Cardboard Surfer

The improvements from his explanations and training are incredible. Next best thing to having a coach out in the water with you. My surfing has improved tremendously. When I come back from long work trips and focused on these routines, my surfing is better than when I left without fail.

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I was skeptical about this program because I judged it by the name. Cardboard Surfer?! It seemed too simple to offer any new strategies for me.
I’m very glad I got the program tho! Cris and Clay are complimentary teachers~ Clay puts in every~person terms the info that Cris explains so well more scientifically. The program fun to do, makes a ton of sense and has helped me surf better. Who knew all it was me and not my surfboard that was the problem!!?

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yea there’s routines for u to follow but if u have time to invest in watching every single video and again just for giggles then u will have a wealth of knowledge u can share and put to ur own use. u need time and understanding to make the most of thus amazing resource to health and wellbeing

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I’m an intermediate surfer of 20 years and definately learnt some great tips from this program. I taught myself some bad habits as a grom and never bothered to get coaching so I was really surprised to notice how some of these simple techniques made such a difference! Highly recommend.

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This is by far one of the most genius products to improve your surfing skills and with a piece of cardboard no less. The walk up was my first “aha” moment and it all came together after that. The program explanations and demonstrations make perfect sense and are super easy to implement. Lose your ego like me and learn these new skills pronto. This is the one. 5 stars!

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I’ve been working through the cardboard surfer and its immediately changed my surfing. I can’t reccommend the programme enough. It’s so effective and provides you with the best visual representation of what you need to be learning and training – developing the right technique and habits on land so that you can unlock your best in the water.
I’ve watched every surfing tutorial available on YouTube but none of them even touch upon what’s inside this program.

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I watched all the videos in Cardboard Surfer and, holy shit, it was like a million lightbulbs going off in my head. I was like ‘I do that…I do that too…Yep, that’s me…’ I’ve never had any coaching or even a lesson, and I had without a doubt plateaued. So last night I surfed the wave pool in Bristol, UK (same design as the Melbourne pool) and I felt like a different surfer. Genuinely! I had so much more flow, my coffee cup arm was helping me drive, I was getting the board on rail and, according to a mate who was in the session with me, throwing loads of spray. He said it was the best he’d seen me surf. I’ve never thought about what my rear arm should be doing, but now I see the coffee cup everywhere on every good surfer. So I guess I’ve been watching surfing, but not taking it in, until you and Clayton pointed it out. Deceptively simple but unbelievable valuable info. So thank you, and please thank Clayton. I can’t wait to see where I’m at after a couple more weeks of walking up and cardboard surfing.

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For a long time I watched videos of pro surfers and tried in vain to understand how and why they moved on the wave.

All this has changed since taking the Cardboard Surfer program. I love the concept of breaking down the complex art of surfing into simple, repeatable movements that I can do at home with nothing more than a piece of cardboard. – Clement

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First off I can’t thank you enough for the content you’ve put together. Just the key aspects of every program associated with your name is so insanely functional. I’ve worked with strength and conditioning coaches at the highest level of professional sports for years and never have I been taught about training muscle memory to improve my craft, in this case surfing. To me surfing is pretty new, I got into it a year ago after moving to the Cocoa Beach Florida area. I can’t tell you how much time I’ve spent practicing pop-ups, and turning just in my living room. Hours poured into watching pros, and tutorials on YouTube from guys that can surf really well. All that did was teach me bad habits, because the surfers I watched either compensated for their own bad habits, or I had no idea if the body positions I was in were right. Now I watch people surfing who I would have considered decent or good and think to myself, man that guy is working way too hard to move that board. Leaning and thrashing, not looking in the right place, standing sideways and not head on, and burning speed. My gained awareness has me taking so much confidence into the water my next time out.

