Do you feel stuck and frustrated on soft, small waves — while others somehow glide and carve like it's head-high?

In this episode, I share the exact perspective shift that turned my small-wave sessions from disappointing to transformative — all thanks to one insight from surf legend Tom Carroll. By learning to see the water differently, you'll tap into a whole new way of surfing that most people completely overlook.

• Learn the subtle water cues and light shifts that signal your best opportunity to turn or drive

• Understand how secondary swells, chop, and refracted energy create hidden power zones

• Hear how refining your visual awareness on small days can massively boost your confidence on bigger ones

Press play now and start surfing soft days like a technician — not a tourist.

Key Points

• Understanding the importance of momentum and water movement in surfing, especially on small, less powerful waves, is crucial for gaining an advantage.

• Focusing on smaller waves and ripples can help surfers better understand and interact with water movement.

• Surfers should look for changes in light on the water to identify potential wave movements and opportunities.

• Michael's perspective on surfing changed significantly after a conversation with Tom Carroll, leading to a major improvement in his surfing ability by paying attention to finer details in water movement.

• When surfing small waves, it's important to recognize the various interactions between the main swell and other water movements like wind chops and secondary swells.

• Timing turns, such as top turns and bottom turns, based on the alignment of wind chops with the main swell or the interaction of refracted swells with the wave bottom, can enhance surfing performance on small waves.

• Michael uses the analogy of downhill mountain biking to explain the importance of focusing on the finer details of the wave, similar to how a biker focuses on the width of their tire on the track.

• Michael encourages surfers to pay attention to the finer details of the wave and provides a reference to Tom Carroll's advice in episode number two for further learning. 

iTunes:  https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/podcast-surf-mastery/id1088660076?i=1000363823238

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Vy2AwetfV04oHJeNK56Z3?si=8v2ocwxbS1CC2TFnsH6jiQ

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.