, positioning, angle takeoff notes — you will most likely get it. Alongside sarcasm, unsolicited personality assessments, and tons of trauma projection. It’s the price you will need to pay: a few pieces of great advice buried in the pile of …

So I guess the real question here is why are you asking? Is it to feel like part of the surf community, or is it because getting a coach is not an option financially? If the former — go for it, just remember not to take it too seriously. If the latter, it may not be the best alternative, because if you get conflicting advice you will not be able to tell who to trust. Karma points don’t translate into surf coaching expertise.

Author: The Wipeout Weekly team