005: MATT SCORRINGE - Ex Pro Turned Surf Coach & Founder of 'The Art of Surfing'
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Show Notes for The Surf Mastery Podcast: "Unlocking Surfing Potential with Matt Scorringe"
Are you surfing slower than you’d like or struggling to master the basics? Find out how focusing on speed, precision, and smart fundamentals can elevate your surfing to the next level.
In this episode, Matt Scorringe, former pro surfer and founder of The Art of Surfing, shares strategies for developing speed, improving technique, and overcoming common surfing mistakes. Learn how small tweaks can lead to big breakthroughs, whether you're catching waves for fun or competing on the world stage.
Master the art of generating and maintaining speed for dynamic, powerful surfing.
Discover the importance of arm positioning, foot placement, and pop-up techniques for better control.
Understand how practicing in small or "bad" waves can reveal weaknesses and help you.
Take your surfing to new heights—listen now to gain actionable tips and inspiration from one of New Zealand's leading surf coaches.
Notable Quotes:
“Surfing is an art—every surfer has their own unique style and approach to the wave.”
“If you start with maximum force on your pop-up, you’ll reach faster speeds and better momentum.”
“Bad waves reveal your weaknesses—and that’s where you’ll find the gold nuggets of improvement.”
“Your arms are your secret weapon—they drive your turns, maintain your balance, and add power.”
Former Pro Surfer and Current NZ Junior team coach Matt Scorringe reveals some of the strategies and surfing tips he uses with his clients.
Summary - Try isolating one specific aspect of your surfing i.e. speed. Spend 20 mins racing to the end of each wave as fast as you can. Experiment with how fast you can surf, forget about turns, just get to the end of the wave as quick as possible. You will be surprised how fast you can surf. Foot placement is very important, a 1cm shift can make a big difference in the way your board feels and performs. Play around with some subtle adjustments next time you surf.
Matt’s Website: https://www.theartofsurfing.com
Raw Irons clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrqvRnD3CVY
Mick Fanning spreads his wings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zAhCPSsmU4
For more info about Matt and to book a coaching session click HERE
Key Points
Matt Scorringe explained the reasoning behind naming his business "The Art of Surfing" - to represent surfing as an art form that is open to interpretation.
Matt discussed the importance of speed in surfing and strategies to improve speed, such as racing down the line and focusing on the pop-up and first movement.
Matt highlighted common mistakes he sees in intermediate surfers, including incorrect foot placement and improper use of the back arm.
Matt provided tips on proper foot placement and using the back arm effectively, including the "spread your wings" analogy.
Matt discussed common mistakes he sees in elite junior surfers, such as trying to push their turns too much instead of surfing to the conditions.
Matt described his coaching programs in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, including camps, courses, and online coaching with video analysis.
Matt emphasized the importance of getting coaching in all conditions, even poor surf, as it can highlight weaknesses and lead to improvements.
Matt encouraged New Zealand surfers to embrace coaching and overcome the stigma around it, as it can help raise the overall level of surfing in the country.
Outline
Introduction of Matt Scorange
Matt Scorange is introduced as an ex-pro surfer and ex-sponsored free surfer from New Zealand.
He represented New Zealand in the International Surfing Association World Junior titles multiple years and competed in the World Under 20 Pro Juniors.
Matt traveled with the Billabong team and received coaching from notable surfers like Occy and Luke Egan.
He also worked closely with Josh Kerr in 2009.
Currently, Matt runs the Art of Surfing, a surf coaching service in New Zealand.
Naming 'The Art of Surfing'
The name 'The Art of Surfing' was chosen because surfing is seen as a true art form, unlike more objective sports like golf or tennis.
This name represents the subjective nature of surfing, where technique and style can be interpreted differently.
It aligns with Matt's coaching philosophy, which encourages clients to seek input from various coaches, as no single person has all the right answers.
The name also appeals to his target audience, making it attractive for merchandise like t-shirts worn during camps.
Early Coaching Experiences
Matt shares that he was relatively late to receive coaching compared to their peers.
His first significant coaching experience came through Billabong camps, where he received guidance from ex-pros like Occy and Luke Egan.
These camps exposed him to the benefits of coaching and highlighted the gap between themself and competitors who had been training in structured environments for longer.
He observed how seasoned competitors like Ace Bucking and B. Durbridge excelled in pressure drills, while he and others struggled due to lack of similar training.
Importance of Speed in Surfing
Matt emphasizes the critical role of speed in surfing, particularly for New Zealand surfers.
New Zealand's wave conditions, which often include point breaks and river mouths with slower, more bowling waves, make it crucial for local surfers to focus on generating and maintaining speed.
Increasing speed was a key focus area when receiving coaching from Luke Egan and Occy.
A specific strategy used was racing from the start to the finish of a wave without attempting any turns, to isolate and improve the speed element of surfing.
Strategies for Improving Speed
Isolating speed as a focus area during practice sessions is essential.
Racing from the start to the finish of a wave without attempting turns helps in improving speed.
Focusing on the initial pop-up and the 'first lift and throw' movement is crucial.
Exaggerating the pop-up and initial arm movements, similar to top surfers like Filipe Toledo and Mick Fanning, aids in speed improvement.
Practicing these elements for specific durations during surf sessions (e.g., 20-30 minutes at the start or end of a session) is recommended.
Applying Newton's law of momentum by starting with maximum force achieves faster momentum quicker.