The Cardboard Surfer Program is a GIFT FROM GOD!! AWARENESS, AWARENESS, AWARENESS!! A couple of weeks into it now and for the first time I’m AWARE of what my body needs to be doing!! I can feel when I’m out of alignment or moving like a complete kook because I’m AWARE of the proper body movement. As someone who has played sports their entire life I had no idea I could be in such violation of the basic movements required to surf well. You preach training proper movement through muscle memory and dude you delivered in a big way! A couple of times per day I go through the movements taught in this program and every time I realize something I had been doing all jacked up and WOAH!! I can actually recognize it, adjust my body position and fix the bad movement. This program gives surfers the tools to troubleshoot their surfing. Diagnose a bad bottom turn, or tweak your technique to create some extra drive. This was the best investment I’ve made for my surfing! It’s kept me super stoked through our flat spell, while applying everything I’ve learned on some cone drills with my skateboard. Now I’m just dying waiting for some hurricane swell to go apply this stuff!

If you’re new to surfing don’t even bother going out until you’ve gone through this program. Intermediate or advanced surfers, buy it now. Don’t hesitate, the content has enough for all skill levels to be worth the cost. I promise you will learn better AWARENESS, and tips to tweak the smallest of things in your surfing. Like Kelly said, “Surfing is three things, leaning, compression, and twisting.”

Insanely stoked about Cardboard Surfer and how it has completely opened my eyes to how the body is supposed to move!

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I am a middle aged man, intermediate surfer, most basic turns. I have had the Cardboard Surfer for almost 3 weeks now, and it is now starting to make differences in my surfing! The first couple of sessions after going through the walk up was not really working for me so I had to change it slightly to my needs but now seems to work better. And as for the cardboard surfer I have performed some slides that seemed ok in the water, but , after this mornings session on one wave where I got to perform a cardboard surfer after a cardboard surfer after cardboard surfer that has me smiling hours later and had the comments coming in from friends that have noticed a difference in my surfing, Yew!

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This program is best money I have ever spent on my surfing advancement. Over the past 10years, I have spent money on private lessons amd watched tons of YouTube vids and my surfing was still average. I can’t believe I have never had true help with my surfing until now. Cris is an expert in his field and the real deal. He is helpful, genuine and a guy with integrity in the way he runs his business. I have experienced this first hand. If you want to get to it and get better at surfing and get your body in peak performance for life get any of these programs today. Don’t waste another 10years flailing around thinking you have the basics down. Get this program. U will be shocked at how fast you progress and feel in and out of the water.

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Like every other beginner / intermediate surfer I though I was doing well. Then you see a video of yourself and think: What? is that me? Bad posture and out of balance all the time. The cardboard surf program gave me some amazing insight of changing all that. Still working on my posture ( Rome isn’t build in 1 day ) but my wave count went up from 50% to 80%, just with some little tips. Great program for every surfer that wants to get better and a must for every beginner surfer.

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I went back surfing during the pandemic since everything was closed (Gym, Jiujitsu Academy, Parks, Etc.) and you can go to the ocean but can’t stay at the beach in Hawaii. Picked up the cardboard surfer a few weeks ago. Mind blowing paradigm shift stuff! My pop up improved and and my the exercises strengthened my knees (my quads really). The repetitive pop-up exercise became second nature that it even helped me with my takedowns in another sport. Now I understand what “drive” really means. Don’t hesitate, get the program! Thank you Cris!

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LOTS of people, including me, use your app and your training. We understand them and how our bodies get them.  We need them for our bodies but also for our minds, because as we unlock our stiff bodies, our minds feel better and we surf better and everything is better.  
You’ve been doing this for 10 years and you’re getting better at it and the programs and app get better and better. Well done!

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I surf for several years, but unfortunally not so often as I Wish and this program gave me a lot of “AH-AH!!” moments. Some mistakes that i was doing and thinking i was doing it right. Like sometimes i like to say “if you do something for 20 years, it doesnt mean you are doing it right!” thanks a lot. Buying surfskate program and surf athlete for sure!

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An unintended biblical reference but to be honest most appropriate. As a life long intermediate level surfer I was so stuck in a non-progressional mode for way too long. I had fought against what always felt natural and bowed to the “standard” way to accomplish the pop-up, which should be referred to as the “walk-up”. For anyone struggling with the most fundamental aspect of surfing I honestly could not praise this approach any higher (“I was blind but now I can see”). This “cardboard surfer” is honestly the key to unlocking so many other aspects of your surfing. Cris and Clayton have done a stellar job of walking you through this widely troubling aspect. Gove this training an honest effort and I guarantee you you’ll have quite a few “aha moments”. Thank you Cris & Clayton. 5 star plus.

