Overview
The Level 6 Intermediate surf is able to perform intermediate level manoeuvres with control and safety.
The below knowledge and skills is the minimum requirement to be an ASI Level 1 Surfing Instructor.
Aims
Able to select appropriate, makeable wave and ride it effectively, demonstrating control and performing and linking intermediate level manoeuvres (bottom turn, top turn, cutback on forehand and backhand).
The surfers style, flow, power and speed is not yet fully developed.
Locations and Conditions
Beach break
Peeling (spilling) waves when waves are 3 ft (1 metre)
Free from rocks (submerged or otherwise)
Rips may present
Wind speed less than 20 kilometres per hour (approx. 12.5 miles per hour)
Absence of a dumping shore break
Free from hazards such as marine creatures, pollution, etc.
Equipment
Fibreglass surfboard and leg-rope (leash)
Wax
Knowledge & Skills
Surf Safety
Able to swim 200 metres
Able to tread water for 5 minutes
Surfing Environment
Predict surfing conditions based on weather, swell, tides, wind direction/speed
Identify how to read waves by understanding different water conditions, wave types, and their suitability for surfing, left and right waves, wave frequency
Identify 5 different types of surf breaks (breach, point, reef, river mouth, bombora)
Select a surfing location for the intermediate surfer
Surfing Skills
Ability to select appropriate, makeable wave and ride the wave effectively, demonstrating control and performing and linking intermediate level manoeuvres (bottom turn and top turn on forehand or backhand, cut-back on forehand).
Including:
Choose a suitable place for entering and exiting the water at different surf breaks
Identify the different types of rips and how to use them to advantage
Negotiate broken and unbroken waves using the duck dive
Identify correct paddling out protocol
Select appropriate, makeable wave (not closing out, suitable to ride, left or right)
Identify the correct take off position.
Understand how body weight and speed affect surfing
Identify how to turn your board
Identify methods to get off the wave
Wipe-out safely at the intermediate level
Demonstrate safe surfing etiquette
Equipment
Read tide charts
Identify how parts of your board affect performance
Identify the different types of fins and fin systems
Identify surfboard damage
Choose a surfboard for the intermediate surfer based on personal style and the surfing conditions
Identify surfing safety and assistance clothing
Surfing Manoeuvres
Perform intermediate surfing manoeuvres on forehand and backhand:
Trim
Bottom turn, with spray
(burying the back third of the inside rail, front outer rail at least 30 degrees out of water, part of the bottom of the board is visible from the shore)Top turn, with spray
(burying the back third of what was the outside rail, part of the deck of the board is visible from the shore)Cut-back, with spray on forehand
(from out on the shoulder / clean open face, directional change of at least 90 degrees, an on edge turn of at least 30 degrees to the water’s surface, generating spray)Linking the above manoeuvres
Demonstrate control of the surfboard
(making the take-off, completing the manoeuvres, not getting thrown off by whitewash or chop, or digging a rail, maintaining stance)Effectively ride a wave
(from start to finish, left or right, on the shoulder or near the curl)
Bottom turn
Top Turn
Cutback