Need Major Help Switching Longboard to short

[PuppyModz]

It's been Like 1-2 Weeks of going almost everyday for 3hrs and i still can barley stand up on a shortboard i started on a 10ft Longboard, then 8ft Longboard ,Now 6'5x20x2 6/8(Or something like that i know its i little more than 2 and half in thick ).When i try to stand up i just fall off cause i get up to slow i think , any tips on getting up faster?

[surf doc]

Yea it's to be expected, quite an adjustment at first and the best thing to do is continue to put in as much time as possible. Have faith it will click.

A few things that helped me with the transition:
-Make sure you're paddling in trim with good speed or else nothing else will work. You'll need to arch your back a lot more on a short board for this to work. Your lower back should be exhausted after your first few sessions if you're doing it right. And remember that your feet are hanging off the back now, make sure they're either pressed together or your ankles are crossed over each other. If they're splayed out they're going to slow you down.
-Don't forget to angle your take off on steeper waves and continue to look down the line, not at your feet. It's similar to when you're driving, if you look at the road immediately ahead of you, it's difficult to steer, but if you look down the road where you're going everything slows down a bit.
-You can practice your pop-up on land. Yes it does need to be fast and you need to pop directly to your feet, going to one knee isn't going to work. Just keep practicing.

[Rickyroughneck]

Good tips from surfdoc.

The most important tip I think is to the feet, I used to miss so many waves and I couldn't understand why because I was putting in many more paddles than everyone else, and faster. I found out that I had my feet off the side and relaxed, so they both dragged in the water, no wonder really that I missed so many.

I have not tried crossing them over but I do lift them a little and point my toes out to sea, that way the drag is much reduced and I think it actually helps getting the board planing faster.



It helps for you to practice your pop-up on land, but consciously pushing off from your knees only, not from the feet. I think that is one of the big differences.