Common Mistakes by Intermediate and Advanced Surfers
Incorrect foot positioning limits hip rotation and affects overall performance.
Many surfers allow their back arm to fall behind them during maneuvers, pulling them off balance instead of following through towards the beach.
Ideal Foot Placement for Shortboard Surfers
The back foot should be centered on the grip pad, over the center point of the fins.
For maximum turning potential, the back foot should be pushed into the kicker of the grip pad.
The front foot should be placed near the center point of the board, within a foot-width radius of the central point.
Practicing pop-ups on land improves foot placement accuracy
Improving Arm Positioning: 'Spreading Your Wings' Concept
This concept encourages surfers to spread their arms wide, similar to a bird's wings, when approaching the lip for a rail or beginning a forehand carve.
It emphasizes maintaining wide arm positioning throughout the turn, following through with the movement.
This technique is compared to Mick Fanning's wide arm positioning during carves.
Practicing this technique on a skateboard ramp before applying it in the water is suggested.
Advice for Elite Junior Surfers
Many elite junior surfers tend to get ahead of themselves, attempting maneuvers beyond their current skill level.
They should focus on fundamentals and surf smart rather than always pushing for the most advanced tricks.
Using the analogy of a builder's toolbox, they should only use the 'tools' (maneuvers) they have mastered.
Balancing progressive surfing with consistency is important, especially in competitive situations.
Coaching Programs Offered by Matt
Matt is based in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, which has become a hub for high-performance surfing despite inconsistent wave conditions.
He offers nationwide and international coaching programs.
Both in-person and online coaching options are provided.
He emphasizes the value of coaching in all conditions, including small or poor-quality waves.
Video analysis and comparison with pro surfers are used to provide detailed feedback.
He encourages New Zealand surfers to embrace coaching to improve the overall standard of surfing in the country.
Encouragement for All Levels of Surfers
Matt encourages surfers of all levels to seek coaching, emphasizing that improving one's surfing leads to more enjoyment.
He addresses the stigma around adult coaching in New Zealand and urges surfers to overcome this mindset.
Using tools like the Solo Shot camera for self-filming when a filmer is unavailable is recommended, making it easier for surfers to get video feedback on their technique.
Transcription
So that's when you can really start to open up through your maneuvers.
Welcome to the Surf Mastery Podcast. We interview the world's best surfers and the people behind them to provide you with education and inspiration to surf better. Isolating a specific element in your surfing and working on it.
Michael Frampton
Today's podcast, I'm interviewing Matt Scorringe. Matt is an ex-pro surfer, as well as an ex-sponsored free surfer. Matt represented New Zealand in the International Surfing Association World Junior Titles multiple years. He went on to compete in the World Under 20 Pro Juniors. He traveled with the Billabong team. Matt received coaching from Occy and Luke Egan. Matt has done a lot of work with Josh Kerr in 2009 in particular. And Matt is now currently running The Art of Surfing, which is a surf coaching service in New Zealand. Matt, welcome to the show.
Matt Scorringe
Awesome, thank you for having me.
Michael Frampton
Thanks for coming on.
Matt Scorringe
No worries.
Michael Frampton
So first of all, I wanted to ask you, I love the name of your business, The Art of Surfing, because often people think of surfing as just a sport. But could you expand more on why you went with The Art of Surfing?
Matt Scorringe
Yeah, sure. When I was basically in the development stage of what I wanted to do with my surf coaching and my business in general, I actually got quite hung up on what the name was going to be. It was something I thought was really important for two reasons. I wanted it to be a name, obviously, people liked that kids would want to wear the t-shirts that they got on the camps and so on. But at the same time, I wanted to basically, in a short sentence, represent and explain what I'm doing. So when I did think of The Art of Surfing, I mean, obviously, it's no secret there are a lot of "The Art of" out there in different sports or different genres of things. So I'm not saying I invented that term, but I just felt that surfing, of all sports, is a real art. It's not black and white, like let's say golf or tennis, where the ball goes out and the line beeps. It's such a, I guess, interpreted sport by how people judge you and the technique, what is correct technique and what is the best way to surf. So I think everyone can interpret it in their own way. And it aligned with my coaching theories. Like I like to obviously give my input to my clients, but at the same time, I like them to get coaching from other people because I don't think any one person necessarily has all the right answers. So yeah, back to the name, I just felt it really crossed over a lot of areas in regard to what I was trying to achieve. And on top of all that, it sounded cool. Well, to me, it sounded cool. So I went with it, and yeah, I have had a lot of positive feedback around that. So yeah, it's been a winner, I think.
Michael Frampton
That's a great name. Sometimes we forget that surfing is an art. I almost consider it a fine art as well.
Matt Scorringe
Yeah, no, absolutely. It's one of those things that I think, like I'm kind of repeating myself, but I mean, you just look at the international tour and judges and it's so subjective, you know, just De Souza beats Mick here or vice versa, and you're gonna get a couple of nations up in a roar about it. But it's kind of cool in the same way that it isn't black and white. And that's art in general. Some people like certain art, some people don't. It's just the way it goes. Yeah, I was fairly late into coaching.
Michael Frampton
Yeah. When did you personally first receive a coaching session?
