Stand Up Paddle > Technique

Surf Stance Issues On Smaller Board - Three steps forward two steps back

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seadart:
I moved to surfing a narrower, lower volume board (from a 10'6 150 L) and have slowly made progress to where I am fairly comfortable paddling in waves and taking off in surf on it.  I took some Gopro movies of my attempts for the first time –and I really suck.  One problem I noted is that I’m not getting my feet in the center of the board over the stringer but they are still in some hybrid staggered/surf position and I fall forward to the side a lot paddling for the take off. The nose is fairly narrow so that does not help.  I know from experience that if I look at my feet I’m going to fall taking off.  I don’t have a good sense of body awareness of where my feet are, they are just fighting for balance.  We had some flat conditions for a few days and I spent a couple of sessions just trying to work my feet into a good surf stance in small increments, I’m doing better but suspect in choppy conditions it’s not going to work.  I’ve seen videos where folks make a little hop to get both feet into position.  I can’t get both feet unweighted and moved simulataneously on the grippy top on the tippy board to do this.  Anybody have a suggestion on how to get to surf stance in the least number of increments without tipping the board? Right now I get into a staggered stance and then get low with bent knees, (goofy foot) so I reach out with the paddle on left side (it’s short) and paddle and brace as I turn my rear foot and slide it back and then step forward with my front foot trying to get it to the center of the board while the paddle stroke is still bracing. (I think my left foot wants to stay near the rail to help anticipate a bottom turn, and that makes my right foot want to stay on the right side of the stringer )  What am I doing wrong?

anonsurfer:
Practice paddling in surf stance or semi-surf stance and then try paddling for the wave in surf stance.  This way you are already in position when you catch the wave.  Then just practice, practice, practice. 

Tom:
I have switched from paddling in a semi-surf stance to the technique that was taught at the Nosara SUP Camp and it is working very well for me. Stay in a parallel stance while paddling for a wave with your feet about shoulder width apart. When you've caught the wave, pivot your forward foot on its heel to right angles with the centerline of the board while moving your back foot to the rear of the board. This will place both feet on center of the board. While doing this, lower your body and keep your front foot weighed more than you back foot.

Green Water Sports:
Hi seadart, I've just recently made a step down in my surfing SUP and I'm having to focus on my footwork a little more since the new board is much more sensitive. I find when I'm going for a wave I'll still be in a mostly square stance, slightly staggered by 1-2" on the new board if it is choppy. If the wave is a little flatter I might step forward 8" with one foot to get my weight forward and improve my chances of catching the wave. I'm regular stance normally and I do surf some waves goofy as well, but interestingly I step forward with the foot on the side opposite to the paddle so that I maintain an open face to the paddle rather than getting all crossed up.

If the wave is a bit steeper, I'll step back a little with one foot. Usually this will be my back foot for the surfing stance but sometimes it could be just the foot to maintain and nice paddling position.

In both cases I'm not stepping onto the center line of the board as my other foot stays over where it was.

Once I've felt I've caught the wave I will usually move my front foot into position first, over the center line and just as this foot is being placed, I'll move my other foot to the back, not always over the center line as it depends if I'm going down the line one way or the other, it'll be in position to go that direction.

Moving and planting your front foot first keeps your weight forward and your board on the wave. Moving back to set your back foot and then setting your front foot may have you drop off the back of the wave and/or sink the tail and make the board unstable and twitchy. I always try to plant my front foot and let the back foot move accordingly for turns. Of course if I need to, I walk up and down the board.

I don't hop into position as unweighting and then weighting the board unsettles it. I try to do one swift move for my front foot and then my back foot right after. A good time to do this is right as or a fraction before the board shoots down the wave, it naturally drops and you use that to shift your feet.

At least that is how i do it...

Badger:
You didn't give the specs of your new shorter board.

I paddle my 8'4 in a semi surf stance but but my feet are still well off to the side of what would be considered the stringer (Do any boards have stringers these days? lol) I don't use a particularly wide stance. My back toe lines up with my front heel. Front foot pointing straight ahead, back foot at a slight angle.

I learned a lot from Colas. He's talking really short boards here but his technique can be applied to any length board.

http://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=15897.0

Once I've caught the wave I hop once or twice to get into full surf stance and put both feet on the centerline. Then I hop again to get to the tail if possible. These are very quick low hops pushing with your front foot, almost as if you are trying to shoot the board forward out from under you.

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