Knee starts

[bigmtn]

curious how everyone starts on their smaller boards.  I posted the vid below on how I start

then a buddy posted his version, which I like the looks of, but have yet to actually try

anyone do it differently or have a "better" way to start?

[Dwight (DW)]

I use the ptone method when I wing my wifes board. I cant do your method due to arthritis

[surfcowboy]

Good video man. I've not been watching insta closely.

I'll report that it's fully possible to get better at this. When I got my small board it was painful but it did get easier. (with much cajoling from bigmtn and Hdip, I'll add.)

In maybe (or not) related news, I got a nice hernia so I'll not be pressing up hard on one leg any time soon. So I'm back to a 70l+ boardso I can just partially stand up and get going in most conditions. Once that's repaired we will see how I feel about the fast pop up with no hands.

By the way, can you imagine if surfers had to pop up with their hands overhead? Think about how hard this is. lol

[Califoilia]

Unfortunately, because of knee problems, the best I can do is go from my knees (that I can only be on for a short period of time), and then have to get my front foot on the board and start from there. I tried again yesterday trying to stand directly from my knees, and nope...wasn't going to happen. Back knee just kept locking up when I tried to get it under me to push up and off of it.

But that was in really light winds with very little assistance from the wing pulling me up onto my feet. Stronger winds definitely help the process, and I've been able to do it in them when I'm more or less getting pulled up vs. standing up...if that makes any sense.

EDIT: I guess I'm closer to doing the ptone method where his front leg comes up first, and then his rear one follows it up.

[StellaBlu]

I definitely prefer option 1.  I don't think that I would be well balanced in option 2.  I also feel like I can control my angle in relation to wind and waves better if I'm aligned with the board.  Option 2 can work if the wind is directly on or offshore, but in cross shore conditions (which is what I normally ride), option 1 allows you to keep the board pointed into the waves better (strut aligned with wind, at a right angle to the board). YMMV

One trick Ive found recently is that keeping my butt low to my heels before the pop adds a lot of stability.  Its not a problem if Im fully powered and can pop right up to my feet, but if I need to pump, search for the gusts, or time my pop with incoming waves, keeping the butt lower gives me a lot more stability.  Seems obvious but I always found myself sitting high in a rush to get to my feet. 

Whatever works.