Matt Scorringe
A lot of my peers were getting coaching in Australia, you know, that were similar age. Maybe from New Zealand, there wasn't any quality coaching in New Zealand at all. And then even some of my New Zealand competitors started traveling to Aussie to get coaching. So I was quite late on the scene. And you mentioned earlier in my bio, my first coaching was actually the Billabong camps, and it was the likes of Occy and Luke Egan and the like, just giving their two cents on it, which obviously was quite quality two cents. But I guess you'd say they weren't coaches. They were just ex-pros giving, you know, good feedback and good advice from their experience and their training. And that was my first time that I was in an environment where I saw the benefits of coaching. I was alongside guys like Ace Buchan and Bede Durbidge and some of those guys that ended up making it to the tour. And when we did some certain pressure drills and so on, those guys flourished, and the rest of us failed. So it was quite clear to see they'd been training like that for a long time already. And I was new to it and, you know, basically didn't have that competitive nous that they did, you know, around not having trained as much in that environment. So yeah, I really saw the benefit of it, and that's probably where it kicked off for me.
Michael Frampton
If you can cast your mind back when you were younger and you were a hundred percent focused on your surfing, what are some tips and strategies that really helped you progress your own surfing?
Matt Scorringe
For me, from a personal point of view, when it goes to technique, it was speed. That was something that, you know, I think in general, and I'm currently working with, you know, the New Zealand kids here, coaching the New Zealand World Junior Team. So I think speed in general, from a New Zealand point of view, is massive because our waves are a lot different to Australia and some of the other countries in regards to the speed that they break, the way they break, how steep they are. We have a lot of point breaks and sort of river mouths, and they're kind of more bowling, sort of, J-Bay-like waves. And we don't have your Snapper Rocks or D-Bars. And I think speed for a New Zealander is crucial. We generally are slower, and it's something we need to focus on. And that was a massive thing for me. That was probably the first thing that guys like Luke and Occy pointed out, you know, you need to work on your speed. You're just gonna get left behind unless you catch up. So yeah, that was a key for me.
Michael Frampton
Any strategies you can think of that helped you increase your speed?
Matt Scorringe
Yeah, so in terms of strategies and technique, I'll never forget one of the first things they said was just to get up and race to the end of the wave. I'd never, ever thought to try and do that, you know? I was always trying to do everything at once. And it was about isolating a specific element in your surfing and working on it. They sent me out there and basically I had to get two forehand and two backhand waves where I just raced from start to finish. Regardless of how good the wave was, don't try any turns. They were able to come in, and it was probably before video analysis was sort of a thing. So they just gave me their verbal feedback of what they saw. But yeah, they were able to break down certain things I wasn't doing to generate or maximize my speed. And yeah, so that I think opened my eyes to the fact of isolating an area to work on, you know, maybe for a whole surf or even a week or a month, let alone just going out there and trying to surf good on every wave all around. Yeah, it took a while.
Michael Frampton
Did you integrate that new speed into your repertoire?
Matt Scorringe
Like even getting away from maybe me personally now, like for me personally, it took a while. And I do think it takes a while for a lot of kids in general, you know, any surfer, whether recreational, young, or old. It can take a while to build speed in particular into your surfing. Because, you know, if you kind of look at it like a fast-twitch fiber point of view, some people have it, some people don't. Body type's very much a part of it, weight. So anyway, the point is, you know, bringing it back to myself, it did take a while. And when I finally increased the speed, it was about trying to just do those subtle 10% things that increase it within your combination of maneuvers. And for me, I found it very hard. And I'd be safe to say I never quite mastered it, to be fair. So, you know, it's an ongoing thing I still work on today. It's trying to make sure I'm surfing as fast as I can. And when I work with specific clients and see that they need to work on speed, it reminds me how important it is.
Michael Frampton
Is speed a weakness you see in a lot of the people you coach?
Matt Scorringe
Yes, it is. Obviously, it's not the only thing. And I know it might sound like I'm getting caught up just on speed, but I personally believe it's a very important element to your surfing. I mean, you just gotta look at Mick Fanning, Filipe Toledo, and the guys that are right at the top of their game. They are fast. And yes, you got guys like Joel, who might look a little bit more labored in his approach because he's focusing on style more. But he's still, if you put a timepiece on him and measure his speed, he's going very fast as well. You know, I think the fastest surfers in general are the best. And I'm not saying that's across the board, of course, but I think that they generally get the nod because it just makes everything look so much more wow factor. If there's equal amounts of spray being pushed and flare, but someone's doing it faster, that's where I believe the nod gets given. And through working with a lot of the World Junior campaigns, well, you know, you travel in, I think there's something like 34 nations now at the World Juniors. So the top five countries, France, Japan, Australia, America, Hawaii, basically, the difference between them and the rest, when they're getting all the way through the finals, it's their speed. They're getting two turns in, where some other kids are only getting one. So yeah, it really makes a huge difference.
Michael Frampton
Yeah, I totally agree. It's the first thing you notice when you're out in the water and there's a pro in the water, you just, wow, they're just surfing literally twice as fast as anyone else. Yeah, it's quite a difference. Yeah, sometimes we don't realize it when we're watching surfing videos. It's only when we see them in real life we realize how fast they are actually going. Yeah.
Matt Scorringe
Absolutely. And that's a great point. A lot of the kids here in New Zealand don't get to see pro surfers in real life. So they don't know how fast you need to surf. And that's why we really encourage them to get to the Goldie, because you're gonna see half the top tour surfers there, surfers that were on tour or might soon be on tour. And I think that's the benefit of certain hotspots around the world where we used to see a lot of pros coming from. The kids get to witness it firsthand in the water, and they follow and suit based on what they see as possible. And here in New Zealand, we just don't have as many quality surfers. We have a few, but the numbers aren't as high. So the videos don't quite show how fast they're going, as you say.