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I am at the beginning of my surfing journey. And I took this program for one thing: to speed up my progress.
It helps so much to form good habits and focus on the fundamentals. And that greatly simplifies the vision of surfing. It shows that Cris is really keen to give the clearest and fairest advice possible. It is not only a question of learning to slide on a cardboard, but of understanding the basic mechanics which govern a good and stylish surf. After following this program, we immediately spot what is wrong when we see others surfing. It is really a chance to have access to this today! Thanks man !

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Hi Cris, I have a NASM certification but my flexibility is limited and I realized that during my first surf lesson and immediately bought a few of your products. They work. Your email speaks to me. I am just really getting into the programs. I have been doing some new things I learned in terms of flexibility and dude you are a rockstar. Great communicator, first class instruction. Well thought out. I can’t begin to compliment you enough and I wish we were neighbors, you are my kind of guy. So yes, I am in, all the way. Thank you for creating a system that is bringing joy to my life.

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Aloha Cris
I want to take a well-deserved moment to say a massive thanks for your help via your program, and regular Instagram motivation which has also improved my approach and outcomes to cooking too. Things have been gradually improving and coming together since I started with your program, and…….. I had an awesome surf a couple of days ago, where a few things aligned and I got a bunch of waves and rode them with more focused awareness resulting in better positioning, more confidence, quicker take-offs, more rail time, and longer rides……… so stoked!!!! It’s been many years, and I specifically attribute 99.99% of turning the clock back to my significantly improved SSC training program (including the cardboard surfer) and surf knowledge and awareness that I have learnt in the last 6 months from you
I’m still working my way slowly through the programs so there is still heaps more knowledge and skill work to tap into and I’m loving it. Thanks heaps, and all the best,

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I’ve been surfing for around 20 years and was recommended the cardboard surfer program by a friend who was also an experienced surfer, I was intrigued,
I purchased the program and my son and I watched all the videos. The pop up was enlightening and I realised that I was taught and using a poor technique. I still see people being taught inferior methods.
The pump when trimming was another penny drop moment! The movement was familiar to me from skating on a halfpipe, but I’d never linked it with surfing.
I’ve applied these to my surfing since and it’s been a revelation! Thanks so much!

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Hi Cris, my wife and 8yo daughter gave me your program for Christmas. Since we all surf together it was really a gift for all of us. We’re watching your program as a family…it’s awesome. We usually watch a video or two on the program before we hop on our boards and practice and critique each other on those drills. No more big effort pop ups. Just to land with feet in the wrong position and have to readjust on a critical part of the wave! It’s wild to get this knowledge after surfing nearly 30 years and see how much more fun we can have in the water by being intentional about our focus for that session. It is such a great asset for my coaching my daughter too. It’s crazy to go out in the water and see how few people really pay any attention to their technique. Glad we’re not in that camp any more. You’ve really got some incredible programs and have put a massive amount of work into putting them together. We appreciate that work, the improvements its already bringing to our surfing and even drawing us closer as a family.

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I also bought the Cardboard program. I always thought of trimming off the front foot, but not turning. What an eye opener! Along with the coffee cup, makes me want to break out my 6’6. even for the point break. I normally ride a 7’2 Stewart 949(awsome!). and the thought of popping up on the 6’6 felt like it would never happen again. Great stuff Cris!

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I was told about Cris and his videos by a friend who was organising a trip to the Mentawais. Initially I just watched the YouTube strength training videos and the ‘packing for a trip to Indo’ which was really useful.
I randomly ran into Cris in the water at Macaroni’s a few days before the Corona virus forced us all home early.
When I was allowed back in the water back home, I purchased his program. His relaxed but quick walk up and totally focusing on looking down the line has massively improved my ability to get waves. I hardly ever fall on take off, and that definitely wasn’t the case in Indo

Once on the wave, the arm/leg/coffee cup positions, no poo man, twist, be like a sprinter feels great, brilliant advice.

