Surfing with a hand plane is a fresh alternative to traditional board surfing. If you are looking to mix your hobby up with a fun new style of surfing, you should try using a hand plane. The feeling of having your body propelled through the waves with nothing more than a small piece of wood in your hand is truly remarkable. Unless you are familiar with the hobby, however, you probably have some questions regarding hand plan surfing. In this post, we’re going to reveal the simple steps to surfing with a hand plane.
What Is a Hand Plane?
In short, a hand plane is a miniature surfboard that fits around your hand (hence the name). Depending on the particular model you choose, there’s usually a strap around the top of the hand plane that secures your hand to it. You wrap your dominant hand through the strap and hang on as it propels you through the waves.
Some people may be thrown off by the fact that it’s such a small device; however, don’t let that fool you into thinking it has limited capabilities. Hand planes are exceptionally powerful for their size, and you can really gain some serious speed when used correctly.
Tips On Using a Hand Plane
When you are ready to hit the waves, place your dominant hand through the strap of the hand plane and secure it as tight as possible. Trust me, you don’t want to go chasing down your hand plane when it comes off your hand. Now, swim out into the surf with your hand plane attached. Until you get the hang of it, you should stick with small, easy-to-surf waves that won’t force you to wipe out. Simply dive into the wave with your dominant hand stretched out, similar to how you surf a wave with a board. The only difference, however, is that you’ll want to use your free arm for an additional kick of power.
Surfing with a hand plane will certainly feel different than using a traditional board. Instead of maneuvering around with your torso, you’ll use your arms to guide the plane. It may take a couple of tries to get used to it, but keep practicing and you will eventually learn the ropes of hand plane surfing. Also, don’t be afraid to tackle larger waves with your hand plane. As long as you follow through with the right approach, you shouldn’t have a problem.