Michael Frampton
Okay, so as a strategy for our listeners, do you think going out for one, maybe a few surfs or even a whole week and just focusing on just racing and seeing how fast you can go on every wave, do you think that's a good strategy?
Matt Scorringe
Yeah, I do. I think obviously it's pretty hard to maybe spend a whole surf just racing. You're gonna go, I didn't enjoy that much, because you want to do turns. So what I try and say to my clients is if you spend a certain amount of time per surf, so it might be your first 20 minutes or half an hour, and maybe even finish the surf with another 20 minutes where you go back to that isolated, whether it be generation of speed. Another area and another way, I should say, or strategy to work on your speed is your pop-up and what I call your first lift and throw. So how you get to your feet and extend and throw your arms forward. I literally have just finished a coaching session today with a bunch of kids, the high-performance group here in Mount Maunganui, and that was the target. It was only two foot, very soft, and hard conditions, and predominantly a girls' group, so that's quite a key area for a lot of female surfers is just exaggerating and putting that effort into that pop-up and that first, what I call energization. And if you really break down guys like Filipe and Mick, I'll keep going back to them. They exaggerate it more than any other surfer on tour. That's why they're the fastest. They put that extra 10, 20% in, even right there and there, how quickly they're trying to get to their feet, and just extending up through the torso and lifting their arms in the direction they wanna go. So again, you could maybe just work on that for half an hour. Well, let's say focus on that, and then still try your turns after it, but you're really focusing on that pop-up and lift and throw for, let's say, half an hour of every second surf of the week or something, and you will see results.
Michael Frampton
Yeah, I like that. I'm gonna try that. Okay, so not just racing the wave, but actually trying to pop up and do your first movement fast as well.
Matt Scorringe
Well, the whole Newton's law of moving momentum is you're gonna get momentum and get faster as you go down the line, but if you start with maximum force, you start with the most maximum amount of force that you can, your momentum's gonna get to a faster point quicker, if that makes sense. Yeah, so you can apply that in any sport or any form of activity, and it's no different in surfing. Okay.
Michael Frampton
Awesome. I'm guessing you coach a lot of self-taught intermediate advanced surfers? Yep. What's the most common mistake you see in that group?
Matt Scorringe
Yeah. Apart, yeah, no, yeah, I'll definitely move on from speed.
Michael Frampton
From speed, obviously.
Matt Scorringe
There's a couple. I guess the most common, well, there's two, but one is foot placement, and I personally believe if your feet aren't in the right place, no matter what else you're trying to do, it's all gonna be quite difficult to get completely right. So going right back to where your feet are on your board is one of the most common mistakes I see in a generalized intermediate group, and it just really limits rotation through the hips. So if your feet are too close, you get limited hip rotation, and if they're too wide, it's the same effect, and if it's just right, you get the most maximum amount of hip rotation. So that's when you can really start to open up through your maneuvers. And the second thing would just be what I call back arm, so what your back arm is doing through your, basically, any maneuver. But if you're a generalized, let's just say a forehand rear or carve, generally, their back arm is falling behind them, pulling them backwards and off their board, instead of following through and keeping their weight forward and following through towards the beach in the direction that you'd wanna be bringing your board if you're doing a rear or a carve. And that one is, I'd say, in 99% of intermediate surfers, yeah, there's a bit of back arm issue.
Michael Frampton
Foot placement, how do we know, how would you describe the best foot placement?
Matt Scorringe
Yeah, in a generalization, if you're a shortboard surfer, it would be through the center point of your fins. So if you were to look at your grip pad and you envisioned where the fins would be, just trying to centralize that foot on the grip pad, and that's a great place to have it through the generation of speed aspect, so when you're trying to race down the line. But as soon as you actually go into a maneuver, dropping it right back over the back fin, so generally, if your grip's in the right place, you would just push it into the kicker of the grip, and that would give you maximum turning potential. And with the front foot, I'd basically say to the kids or to the clients that if you just envisioned the central point of your board, so from nose to tail, rail to rail, and put a dot and then drew, let's say, a foot width radius around that. So what I'd do is I'd actually put the board on the sand, draw a line around the board and remove it, draw the grip pad on the sand, and then draw that circle for them on the sand, and get them to lay there and practice their pop-up so it lands perfectly in that circle. And some people can do it straight away, some might take a little bit longer, but that would be a generalization of where your feet should be.
Michael Frampton
So a strategy at home surfers could do is practice their pop-ups, working on how accurate their foot placement is.
Matt Scorringe
Yes, definitely. If their pop-up is an issue, practicing on land is the first thing I get them to try, and quite often, you'll find that they can't do it properly on land just through not knowing the correct technique. It's not that they're physically incapable, they're just technically doing it wrong, the way that they're trying to pop up. And once you get them to do it on land, using the correct technique, and they still, what I quite often find is they can't even do it on land, so how can you expect them to do it on a small surfboard in the ocean that's moving? So absolutely, if you get them to practice on the yoga mat and get the technique correct, then they're gonna be able to apply it in the surf a lot easier.
Michael Frampton
Yeah, it's that foot-eye coordination or that spatial awareness that we need to develop.
