The Best Ways to Stand Up on a Surfboard | Oceanside Surf Lessons School (2024)

The Best Ways to Stand Up on a Surfboard | Oceanside Surf Lessons School (1)

Learning to surf involves The Best Ways to Stand Up on a Surfboard. Because standing up to us is a habit we have been practicing since we were toddlers, it would seem standing up on a surfboard would be easy. The problem is that the land habit is much different than the water process.

Our instincts about standing up don’t work in the water. We don’t wind up in the same stance on land and in the water. Standing up on a balanced beam in gymnastics would be closer or on a 4 x 4 above the ground. The obvious difference is that on the latter two, one foot is in front of the other in a wide stance and our weight is balanced by having our hands in front and weight equal on right and left sides. Visualize that.

Getting our Balance Right in the Water

Now we have to consider the best processes to get into that stance on thankfully a wider platform. How do we get one foot in front of the other and our balance equal on the right and left side. There are two main popup processes utilized by surfers. One is considered advanced and one is good for beginners but also used by advanced surfers.

The beginner and advanced pop ups start with paddling to catch the wave. Both then have the surfer putting their hands flat on the board next to their rib cage in a man’s pushup position. It is important to stop here for a second to gain poise and stop our body’s forward momentum from the wave. Then in both processes, the surfer pushes up. This gets his chest off the board so he can bring his feet under his body.

Getting the Advanced Pop Up

This is where the two processes part. In the beginner pop up, the surfer brings one foot up about 2′-3′ on the board and places it flat on the board under his butt. This allows him to stand on it. He stands on one foot for a second while raising his hands and clearing the way for the front foot to get in front of the body and near the nose of the board. When the front foot hits the board, the surfer is upright and his hands are in front.

The advanced pop up moves both feet at the same time. I find beginner students that are lean and very fit can do this easily. After the surfer pushes up, he moves both feet but is driving the front foot under his chest and forward in front of his body so when he stands up, the front foot is in front of him. If the front foot doesn’t make it forward, the surfer is on the back of the board and loses the wave.

The front foot doesn’t make it forward because the surfer leaves his hands on the board too long and blocks the foot from moving forward or he doesn’t have the strength, flexibility, and agility to drive the front foot to the nose. This is the reason I don’t teach beginners the advanced process. They usually don’t have the physical capabilities.

Arriving in the Correct Stance on the Board

in both pop ups, the body arrives in the same stance. Like on a balanced beam, there are not a lot of ways to stand correctly. Only one. The feet are shoulder width apart. The hips and shoulders are square to the front as the surfer is looking forward with hands where he can see them. The issue snowboarders, and skateboarders have is they like a hand trailing and one shoulder towards the tail. This causes them to fall off on their butt side.

If the surfer’s stance is correct, the board will go straight with no additional work. In a foam wave, the surfer wants to ride to the beach. In a real wave the surfer wants to ride down the face and then carve into the pocket. Both require stability and correct balance in the stance. On a real wave, this pop up has to be more perfect because the board is moving faster. Any incorrect balance or positioning is magnified.

Both popups can be practiced in the living room and I suggest to my students they do 20 a day. This will develop the surf specific muscles. Doing push ups, squats and dead lifts help the flexibility and strength for pop ups. The squats and dead lifts can be done daily without weights. It takes a while to develop a smooth accurate pop up with practice on dry land and in the water.

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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FAQs

How do you stand up on a wave surfing? ›

The best way to stand up on a surfboard, without doubt, is to utilise the 'pop up' method. This is where you catch the wave, perform a press-up and then whip your feet into place in one seamless motion.

Why can't I stand up on my surfboard? ›

Practicing the Correct Technique

Make sure your hands are in the right position – don't grip the board at its sides, but instead place them flat on the board very close to your chest. Lift up your chest using your hands. Remember to not look down – instead look straight up and don't move your head.

How do I know when to pop up? ›

The first indication that it is time to pop up will be as the nose of your surfboard dips down the wave face, this means you have matched the pace of the wave and gravity is starting to pull your bodyweight down the wave. Once you feel your board become weightless this is the time to pop up!

How many days to learn to surf? ›

Learning to surf requires between two hours and one month of practice. If you're struggling for more than two months to ride a wave, then there's something wrong with you. The first thing you'll need to master is lying and balancing on a surfboard - that could take you between half an hour and two or three hours.

Is it hard to learn how to surf? ›

Learning to surf is hard

It's one of those things that people make to look easy. The truth is, learning to surf is tough and it takes time, a long time. How hard can it be? From mastering the popup, reading waves to navigating the lineup and brutal paddle outs, surfing can at times be a hard sport to become good at.

What time is surf the best? ›

Early Morning: Many surfers prefer to hit the waves early in the morning, typically around sunrise. During this time, the wind is often calm or offshore, creating clean and glassy conditions. Additionally, the crowds are usually smaller, providing a more peaceful and enjoyable surfing experience.

How to stand up on a surfboard for beginners? ›

So you want to learn how to stand up on a surfboard? Press up using your hands and lift your chest off the board. Slide both knees up between your hands so you're in the crouching position. Rise up onto your fingertips and bring your front foot forwards so it's sitting flat and centrally between your hands.

Why does my surfboard sinks when I stand on it? ›

Your stance is too square: You don't have one foot far enough in front of the other. Remember that your feet will be facing predominantly to one side of the board rather than straight forward towards the nose. You tend to stand too tall: You should be crouched over like you are about to get tackled or wrestle.

Why can't i balance on my surfboard? ›

The first thing you need to consider when it comes to how to balance on a surfboard while standing is where your feet are on the board and how your body is positioned. You want your chest facing the side of the board, not the front. Having a sideways stance is very important to maintaining proper balance.

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