When you watch beginners try to surf you see that a Bad Surfing Pop Up and Stance Cause Surfers to Fall Off their Surfboard. Even in lessons, it takes many a while to get the timing and rhythm that is crucial for surfing.
Working the surf ride backwards, the beginner needs to be in the right stance to ride straight to the beach on a soft top board. Hips and shoulders need to be square to the beach with both hands in front. I tell students to pretend they are pushing a tall box. Both hands are on box, feet are separated and the body is upright.
How to Get Into the Right Stance
To get into this stance, I teach students to put one foot on board at a time. The surfer paddles to catch the wave. After the board is in front of the foam, the surfer can put his hands flat near his waist. A low hand position for the push helps the mid section get off the board. Then as he pushes he places one foot (right or left) flat on the board so he can stand on one foot until his hands are off the board and he moves the other foot to the front of the board. The hands need to be in the air as the front foot lands or the surfer may fly off the front of the board.
Beginners rush the process. They lack timing and rhythm and wind up with their butt over one rail like a skateboarder with one hand trailing. This puts all the weight on one rail (edge) and the board tips over. This is the number one reason beginners and intermediates fall off. They are not centered on the board. The board has a stringer down the middle and weight should be equal on both sides to go straight. If the butt is over one rail, it tells the board to carve, but most beginners will fall.
How to Get the Count for the Right Pop Up Timing
I give new students a count to say out loud in the process. Paddle (3 paddles after the foam hits the board), stop (place hands flat on the board), push, back foot (place it on the board), stand (lifting hands off board), front foot (placing front foot on the board pushing the box). The reason I ask them to count out loud is their mind goes gaga in the water and they default to their instincts which are all wrong. I have seen few students who had good instincts and could stand without following the sequence I outlined in the right order.
The picture on this post demonstrates the right stance. The right stance allows the surfer to progress quickly to bigger foam waves and then real waves.
Read Other Posts:
Beginner Surfers Learn on Soft Tops
5 Steps to Improve Surfing Performance
3 Ways to Catch Real Surfing Waves
Training to Ride the Surfing Short Board
Short Board Surfing Techniques
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