Matt Scorringe
Yeah, exactly, and just the momentum aspect of it. A lot of people pause as they lift, and just don't, you know, anybody that's physically capable, if they pause through it, will find it difficult to get the front foot far enough forward, so you'll catch the wax a little bit too early and the front foot will be a bit, you know, so your stance will be a bit narrow. So yeah, just making sure that the way you're doing it is through, you know, you're utilizing momentum and there's no pause or break in the process of that pop-up.
Michael Frampton
Yeah, so the front foot wants to be sort of over the center of the sweet spot of the board?
Matt Scorringe
Yep, obviously it's like snowboarding, you've kind of got that angle. I mean, it's different in snowboarding, but what I'm saying is if you, anyone that hops on a snowboard for the first time and you've got those bindings there, it feels a bit awkward at first and then once you get going, you realize yeah, that's where my feet needed to be. And it's similar with surfing. If someone is at an intermediate level, they might struggle with the angle that the foot needs to be on. Quite often they have their foot a little too straight and not enough on the side-on angle. But yeah, you want it basically crossing over the stringer. You don't want your toes or heel too close to either of those rails. You want it quite centered, and then you're gonna get the best reaction when you try and put your board on rail.
Michael Frampton
Yeah, so the front foot at 45 degrees?
Matt Scorringe
Yeah, that's obviously a nice and clear way to put it.
Michael Frampton
Okay. So with the back arm, what's some tips for the average surfer out there to start working on what they're doing with their back arm?
Matt Scorringe
Yeah, so as I said, back arm's quite a common one and there's a lot of common, I guess, analogies around how to make that back arm stay where it should or follow through as it should. But one that I like to use, and I call it spreading your wings. Quite often people have their arms too close to their torso. They don't actually spread their arms out wide as they, let's say, approach the lip for a rail or begin to put their board on rail to perform a forehand carve. So I like to say spread your wings and then hold that position. So if you envisioned you're flying like a bird and a bird's flying straight and it wants to make a sharp left-hand turn, they don't bring their wings in close. They just twist the wings in the way they wanna go, but they still stay wide. If you take that theory into the surfing, let's just stick with a forehand carve. It's probably the easiest way or easiest maneuver to translate that into. If you spread your arms wide as you set your rail and then twist with your torso and follow through with those arms so they stay wide and they're basically envisioning you're trying to fly in that direction, you should technically have your arms in the right position. And let's use Mick Fanning as an example. He always has such amazing width with his arms. His wings are very spread, to use that analogy. And yeah, he really, obviously, as we know, has one of the best carves in the game. Yeah, it just ensures that your arms are wide and you're gonna follow through. And I see really good results when people understand that analogy. Sometimes it may be a little bit confusing initially, but when I combine that with some visual modules and show exactly what I mean, I see pretty much instant results with anyone that has enough of a level to go out there and try and put that into practice.
Michael Frampton
Yeah, I totally agree, man. I mean, I do a lot of work with kids on the skate ramp. Yes. And getting them to do it on the skate ramp then makes it much easier for them to do it surfing as well. So practicing it when you're skateboarding as well could be a good strategy as well.
Matt Scorringe
Yeah, no, definitely. I mean, obviously, land-based training, skateboarding and the like, is a really good way to do it. Similar to the pop-up, if they can't do it on land, how are they gonna do it in the water? So you should be able to do it in a controlled environment first, and that technically will make it easier in the ocean. So yeah, skateboards are great.
Michael Frampton
Yeah, and one thing that changed my surfing a lot was actually just when I was watching surfing videos, I was watching what the surfers are doing with their arms. Yes. Because sometimes we don't realize how much, especially Kelly, man, look at the way Kelly Slater moves his arms. He's, wow, he's fanatically moving his arms all the time. And we don't realize it often because he's so focused on his overall performance. But it's a good way to break things down.
Matt Scorringe
I think you've hit the nail on the head because a lot of people that I encounter, if we wanna stick to that intermediate level that we're talking about, they really kind of look at me a bit sideways when I say, it's all in your arms. And everyone thinks surfing's through the legs, that's all they need to think about. Where's my back foot pushing, all that sort of stuff? But as you say, whether you wanna use Kelly or I like to use Mick. I think obviously Kelly's super freak, but I just think technically Mick's just so sound. And anyway, if you really look at what they're doing with their arms, I think that's the difference for a lot of surfers.
Michael Frampton
So you mentioned Mick Fanning. Who's a backhand surfer who you'd think has great technique to watch?
Matt Scorringe
It depends what you're after. I mean, I really like Julian Wilson. Obviously, he's got that new school flair, but his technique and his foundation is so solid. He's got all of that all-around act. Obviously, I'm talking a lot of natural footers here, so if we wanna try and bring in some goofies for goofy footers, Gabriel Medina, guys like Ace Buckin and Matt Wilco on the right on their backhand, just outstanding. They have that sort of backhand release that a lot of people are wanting to put into their surfing, but they've got that control too where they can release when they want to and just do a straight up and down if need be. So I think they've got that complete bag of tricks on the backhand. Going to goofy footers, I like Dane Reynolds. I know he's a free surfer, but if you break down his backhand row, it's pretty phenomenal.
Michael Frampton
So we could go surfing. We could race some waves, pop up fast, race some waves. And then we could try surfing some waves with our arms spread probably even so much so that it feels a little bit ridiculous at first.