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Welp, the cardboard surfer program improved my surfing 2-3 levels in as many weeks. I’m no longer skidding out and bogging on backside bottom turns. I’m no longer catching rail at the top. I’m taking different lines on the wave and throwing much more spray. I finally understand the shape of my boards.

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First surf in 7 weeks, have been doing all the cardboard surfer stuff daily and some of the Bosu stuff you guys posted on social media. I cannot believe what happened on my last wave: Short and sharp backhand wave into the shore break. I walked up effortlessly, suddenly flew down the line (must have been the walk up to cardboard slide combo I practiced at home), did a bottom turn into the lip of the shore dump, and believe I pivoted of my front foot freeing my fins(never had that feeling before), did NOT get stuck in the lip but landed safely in the flats ahead of it. I don’t know about that whole wave, I have never felt anything like that. I have surfed for 20 years now, probably the last 10 to 15 on my same intermediate to shit level. Maybe those past 7 weeks have changed my surfing. Just an addition: I did the exercises thoroughly, filming myself, checking my form, comparing my posture to pro surfers, and thinking about the process and surfing nonstop! The cardboard slide generated incredible amounts of speed, but felt completely effortless, I don’t recollect needing any power whatsoever. I guess the unweighting is the trick really.

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I´m generally not one for reviewing solely out of pure laziness, but I am delighted to make an exception for such a fantastic product. This program is the best investment I have made for my surfing – by far. 
I’ve perfected my paddling but maintained an awful technique on the wave face. This program has unlocked a path to progression in a way endless YouTubing just won’t. After a vast amount of ‘aha’ moments, I have a clear trajectory for taking my surfing to the next level. Excellent work. Just TAKE MY MONEY! Workout programs are also great.

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After moving a bit further from the ocean where I could not surf multiple times a week, I started noticing a decline in the quality of my surfing. After reading reviews I gave this and the Surf Skate programs a try. The instruction is super easy to follow. The drills are easy to do. I absolutely saw an improvement in my surfing. Have been using the drills a couple times a week to stay on top of things and it’s still helping out. Give it a shot!

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It has shown me results, session after session in the surf. That feeling is addictive!!
This program has been extremely helpful in identifying and clearing out those bad habits (you know the ones that hinder progress only after realizing feeling it in the water) and also gaining body awareness. This brings out results in;giving confidence from land traininglooking for & feeling out the power zones of the wavegliding across and making the section or overtaking drop-in’sdrawing out turns with REAL lean and holding the rail engaged back to the power zone still high on the face

I feel these are the results from your program, your App updates keep it fresh.I can recommend the program as applying to real-life surfers all in the preparation in chasing and dialing in for THAT wave, whatever the conditions.

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The video’s on the “walk-up” blew my mind and made me completely retrain myself from ‘popping’ up . This tip alone makes the course entirely worth it.

I’m a big fan of body mechanics, reminds me of learning to perfect throwing a fastball, and Clayton does a great job breaking down each component of fundamental surf mechanics. I wish I watched this many years ago.

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The cardboard surfer is a FINE program which gives a lot of good insights to surf technique. It has reasonable explainations why you should move this way (lunge) or not (squat). With a lot of helpful ideas (coffee cup) it´s easy to practice and doing the right moves. I have no idea how many surfers can surf poo stance, when you know it´s wrong.

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I have been surfing for nearly 15 years but sadly my skill has not shown the duration I’ve been in the water until I implemented tweaks to my surfing found in these programs and started training properly for surfing. I feel way more energetic and can now pull off maneuvers I thought would always be impossible. Thank you Cris!

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Congratulations Chris Mills and all the staff of Surf Strengh Coach.

