Most new surfers don’t realize the Wrong Surf Board Stance Ends the Ride. The stance for beginners riding real waves and the advanced surfers on real waves in the pocket look different.
The surfer in the pocket has his butt over one rail as he tries to hold the rail into the face of the wave. As he makes his maneuvers, he brings his body square to the front of the board when he is facing the beach and goes back to his butt on a rail when he is in the pocket.
Many Instructors Get Beginners Started Incorrectly
Many instructors teach beginners to move into the butt on the rail stance which I call snowboarding. One hand is trailing while the surfers body is facing the other rail instead of facing square to the beach. This causes most beginners and intermediates to fall off soon. When intermediates come to lessons for a tune up, this is always the problem.
Surfers get in the wrong stance with an incorrect pop up. Some instructors have the surfer place a front foot on the board and then swing into an upright stance with the butt over the rail. This weights that rail and causes the surfer to fall. The board was designed so the surfer’s weight is equal on both sides of the middle stringer. That means the butt is in the middle of the board and the weight on the right and left sides of the stringer is equal.
Getting the Pop Up Right
The pop up has to include both hands coming forward so the stance is like pushing a box. Imagine a tall box in front of you that you are going to push ten feet. You put both hands on the box and with feet spread you push into it. This stance would keep the surfer’s body equal on both sides of the middle stringer.
There are two good ways to get into that stance. The beginner can paddle, place his hands in a man’s push up position, push up, place one foot flat on the board under his butt, stand on the foot as he lifts his hands off the board and makes room for the other foot to move in front of the body.
The second is a more advanced pop up because it requires more strength and agility. The surfer goes through the same motions of paddling, placing his hands and pushing up. Now he pops both feet onto the board at the same time. He must drive the front foot in front of his body where most beginners don’t have the strength to do this. Their feet land under their body and their weight is on the back of the board. In this pop up, the hands are up as the feet hit the board and the surfer is pushing the box.
Until the surfer gets the right stance, he will not ride very far and will not progress.
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
For Surf Lessons in Oceanside, see the Home Page
Visit me on Instagram
For getting in better shape for surfing see GetFittoSurf.com
-Book
Lose weight, get fit, and learn to surf. All in one concise summary of 3 books, Combines The 3 Week Plan, Get Fit to Surf, and Learn to Surf Guide.
Buy E Book on Amazon for $6.99
The Perfect Start for losing weight and getting fit is the E Book The 3 Week Plan
Buy on Kindle for $2.99 or Paperback for $6.95
Get my new book Get Fit to Surf
Its time to get back in shape. This book discusses strength, flexibility, stamina, and nutritional needs for getting in shape and losing weight. It is the great guide to get back to fitness for all your recreational desires. If you can surf, you can do most anything.
Buy on Kindle for $2.99 or Paperback on Amazon for $6.95
Get the Free Audio Book on Sound Cloud
Get the Learn to Surf Guide Course in Kindle, Paperback or Audio
A great 29 page course on the fundamentals of catching waves, doing beginner and advanced pop ups, riding real waves, how to do maneuvers on real waves, which surfboards to ride, and how to progress. Great for lesson preparation, after lesson review, or learning on your own.
Kindle price $2.99 on Amazon. Paperback price $6.95 on Amazon. Audio download price $6.95
Seniors Get Fit to Surf
Description:
Seniors often ask if it is too late to learn to surf. Age is functional not chronological. If people have been exercising and maintaining body strength, surfing can be accomplished. If people have not been exercising, then getting in shape to surf could be a life changing move. Learn how to develop strength, flexibility, and stamina to learn surfing. If you are in surf shape, you could pursue most any recreation.
Buy the E-book on Amazon for $2.99
Buy the Paperback on Amazon for $6.95
Read a Book in the Markap Series
Self-Leadership, Happiness, Start Now.
Start Now is the process of losing weight, building strength and stamina, developing cardio fitness for surfing, recreation and health. Buy the E-book on Amazon for $2.99 and the Paperback for $6.95. Get into surf shape, start a new lifestyle, and enjoy life at a new level of health.