Matt Scorringe
Yeah, definitely. And obviously, there's a lot of people out there that may be listening to this and they've already heard the analogy of the handlebars, which is obviously Martin Dunn in the HPC Center. And a lot of people use that. And it's a great way to describe it too. It's very simple and makes a lot of sense. And for anyone that's listening and doesn't know what that means, it's just thinking like you're riding a bike and holding the handlebars of a bike. Again, it's gonna ensure technically the same things happening with your arms as the analogy I like to use where I say spreading your wings. But why I don't like saying riding a bike is because if you look at Mick's arms, they don't really look like they're riding a bike. They're actually a lot wider than that. And it's a good starting point, the handlebars, because it allows people to understand what you're trying to say. But then I like to move on from that and say spread your wings. As you say, a lot more than you probably think.
Michael Frampton
Yeah, like you're saying, like with the strategy of the speed, really exaggerate it for some waves. And then it's gonna integrate into your other surfing. So if you really exaggerate your arm spread, you're gonna get an exaggerated feel of what it's like to really use your arms.
Matt Scorringe
Yeah, absolutely. And it's that whole leverage aspect. And if you think of swinging an ax or a hammer, if you're holding the hammer too close to the head, and same with the ax, you're not gonna get maximum force based on the leverage, as opposed to holding it right down by the handle. It's the same thing with the arms. If they're spread wide, and you're basically swinging it through that full range of movement as you go through your rail on that forehand carve, there's gonna be more force put into that as opposed to the arms being closer together. That's the real key element to why those arms do wanna be spread wide. It's the leverage you're gonna achieve out of it. So first of all, you just want people to make sure the arm's following through and doing what it should do. But then you wanna maximize the power or the leverage so that you can do stronger, more powerful turns.
Michael Frampton
Okay, so when you coach someone to start using their arms more, do they then start using their head and their eyes better as well?
Matt Scorringe
Well, generally, yes. Obviously, there are exceptions to that. But if I was to completely show someone what I wanted them to achieve with their back arm, I basically put the head and the eyes in with it. In regards to, I kinda, yeah, maybe, look, if this doesn't make sense, you can maybe cut this out of the interview. But I've got a lot of weird analogies with my coaching, but I like them because I think if they do hit home, they really hit home. And one is, you know when you go to those fairs and you got the clown heads that sort of swivel from side to side, and you gotta throw the ball into their mouth? So when you're surfing, you just can't do that. Not through every aspect of your surfing, of course, but we're talking the carve here. Where do you want your eyes and your head to look? So I like to explain that basically when your arms are spreading, you're going through that carve, the head kinda leads the way, but it's locked. A lot of people, they'll start to look and then they'll look back to their back arm as well. So basically their head's going from side to side like those clowns do, and it's not sticking in to the direction that it should and following through, or as you say, with the eyes, the head and the eyes basically looking in the direction that you're wanting to go through that flying carve. So yeah, just locking it all up so that it all is working in synergy basically. Yeah.
Michael Frampton
I imagine if you're surfing with your arms down by your sides like a skateboarder, then your head can move around as much as you want, but it's not gonna help much. The arms have gotta be there as well to create that twisting and that wind-up. I like that analogy. Okay, Matt, so you coach a lot of elite juniors. Tell me, what's some of the most common mistakes you see with those guys?
Matt Scorringe
I guess with elite juniors, yeah, it's a hard one. I mean, there is an array of differences, but if I was to try and put my finger on one, for me, it would just be a lot of elite juniors in this modern era of surfing that we're in with the high-performance stuff, just getting away from the fundamentals. I see them going for basically pushing their turns too much, especially, let's say, a finishing turn on a dumpy section. I like to refer to anyone that will remember the final of the WACON this year with Jon and Adriano De Souza. I don't know how big you wanna call it, but it was pretty big, six to maybe eight foot. And Jon, obviously as super freak as he is, he kept falling on his finishing turn. And this is not me trying to critique Jon, I'd never do such a thing, but basically, he was going for big turns and pushing his tail through those turns. And De Souza was just following the lip line and basically surfing to the conditions and what it was allowing him to do. And he won the final, as most people will know. And some people might criticize that approach, but hey, it won him a world title at the end of the day. And I'm not saying surf safe, I'm saying surf smart. And a lot of the time, kids at an elite level just get a little bit ahead of where they actually are at. Especially, I like to say to them, if you go to work and you've got a toolbox and you're a builder, if you don't have a nail gun, you're gonna get your hammer out and bang away all day, aren't you? And so if you're a surfer and you don't have a backflip, don't try and do it in the heat. Just stick to your reverses or stick to what you've got in that toolbox. And I feel like elite kids get a little bit too ahead of themselves there. They just try a little bit too much sometimes when guys like Mick, the fundamentals get it done a lot. I still really appreciate what Filipe's doing and Dane. I absolutely am a big fan of that sort of surfing, but going back to the competition and your percentage game, I think that's where a lot of them get caught out.
Michael Frampton
Yeah, you can never spend too much time on the basics and the fundamentals. Yeah. So tell us a little bit more about how you're working in Mount Maunganui at the moment.
Matt Scorringe
Definitely. Yep, so I reside in Mount Maunganui in New Zealand and my coaching programs are nationwide and internationally I run a few as well. But Mount Maunganui, just to give a little bit of a story for those that don't know, is currently the strongest region in New Zealand. It's basically won the New Zealand, what we call scholastics, might call it nationals in Australia, I think, five years running. And it would have to be close to having some of the worst surf in the country if you averaged it out on a day-to-day. It can go flat for like two months here. So what that's telling me, it's the hub of kids coming through, the effort they're putting in with their training. So yeah, I'm based here because there's a lot of infrastructure around to support high-performance coaching. There's a lot of kids, there's a lot of development in this region. So it's just a good place to be based with the other surfing. And it's very central in New Zealand as well and in North Island. So probably the most central place to get to all of the other destinations that I operate out of for the coaching.