I am an experienced surfer and an avid searcher for surfing tutorials to upgrade my style and technique.
The Surf Strengh Coach is by far the most complete, detailed and comprehensive program I have ever come across . I bought several programs including the Surf Skate, the Perfect Pop Up, Surf Atlethe and the Body Weight Training. I’ve been trainning constantly I can say that me and my buddies have already noticed a big improvement in my surfing. I feel more loose, more fit, more aware and more confident than ever. I highly recommend the programs. They are highly effective and worth the price you pay. Differently than many other bullshit coaching programs I unfortunately acquired before I knew Surf Strengh Coach.

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Before the Cardboard Surfer program, I had not progressed in years. My surfing was slow. I felt like I was always struggling to get speed. Through the Cardboard Surfer program, Cris and Clayton opened my eyes to how to generate more speed on a wave. Then they showed me a simple and effective way to practice and repeat it at home. Not only am I surfing faster now, but my style has improved and I am able to do more maneuvers with the speed that I am generating. Surfing has become way more fun. My surfing has gone from dull and lifeless, to fast and lively. Get this program if you want to surf faster and with better style.

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These programs are really great. Each one of them offers a different but very important angle. If you really want to improve your surfing, you better have a plan. And this is the BEST PLAN I have seen until now. And TBH … I also purchased other programs but they dont measure up.

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The cardboard surfer program is packed with instruction and “ah ha” moments that have changed the way is surf. Small adjustments taught/discussed in the app have helped make huge improvements in my surfing, such as consciously being “front on”. For some it may be a given but I started surfing way later in life and just the smallest tweak of my hips forward have changed my ability to turn better and generate more speed. I can’t recommend the program enough.

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All of Chris’s programs are great. Currently working on bodyweight surf workout and it is legit. I come back to the cardboard surfer if I haven’t surfed in a while. It helps get the body coordination back, plus the cardboard slide is a gamechanger. I would carry a piece of cardboard in my suitcase and practice with it on the road.

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I found Cris by accident through one of the YouTube teasers and even though I’m a level 0.5 beginner, the logic of what Cris was talking about resonated with me as someone from a science background.
On buying the programmes, it was refreshing to have an app sitting on the iPad and it made it easier to progress through the content (which in itself is all worthwhile and eye-opening stuff).
I think Cris is a really good presenter and you can see he is really passionate about his subject(s) and he makes it very easy to keep interested in the content, delivered in bitesized chunks.
For the cost fuel and of a couple of sessions at Bristol’s “The Wave”, I have lots and lots of content that I can go back to again and again to help my dryside drilling so that when I do get into the water I can hopefully progress at a half decent rate.
I am even getting to grips with a Carver and I never thought I would see myself as a skater!!!
In summary: buy the programs, you won’t regret it.

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I have been a UK based surfer for approx 10 years. I really started to focus about 5 years ago. The progress was steady but happening. I then stagnated until I started the cardboard surfer program. I realised for 9 years my stance was wrong! I was poo man. I was well known for my distinctive stance but I didn’t realise this signature move was also holding me back. After rewiring my pop-up with the walk up and being conscious of my stance after a few sessions I already feel that I have broken the plateau and on my way to my next goal. Bigger turns. Which co-incidentally the cardboard surfer program has given me some of the tools to help as well. I have followed Cris for years and really rate his work and I am glad I bought into his community!

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I’ve been on Chris’ programs since back before the app – shout out the Surf Mastery Podcast!
I continue to enjoy the artfully put together programs mainly down to the fact that Chris takes methodologies and concepts from lots of different disciplines and distills it all down in to concise and simple yet challenging chunks. I only started surfing a few years ago and was looking from the outset to build good techniques, habits and surf specific physicality all of which Chris (and friends) deliver. Cheers mates!

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I am so glad I purchased this program during the quarantine. Like most people, I thought my popup was pretty solid. After working through this program, the walk-up technique taught here has changed my surfing. I’m much quicker getting up on the wave, fluid, and efficient. My friends have noticed how much I’ve improved and asked me how I’ve gotten so smooth. I don’t hesitate to tell them it’s because of this program! The simple biomechanical principles that Chris and Clayton use in this program are no brainers; it makes total sense when they show you more efficient ways to move your body when surfing. If you’re looking to improve your surfing by starting at the foundation, this is it!

