Surfing Lesson Four - Standing Up
13 commentsLearning how to stand up on your surfboard is what all of you budding surfers have been frantically looking for on the Internet. Well here it is, and we'll first concentrate on the position that you should actually be taking when you are standing on your surfboard riding the waves. What we need to do first is to find out whether you are a natural-footed surfer or a goofy-footed surfer.
Natural of Goofy?
How do you know if you are a natural or just plain goofy? You might not know it yet, but it has already been decided by your natural balance and instinct, and here is how you tell just which one you are.
Think about how you would skid on a patch of ice. When you run up to a patch of ice to skid, which foot would be your front foot? The skid position that you take on the ice will be your most comfortable surfing stance. (There is no need to go down to the local ice rink to practice or wait until winter before trying!) If you would skid most comfortably with your left foot forward, then you're a natural-footed surfer; if it's your right foot that you have forward, then you're goofy-footed.
Now go out into the street and tell the first five people you meet that you like it natural, or that you are a pretty goofy guy / gal.
The Pop Up
The pop up is the move that will take you from the paddling position lying on your surfboard smoothly to the upright position on your feet. It is a good idea to have your first pop up tryout on the safety of the beach. This bit can be a bit embarrassing in public so maybe you can practice your pop up technique in the comfort of your own front room.
The move is really important in the development of your surfing; getting to your feet as quickly and smoothly as possible is what it is all about. Making sure that you are quickly up and have the correct foot position is essential.
The move is executed at the moment when you have done enough paddling to catch the wave you're going for. (This should be no problem having worked your way dogmatically through each of the other lessons and not just skipped straight to this one!) The pop up is like doing a press-up in that the first part of the move is to straighten your arms out in front of you. But instead of keeping your legs and body straight, you need to bring your legs up and under your body, planting your feet in the correct position for surfing.
Now let's discuss the pop up in more detail and look at a little shortcut if you are struggling.
Next: The pop up in more detail.
i was doing the step by step and honesty i was really weak, and suddenly after reading your descripstion about pop up all is clear and i can do it!!! wow, tkank you
wow this is helpful.... helps me lots thanks
thanks i am tring to surf like bethany hamilton
this is so great for my nonfiction research project on Bethany Hamilton :)
This is good information
thanks a heap
thanks i am only a kid that want to learn so bad and this actually helped me
anyone in swfl surfing beside me ? wecollins 74 @yahoo.com
Thank You So Much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hello every body my name is christian i am 13 years old i go to owosso middle school but now im going on vication for the fall and i cant wait to take surf lessons im goign to be a pro surfer just like beathany hamilton
Every little bit of information is helping .. 57 years .. starting to surf .. approaching it the same way as everything I couldn't do before with practice .. practice .. practice.
Today was about paddling and balance .. man what a challenge.
Thank you, I really want to surf but I haven't been to the beach since last July
Thanks so much really helped