Michael Frampton
Yeah, so if someone was interested, someone was living in the Mount and was interested in getting some coaching, how would they get hold of you?
Matt Scorringe
Yep, so if they just went on to our website, which is theartofsurfing.co.nz, then there's a contacts tab there just to send an email or there's my personal phone number as well. I have another coach that works for me that is, well, he's a top New Zealand professional surfer. And yeah, between the two of us, no one should have a problem booking in a session, a private, or jumping onto a course or camp that's been advertised on the website.
Michael Frampton
So you've got camps going on as well. Yeah.
Matt Scorringe
I'd say camps is probably the, courses and camps are the number one thing that I operate through The Art of Surfing. Privates are a little bit more difficult to arrange based on, just based on surf. So what we tend to do is just advertise camps in locations that commonly have good surf, and they fill up quite regularly and they're just a really good way to get a little bit, whether it's kids or adults or intermediates or advanced, it doesn't matter. Just getting everyone together in a similar age and level to work on. They're generally gonna work on the same sort of thing. So you see a lot of results that way because everyone's sort of pushing one another. Yeah.
Michael Frampton
The Mount is currently the best junior team in New Zealand. And then you, I mean, Kelly Slater's from Florida. And then I recently interviewed Tom Carroll and he's talking about how learning how to surf really small waves improved every other aspect of his surfing, including big wave surfing. So I would urge anyone out there wanting to get some surf coaching done, just book it and who cares what the surf is like? You need to be able to surf anything. And if it's small and fat, I think it's a great opportunity for you to learn where to put yourself and how to surf those small waves, where the power and the energy is. Would you?
Matt Scorringe
Agree? Absolutely, yeah. I couldn't agree anymore. Obviously, as you just mentioned, the Mount has the strongest junior region at the moment and they just get out there, whether it's one foot rubbish or it's pumping. And I coach other areas. I run academies in another particular area, I won't name it, but they have great surf all the time. And it'll be what would be a pretty good day here at the Mount. And the kids are like, it's not that good, we're not going out. And then they get to the comps and the comps are in rubbish and they just get done up by the Mount kids. So, and the same goes for just any recreational surfer that wants to improve their surfing. They, here in New Zealand, a lot of them wanna do their coaching at Raglan, which most people listening, I'm sure, would have heard of Raglan, because it's a long left-hand point break, pretty much a reverse of J-Bay. So they want to show you how good they surf and be able to get coaching in perfect waves. But as you say, I mean, of course, you can give them a lot to work on, but seeing them in rubbish is where their biggest flaws are. So, if they really wanna improve their surfing all around, that's, they've gotta get out there in anything. Just book it, get in there.
Michael Frampton
Yeah, do it, New Zealand. You owe it to New Zealand surfing, really. If all of the average surfers are surfing better, then the elites are gonna surf better.
Matt Scorringe
Yeah, definitely. You just gotta look at Australia, when just some random guy pulls up in his tradie truck and he hops out and he surfs pretty much, you know, not much worse than, let's say, I don't know, some of the pros on tour, but I won't name any. But there's just so many good surfers in a country like Australia. As I just said, the average tradies could probably win most national comps here in New Zealand. So, we have a small portion of elite guys here that I believe can do it, but you're right, if the average level increased, it would definitely push the elite level up as well, which is what needs to happen here.
Michael Frampton
Yeah, I mean, I'm from New Zealand originally. I currently live in Australia on the Northern Beaches, and here in the Northern Beaches in Australia, there's just, there's such a culture around not just surfing, but actually wanting to improve your surfing and grow your surfing. You know, the tradies, they're getting coached, they're inquiring about, how do I surf big waves or what sort of board do I need when it's really small? And when I was in New Zealand, there wasn't so much of that going on.
Matt Scorringe
No, definitely not. And I mean, even with what I'm doing here in the country, like, there were people before me providing coaching and there's been some other great coaches before me. Absolutely. But in regards to a 24-7 service that is available, I would like to think I'm the first person to create such a thing here, you know, an elite program for the kids, an ongoing platform for intermediate and recreational surfers to get coaching, not only in person but online. I have an online coaching program where people can submit footage. So if they are living, you know, too far away or overseas, they can submit their footage and get a video report, which, to be completely honest, is no different than the coaching they're gonna get in person. And it cuts out that whole trying to meet up and the time aspect. Yep. And it's cheaper. So it's really a win-win. It's just obviously finding someone to film you is sometimes a hard part. But back to your point, sorry. Basically, there is a bit of a stigma in New Zealand around, it's uncool to be coached if you are an adult or recreational surfer. You know, I've had other adults come that have then got a bit of stick from their buddies. But it's all the tall poppy syndrome of New Zealand, you know, mates going, someone else is getting a bit of coaching just because they generally just wanna surf better and enjoy their surfing more. And I don't think there's anything uncool about that. I think it's a bit of a mindset that, it is changing here, but I think it just needs to be dropped by people a little bit sooner rather than later because, yeah, I know that probably those people that are giving their mates stick wanna improve their surfing more than anyone anyway. So it's just about just getting out there and doing it. Everyone's gonna have more fun.
