Many progressing surfers want to know How to Pop Up on Surfing Shortboard. The shortboard is a definition of volume. As beginners progress from a soft top to a short board, they realize it gets more difficult to paddle, catch waves, and ride.
A shortboard is high performance and to the progressing surfer, less stable for popping up and riding. The lower volume demands accuracy with movement, foot placement and balance.
One of the most common errors observed watching newer surfers is how their body is positioned on the surfboard. It seems to be common that everyone’s instinct is to stand on the board with their butt leaning over one rail with one hand in front of their body and one behind. This is similar to a stance on a snowboard or skateboard, but it doesn’t work on a surfboard for beginners.
The surfboard is designed for the surfer’s body to have equal weight on both sides of the middle stringer. If weight is placed on one rail, the board is designed to carve. If the beginner pops up with weight off center, he will fall off. He will not have control of carving if he is not centered. The first carve necessary riding down the face is the bottom turn into the pocket.
The Two Styles of Popups
There are two basic popup styles. It is often said the advanced style is moving both feet at the same time. Yet, many pros and advanced surfers place one foot at a time on the surfboard. Surfers also differ in whether they popup immediately into an upright position or whether they stay low and rise into an upright position.
In both styles, the surfer can have a count that coordinates the timing and sets the rhythm. For both feet at the same time, the count would be paddle, stop, push and pop. Stop is placing the hands on the surfboard in a man’s push up position next to the chest. As the surfer pushes up he is doing a spring to get the body off the board to make room for the front foot to flow under his chest. The foot then lands on the center of the board.
The most important part is that when the surfer lands both feet on the surfboard, his hips and shoulders are square to the front with the center line of the board running under his crotch. Weight of the body is equal on the right and left side. If the surfer’s butt is over one rail, he is causing the board to turnover.
In the one foot at a time pop up, the surfer does the count paddle, stop, push, back foot, rise, front foot. In this pop up, after the surfer pushes up (he doesn’t have to spring), he places the back foot flat on the board under his butt so he can stand on it. He then stands raising his hands and moves the front foot to the nose of the board. Hips and shoulders are squared to the front. The hands are in the air as the front foot reaches the nose.
In both styles, the body is balanced facing forward with weight equal on both sides of the center stringer. This enables the surfer to make the bottom turn carve into the pocket. To execute this, he moves his eyes and upper torso in the direction of the carve. Then he places a little pressure on the toes or heels, whichever is on the side of the carve. This makes a nice smooth entry into the pocket.
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