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Just downloaded and purchased the cardboard surfer. After viewing about 1/4 of the content, I can say that after my board, this is the best investment in surfing I’ve ever made! I’ve learned more here than all the other videos and books I’ve looked and that’s a lot!

There is so much more on the app that I’m looking into learning as well.

This is really an incredible set of programs, and I’m grateful to have been exposed to it.

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I’ve been surfing for two decades, and I have many bad habits built in that had stopped my progression for years. This program has helped me learn some critical details that will make me a better surfer, and it has shown me the way I can internalise and reinforce those movements, by repetition out of the water, where I can do them hundreds of times. I really think this program is pure gold for anyone interested in developing his surfing, from beginners to advanced surfers.

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This programe has really helped me with sorting out my pop up and surf stance and has helped increase my wave count. The programe has easy to follow,in depth and practical excerises that you can replicate at home to help teach muscle memory and correct technique. I would reccomend this product to anyone 😎

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I have tried this a couple of times in the cold Atlantic waters off Northern Spain on slower 1.5m waves and it worked for me. I still mix it up with classic pop up though. I will try on faster and/or larger waves as soon as I can, probably off the coast of Cornwall. I also make my wife laugh as I slide about the living room on a piece of cardboard, so it is a win-win on the home front too.

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The cardboard surfer program provides great exercises and insights into how surfing in the water should feel. It gives many exercises to practice at home (without looking like a kook to everyone) and to get a better feel for the board (and your own body). Cris and Clayton are very insightful and following them has helped me progress my surfing significantly.

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As someone fairly new to surfing and being a landlocked surfer, the Cardboard Surf Program is perfect for maximising my time in the water. The program is straightforward to use and as long as you put the time in you’ll definitely see results from dry land practice to being in the water. What has changed my surfing and ongoing progression has been the ‘walk up’; no more ‘pop up’ no more ‘poo man’. Do yourself a favour, if you are relatively new to surfing or have been surfing a while and stuck on a plateau of progression, get this program, it will change the way you surf for the better. The Cardboard Surf Program – simply awesome, 7 stars!

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Hi guys the cardboard surfer program has not only change my surfing but so fun to be a part of easy to understand and apply I’d recommend this program to anybody looking for a new lease on surfing thanks Chris love it Combine this with stretches for surfers perfect package 🤙

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Thanks so much Chris and Clayton for this program. It has opened my eyes and mind to all the things I have been doing wrong but also doing right. Every-time I’m in the water, I try to focus on a particular technique detailed in the cardboard surfer. It blows my mind sometimes when it just works with less effort than my pre-cardboard surfer days. I would recommend the cardboard surfer program to anyone who wants to improve their technique.

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I’ve spent hours looking for clues in youtube videos as I’m learning to surf and it was so refreshing to find this program. It explained in a simple direct way the core movements needed to surf, and the common errors that surfers fall into as they learn the sport. It was shocking to see how I was doing them most of them! The corrective exercises are surprisingly easy and provided a solid approach which I have seen results after just 1 week. So rad!

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I am a high school teacher with two teenage boys who have picked up surfing during this Covid crisis. They are fearless and naturals.
I just wanted to get to the line-up and surf some green waves with my boys. This app has everything in once place. It’s awesome.
As a teacher I appreciate the methodical approach to surfing.
I have the cardboard surfer and the surf athlete programs. Both are go at your own pace and designed to help me do what I enjoy, surfing with my boys.
The cardboard surfer app is helping me learn the proper movements in a simple non judge mental way. I can practice at home as much as I want and following great videos and a simple piece of cardboard. Amazing!
The surf athlete is helping my 49 year old body handles the pressures of surfing and more impotently morning t will help my overall health and wellness.
I’m excited to be on this journey and so thankful for Surf Strength Coach!

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I have been a long time struggler with injury and mobility that had taken away a lot of my surfing ability. This program has introduced me to the technical aspect of surfing which I have never been exposed to before. I now have a different way of approaching my surfing which includes stretching, mobility work and surfing my cardboard around the house. It is immense help when you are shown through technique how to achieve what you have been aiming for. Reminded me of what frothing for waves is like….

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