Today’s tip, we’re going to be talking about getting up on a surfboard.
For you struggling beginners who have been trying to get this done for a little while, we’re going to be going through a step-by-step process that I use to help you get it done.
So we’re now on the board and we want to be able to balance the board properly.
We have put a mark on the board to line your nose up with so that you know how to lie on the board each time.
Where Should I Stand on the Surfboard?
Make sure your nose is right above the mark you have drawn. The Next step is centering your body on the board.
Make sure your chest is on an equal side and put it in the center of each rail. Your hips should be centered as well.
You should not twist your hips on either side of the board. The last thing is your feet.
You want to make sure your feet are on the board and not of the board.
This will slow the board down if your feet are off. So we’re going to keep them on the board.
Do You Lean Forward While Surfing?
So let’s go and work on our paddle stroke. We’re going to be doing freestyle swimming so we will do one stroke at a time.
Make sure that index fingers on either side enter the water first. So when you put your palm slightly outward bring it in so it can slide right in.
Then we’re going to turn the thumb and bring the hand deep right down to the elbow.
From the center of your arm, this is where you get most of your power. You push the board forward.
If you try to emphasize too much power when your hand is forward, you tend to pull the board forward, which is not good.
Hand in, and let it slide right in. Turn the palm, start to push, and then push the board forward just like that one stroke.
Let the stroke go right through to the back of the board, okay? One at a time.
Where Do I Look When popping Up?
You may see some professionals, and advanced surfers pushing the board forward using both of their hands in one direction which is fine, it’s not a problem.
But for beginners, I recommend one stroke at a time because it always keeps the board moving forward.
The professionals have a lot of experience and they know exactly how much speed they need to catch a wave.
Always look forward because if you look to your right, the board will tend to bear to the right. If you look to your left, the board will tend to bear to the left.
So the first thing we’re going to be doing is lining up a wave and when we start paddling, keep looking forward.
You always want to look where you’re going. Get your paddle strokes right through like we practiced before, keep it going.
When you feel the wave, push the tail of the board, and you’ll feel a sullen jolt from the wave.
Get two more strokes so that you can move ahead of the wave. This will give you enough speed and keep the board stable.
How To Master The Pop-Up in Surfing?
Put your hands on the deck of the board with your elbows up.
You don’t want to do with your elbows down because this will force you to climb forward on the board and the board will nose dive.
So, elbows up, your palms on the deck of the board, right by your chest.
Then after that, you’re going to be arching back, keeping your head up like that. So that’s it.
Keep that nose clear of nose-diving. For you regular footers who are left foot forward, we’re going to be starting with the right knee.
We’re going to bring the right knee forward, keeping it straight down.
You should not place your knee where your hand is because this will force you to come too far forward on the board.
So keep that knee straight down. You’re going to push up onto your fingertips just to give yourself a little more clearance between your chest and the board.
How Do I Improve My Pop Up?
So once you’ve done that, you’re going to take that front foot, which is going to be your left foot, and put it flat onto the board straight in front of you by bringing your knee to your chest.
Okay, now we’re ready to pop the back knee and put it onto the back foot.
So from here, we can take this knee that is on the board still and we’re going to start to bring it up and we’re going to put your foot flat onto the board.
From this position, you’re going to come straight up.
Put in 60% to 70% of your weight onto your back foot. Keep looking where you’re going.
Your shoulders should be pointed to the nose of the board, and your feet should be flat on the board.
So you don’t want your feet to be up in the air.
Because if the heels are up, you’ll fall.
Next are your knees so we’re going to keep your knees bent.
Weight on the back foot. Keep your nose clear from nose-diving, and this is going straight.
You’re successful in writing. If you follow these steps, you’ll be surfing.
Here are my best surfing blog posts
- Beginner to Intermediate Surfer Advice (Best one)