Ty Roach holds multiple East Coast and National Longboard titles. He was the 6th best wrestler in the U.S. coming out of high school earning a scholarship to wrestle for North Carolina State University where he became the universityโs valedictorian. After graduating from N.C. State, he chased pro longboarding for years, but after a surfing injury, he decided to pursue his Ph.D. at San Diego State University where he helped lead the universityโs surf team to a national title. Today, Dr. Roach continues to compete in some WSL longboard events and is an active researcher in the areas of marine biology and biophysics.
If the long border is deeper and up and riding before the short border drops in, then it is their wave. Transcript: "So, this question involves a hypothetical scenario where there's a long border, who is deeper and a short border who is inside closer to the peak, the long border catches, the wave, and is up five seconds before the short border drops in. Behind the question is, whose wave is it? This is a bit of a gray area. However, in my opinion, if the long border is both deeper and up and riding and doing committed Maneuvers before the short border drops in, then it is undoubtedly the longboarders wave"
Yes, there are common skills which can help you in mastering both longboarding and shortboarding, with knowledge of the ocean and waves being the most important. However, there are also very specific skill sets that set the two apart. Transcript: "Hi, Jack. Great question. So to answer, simply yes, there are common skills that will help you in mastering the Arts of both longboarding and short boarding, the most prominent of those common skills. To me, is understanding the way that the ocean works and the way that waves work and this ocean knowledge and wave knowledge is something that's not just going to help you master your longboarding and short boarding but it really applies to any way writing disciplines such as kneeboarding, Boogie boarding or even body surfing with that said there are also Very specific skill sets which are only for longboarding or only for short boarding. For example, short borders are mostly concerned with moving the board across the surface of the water. For instance, doing turns Barrel, riding or even doing airs, above the lip whereas in longboarding, there's an added component of the surfer moving on the surfboard. For example, walking to the nose in order to hang 5 or hang 10. So in some to answer your question, there are common skills. Which will help you in mastering both longboarding and short boarding. But there are also very disciplined specific skill sets, which set the two apart."
My name is Ty roach, I'm a professional longboard surfer and adjunct research professor with a PhD in cellular and molecular biology. I've won several titles in my sport and aspire to be the world champion one day. I'm passionate about sharing stoke and love and making a positive impact on people around me. Transcript: "Hi Greg, thanks for the question. I'd be happy to tell you a little about myself. So my name is Ty roach. I'm a professional longboard Surfer and an adjunct research professor at the viral information Institute for my undergrad. I attended North Carolina State University on a wrestling scholarship where I graduated number one in my class while triple, majoring in biology botany and chemistry and minoring in genetics. I went on to receive a PhD in cellular and molecular biology from, San Diego State University, where my research mainly focused on the role of bacteria. And Viruses, and human health, and ecological Health, mainly focused on Coral Reef ecosystems as a surfer. I won four consecutive East Coast titles before going on to win. Two US men's longboard national titles. I was also a former ASP professional Surfer and I'm currently on the WSL qualifying series with aspirations to maybe one day when a world title as far as what I'm about. I'm really just about sharing Stoke and love and hopes to have a positive impact on the people around me and living every day to its absolute. Salute fullest."
To train to pop up better, incorporate exercises like burpees, squats and push-ups into your workouts, and focus on increasing hip flexion and knee flexibility by doing stretches such as pigeon pose and deep sumo squats. You can also add weight, such as a weight vest, to increase strength and explosiveness. Transcript: "This question says, how do you train to pop up better? So there's lots of different exercises that you can use to train your pop up. Of course, you can go get yourself a surfboard and lay it in the sand and work on doing your pop up on the beach. But some exercises that I incorporate into my own workouts that I really think do help you pop up better are things like burpees. So you're just dropping to the ground into like a pushup position, going all the way down, pushing back up and pulling your feet back under you. And I do some variations of those where I actually kind of stand up into a surf stance, then I'll drop back down and stand up switch stance and I'll do those over and over again. You can add in a jump at the top of that to kind of give you some extra explosion and work your legs a little extra. I've also found that adding a weight vest to your burpees can really help to improve the strength and explosiveness with which you can pop up. And then of course, there's also flexibility issues that some people have. And if you find that you're having trouble with your hip flexion or knee flexion in your pop ups, then there's certain stretches you can do. Things like pigeon pose really helps the hips, deep sumo squats can really help you be able to bring your legs up under you and pop up from that loaded low position. And then of course, things where you can kind of keep your knees good and flexible can also help a lot. And also things just basic things like pushups and squats will help you with your pop ups as well. So I would say really train on land with things like burpees, pushups, squats. You can add weight if needed and also just work on general flexibility in the hips, quads and knees."
Whether surf tourism is worth it depends on budget, familiarity with area, and comfort level when traveling. Generally speaking, it can be a great way to gain local knowledge, find places easier, and support the local economy. Transcript: "So this question says, I've been looking at some surf camps. Is surf tourism worth it? And I don't think there's a really simple yes or no answer to this question. I think it depends on several factors. Three big factors that I think it depends on are your budget, your familiarity with the place that you're going, and your comfort level when traveling. So if you're really on a tight budget, surf camps and surf tourism may not be for you, as they typically cost a little more than if you were to just go on your own and find your own lodging and transportation, etc. The second thing is your familiarity with the place that you're traveling to. So if it's a place you've never been, if it's a place where you don't have any friends that might be able to help you navigate your way, and then in particular if it's a place that's not frequently traveled by surfers and you may have a difficulty finding information online about this area, then in that case a surf camp may be a really good way to navigate your way through this trip a little easier than you could on your own. Then I think the last thing that plays a role in this is your comfort level when traveling. If you're comfortable traveling alone, especially in areas where you don't speak the language or in cultures that are really foreign to you, then maybe you don't need someone to help you navigate your path through a surf trip to their country. However, if you're not very comfortable traveling by yourself or with the small group that you've chosen to take with you, then surf camps are a great way to meet new people and kind of feel safe and comfortable throughout your trip. So I think all in all it really depends on what you want out of your trip and kind of what your budget and comfort level is. With that said, I will say I think overall the surf camps and surf tourism things that I've done and been involved in it have always seemed really worth it. You definitely get a little extra local knowledge. You can kind of find places easier and it's a little more relaxed than to have to plan all of your own trip. And I also think it's a great way to put some money back into the local economy and give back to the people that are there. And I think that's always a good thing when possible. So those are the factors that I would consider if you're choosing a surf camp or surf tourism option."
I started surfing as a way to connect with my dad and other like minded people. Now what I really enjoy most about it is that it's a unique display of athletic talent, which sets it apart from other sports. It's also just really fun and an awesome way to connect with nature. Transcript: "Ha great question. And one that I get asked a lot. I actually started surfing at a very early age, so early. In fact that I don't remember a time, not surfing. My dad was a surfer and he got me into it quite young. And I think early on what really drew me to it was that I could kind of, you know, grow closer to my dad and grow closer to these other people who enjoyed the sport as well. And so I think initially it was about connecting with other like-minded. People who also love the water. What keeps me coming back? And what I enjoy most about surfing now, is that it's such a unique artistic display of athletic Talent. Unlike other sports, where you have some goal function, you know, run faster, or put the ball in the hole more times than the other team, or whatever. Surfing really is a way that you can showcase your own unique style and your own unique form of athletic talent. And I think that that's something that really sets surfing apart from other sports and really keeps me coming back for more. Aside from that. It's just really fun and an awesome way to connect with nature. So that's what really continues to draw me in and keep me into the sport."