Six surf tips from champion surfer Rusty Miller

By Ann Binlot Published August 14, 2015

In 1965 California-born Rusty Miller was the top surfer in the United States. The US Surfing Champion was also a finalist in the famous Duke Kahanamoku Invitational in Sunset Beach. While studying at San Diego State, Miller went on a Seven Seas trip twice and discovered Australia, he eventually moved to picturesque Byron Bay, where he still surfs regularly while teaching one-on-one and group sessions on surfing. We took a lesson from him, and out of all the surf lessons we’ve had, Miller’s was definitely our favorite. If you’re ever out in Byron Bay, one of the best places in the world to learn to surf, we suggest you look up Miller. “You’re out there riding waves,” Miller told the Manual. “You don’t make the wave, they don’t know your name. You just fit in with them, so maybe. look at the wave as your companion.” Here are six tips from Miller:

You want to learn about the ocean. You want to observe what’s going on in the ocean because you have to have respect for the ocean if you want to surf. You want to surf safely. Find an instructor. Have good manners and spirit in the water, and everybody will get along because you have to share waves, especially in a place like Byron, it gets really crowded.

Recommended Videos

Don’t think too hard. Just look at surfing like a dance. It’s something you practice and don’t think too much and go along with the flow.

Learn how to paddle really good to get your paddling strength up. Paddling is the key to surfing good, developing your paddling skills.

Find a surfboard that floats you in the water good. Don’t find a tiny little board and think you’re going to be Kelly Slater in five minutes. It’s easier when you start with a long board, then what you do is develop your skills so you can surf something a little bit shorter.

Learn how to trim on the surfboard. Keep the board nice and flat, and learn how to fit into the wave.

Stand up in one sweeping motion so your feet land at the same time on the surfboard, and then you can center yourself. You have to be prompt.

For more information, visit rustymillersurf.com.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ann Binlot is a New York-based freelance writer who contributes to publications like The Economist, Wallpaper*, Monocle…

Topics

Travel

Culture

Your business needs Intuit QuickBooks Online — sign up while plans are 90% off

A product expert for Intuit QuickBooks Online.

Save time, make better decisions, and increase the profits for your small business with the help of Intuit QuickBooks Online. It's a great time to sign up for the cloud-based software because Intuit is offering a 90% discount on all plans for three months! Prices start at $3.50 per month from $35 per month, up to just $23.50 per month instead of $235 per month for the most comprehensive package. You need to act fast though, as there's no telling how much time is remaining on this amazing offer.

Sign Up Now

Culture

We could be getting the third season of Shrinking a little bit ahead of schedule

Harrison Ford got the chance to be sassy to Jason Segel, too.

Jason Segel in Shrinking

Although Apple TV+ has a number of hits on its hands, Shrinking has proven to be one of the service's most successful shows over the course of its first two seasons. After the second season wrapped up in December of 2024, fans have been eagerly anticipating a third outing.

Unlike some shows that take years to return, it's now looking like Shrinking could be back before the end of the year after news broke that the third season has finished filming. In a video shared across Apple TV's various social media channels, we see Jason Segel and Harrison Ford addressing the show's cast and crew as production wraps.

Culture

The first trailer for Vince Gilligan’s Apple TV+ show Pluribus is here

The show now has a name and a release date.

The trailer for Pluribus.

After spending more than a decade in the world of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, Vince Gilligan is finally branching out into something new. The new series, which is coming from Apple, is called Pluribus and stars Rhea Seehorn, who also starred in Better Call Saul.

Now, we've got our first teaser for the new show, and it's just as baffling as you might expect. In the teaser, we see a woman licking every donut in a box of donuts, as well as a sign that says "Help yourself" along with a smiley face. The teaser is just 30 seconds long, and we don't see Seehorn or have any context for what the show is about.