There are certainly 5 essential parts of the surfing pop up. It looks simple, but new students find that each step has to be included in the right order to be successful.
5 Essentials of the Surfing Pop UP
I will list them and then explain each:
Flexibility- People from kids to seniors don’t stretch, even athletes. I find most people can’t put their fingers to the ground without bending their knees. I stress putting palms to the ground. We get tight in our hamstrings, buttocks, and lower back. If we are not stretched, we have difficulty getting our feet into the proper position on the surf board. For the buttocks, try standing on one foot and lifting the other leg in the air and holding onto the toes. Straighten the leg. Good for the buttocks and balance.
Upper Body Strength- The advanced surfing pop up requires pushing off the surfboard and bringing both feet under the body to the right posture on the board. In the water it is difficult without upper body strength. I teach beginners to put the back foot on the board and start standing on it while lifting the arms and bringing the front foot to the middle of the board. This doesn’t require upper body strength.
Coordination- For a lack of a better term, I am calling the process of balancing, paddling, timing, and moving to the right posture coordination. A high percentage of new students can’t translate what they hear and see to their body. In general, I find boys don’t listen and only take in half of what is said and girls generally take in 100%. Those who can hear and get their body to follow all the instructions progress much faster. Continuous learning of new body movements through dancing, sports, yoga etc help people learn each new sport faster.
Timing- There are at least 5 parts to riding a wave that have to be put in order. First students have to paddle balanced on the board which is more difficult than you would think. Secondly, the surfer must paddle until they are in front of the wave which most beginners rush and put hands on the board too soon. Thirdly, the pop up motion begins after the board is in front of the wave and has to be executed smoothly and perfectly to keep the board going straight and balanced. At the beginning students put knees on the board or hold on too long and fall quickly.
Posture – Beginners need to be in the right posture on the board to ride straight to the beach in foam waves. Advanced surfers develop how they like to ride the board, but beginners have to get their body weight distributed right. The feet need to be shoulder width apart to create a nice platform. The front foot has to be in the middle of the board at a 45 degree angle facing forward. The hips and shoulders need to be facing forward with the hands up in front to be sure weight is equal on both sides of the board’s center line. A trailing shoulder or hand is the primary reason beginners fall. I use a four count for the surfing pop up to get quick smooth rhythm.
Yes, that is a lot. It is the reason most surfers will say it is the most difficult sport to learn. In the movies it looks easy. If you are serious, you will practice popups in your living room every day and cross train for strength, stamina and flexibility, just like the pros.
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For Surf Lessons in Oceanside, see the Home Page
See my YouTube pop up video for good instructions
A good video of Catching Waves