Surfing Lesson 4 - Standing Up
Standing Up On Your Surfboard is the lesson that all
you budding surfers have been frantically looking for on the
Internet. Well here it is, and first we will concentrate on
the position that you should actually be taking when you are
standing on your surfboard riding the waves. What we need
to do first is to find out whether you are a Natural Footed
surfer or a Goofy Footed surfer.
Natural of Goofy?
How you know if you are a natural or just plain goofy? You might not know if yet but it
has already been decided by your natural balance and instinct, and here is how you tell just which one you are.
Think about how you would
skid on a patch of ice. When you run up to a patch of ice
to skid, which foot would be your front foot? The skid position
that you take on the ice will be your most comfortable surfing
stance. (There is no need to go down to the local ice rink
to practice - or wait until winter before trying!). If you
would skid most comfortably with your left foot forward then
you are a Natural Footed surfer, if it's your right foot that
you have forward then you are a Goofy Footer.
Now go out into
the street and tell the first 5 people you meet that you like
it natural, or that you are a pretty goofy guy / gal.
The Pop-Up
 The
Pop-Up is the move that will take you from the paddling
position lying on your surfboard smoothly to the upright position
on your feet. It is a good idea to have your first Pop-Up
tryout on the safety of the beach. This bit can be a bit embarrassing
in public so maybe you can practice your Pop-Up technique
in the comfort of your own front room.
The move is really
important in the development of your surfing, getting to your
feet as quickly and smoothly as possible is what it is all
about. Making sure that you are quickly up and have the correct foot position is essential.
The move is executed at the moment when you have done
enough paddling to catch the wave you are going for (which
should be no problem having worked your way dogmatically through
each of the other lessons and not just skipped straight to
this one!). The Pop-Up is like doing a press-up, in that the
first part of the move is to straighten your arms out in front
of you, but instead of keeping your legs and body straight
you need to bring your legs up and under your body, planting
your feet in the correct positions for surfing.
Now let's go into the pop up in more detail and look at a little shortcut if you are struggling.
Next: The Pop Up in more detail >>
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