Michael Frampton
Right. Come on, New Zealand, you've got no excuse. Yes. If you're close to the Mount, get a one-on-one up in person. If you're not, do some filming and send it to Matt. Use Matt, he's an awesome resource. And, you know, if you wanna see a New Zealander or more New Zealanders in the world tour, which I think we deserve to be, then, you know, it's the grassroots thing. You know, we all played rugby and we all got coached in rugby. No one blinks an eye at that, but, you know, we've gotta utilize Matt here. And if you don't live in the Mount, you can just do it online. And I would say that I've had some surf coaching done myself, and I was always put off by, you know, I wanna surf my best in good waves, and that's when you're really gonna coach me. But I've done some surf coaching sessions when the waves are really bad, and I surfed really bad, and those are the sessions I got the most out of because it really highlighted my main weaknesses. Would you agree, Matt?
Matt Scorringe
Yeah, absolutely. I couldn't agree anymore. Basically, I'm the same as you. When I have had any coaching, and I associate with other coaches. Some of my good friends are coaches at certain high-performance centers around Australia, and it's not even necessarily a coaching session. We're just out surfing, and they'll just give me some feedback. And I love it because I'll be having a pretty rubbish surf, and they'll give me something that just totally changes everything in the long run. Maybe not that particular surf will come right, but I just wouldn't have thought of it for myself or obviously seen it in my own surfing. And yeah, it's in those average rubbish sort of days that the gold nuggets can come from. And then your surfing in good waves improves immensely. So definitely got to get out there in the bad stuff too.
Michael Frampton
Awesome, and if you guys go to Matt's website and go to coaching, go online coaching, he's got some software, I'm guessing it is, where you pause your turn, and then you compare it to a pro surfer. Yeah, that's fascinating.
Matt Scorringe
Yeah, for me personally, visual learning was always, I guess, made a lot more sense to me. So I like to coach like that. And if you were to submit any footage, I'd basically just match it and what we call split screen comparison it with a module of someone doing the technique correctly, and just pinpoint, slow it down and pause frame and pinpoint those exact moments when I want you to think about changing something. And obviously, on the other side of the screen will be someone showing you exactly how to do that. And yeah, for myself and my experience as a coach, I know it's been the best way to see results in a short period of time. And as I mentioned a little bit earlier, it's just as good as getting coaching in the flesh because as long as you've got some good footage of yourself, and when I say good, I don't mean you surfing good, I just mean some nice, reasonably clear footage of you even surfing very bad and bad surf. It just allows anyone that's providing such service to break it down and give you what I call a video report. And you've got it there to keep, you can watch it over and you can't go wrong really.
Michael Frampton
It's so valuable. I urge anyone out there who's even considering, just do it. Just even go to your local beach break, drive your truck up on the sand and set up your video camera on the, film yourself if you have to. If you can't find a friend to do it. So cam, there you go.
Matt Scorringe
Like what are they called? The solo cams. The solo. Solo shot, that's the one.
Michael Frampton
Yeah. Solo shot.
Matt Scorringe
A lot of people use them here in New Zealand because we have a lot of uncrowded beaches where they literally drive their truck on the sand and set it up. And it's not like a busy beach where someone can just rock up and steal it while you're out in the water. So, or you can just put your girlfriend next to it. She doesn't have to film, she can just lay there and sunbathe and it's gonna get all your footage and they're pretty affordable now. So it's a good option.
Michael Frampton
Awesome, thank you so much for your time, Matt. But before you go, I wanna ask you four quick questions. Your favorite four. What's your favorite board?
Matt Scorringe
I will say the sponsor I ride for, it's a New Zealand shaper. So I know that a lot of people won't know of him. His name's Pete Anderson, but any New Zealander listening, Pete Anderson does a model called the DeVito and it comes in an epoxy. And for myself, being an 80 kg adult, it is designed for that sort of zero to three foot when it's marginal. And it's changed my life because prior to that, we used to try and ride six o's. When I was doing the WQS actually, we used to ride just terrible boards for the equipment because before we got educated around it. So that would be my first and foremost. Otherwise, talking internationally, the DHD DX1 would have to be one of the best all-around surfboards I've ever surfed.
Michael Frampton
What's your favorite surfing vid?
Matt Scorringe
Raw Irons.
Michael Frampton
And your favorite surfer?
Matt Scorringe
That's the hard one. Right now, Mick Fanning.
Michael Frampton
Yeah, okay. And Goofy Footer?
Matt Scorringe
Rob Machado.
Michael Frampton
Nice, good call. Okay, and last one, your favorite pre-surf song or album?
Matt Scorringe
It's Eminem because he's so angry in his rapping, but it gets me hyped up. And yeah, that's always been the best formula for me, not to chill out, but to get hyped up.
Michael Frampton
Yeah, okay. Awesome, Matt. Thank you so much for the interview and thanks everyone for tuning in.
Matt Scorringe
You're welcome, thanks for having me. Cool.
Michael Frampton
Thanks for tuning in to the Surf Mastery podcast. Again, I'm your host, Michael Frampton. Make sure you subscribe so you can keep up to date with the latest interviews. Please share with your friends. Check us out on Facebook at Surf Mastery Surf. And if you're on iTunes, please go and give us a little rating. That'd be awesome. Until next time, keep surfing.
05 Matt Scorringe - Former pro turned Surf Coach
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.