Tired of finding the typical phrase online: “to improve your take off, when standing up, your feet should be shoulder-width apart,” we decided to go a step further. That’s why, at Flysurf, we offer you renewed advice to improve your surfing and perfect your technique from the take off. With this approach, we aim for every surfer, from beginners to advanced, to take their level to the next step and fully enjoy every wave.
Because of this, we have dedicated ourselves to channeling surfing experience, with biomechanical, neuroscientific analysis, and basic knowledge of Yoga and motor skills to try to explain the fundamental problem when standing up during the take off and offer clear solutions to improve this technique. Our goal is to help you perfect your surfing from a comprehensive approach, boosting your performance on every wave.
Improving the take-off in surfing: what problems can occur?
Standing up in surfing, or performing the pop-up, can be a slow, difficult, and, above all, imprecise process, which is the main problem for many surfers. At the end of a complicated pop-up, it's common to find that your feet are anywhere on the surfboard except in the correct place. The ideal position should be with your back foot over the rear fins and your front foot approximately in the center of the board, always well-centered and pointing to one side to maintain balance and control.
What can cause problems during the take-off?
1. Position: Position is a crucial aspect in surfing, especially that of the front leg. During the take-off, it is essential to ensure that your front foot is placed correctly, approximately in the center of the surfboard, to guarantee optimal balance. Good foot placement not only facilitates stability but also improves your technique and control while surfing. This detail is key to taking your surfing to the next level.
2. Speed: Speed has a direct relationship with the agility and explosiveness we apply to the pop-up. The faster and more explosive your movement, the better your stand-up in surfing will be. Working on your reaction speed and the execution of the pop-up will help you perform a more effective take-off and, therefore, improve your performance in the water.
What could be the solutions?
According to various research in the fields of physical education, pedagogy, and neuroscience, we know that the most effective way to "educate" the brain to remember the positioning of a body part (kinesthesia) is through the use of reference points. Instead of relying solely on verbal instructions, the brain processes and retains information better when provided with reference points in relation to other parts of its own body. This technique is key to improving precision and control in movements such as the take off in surfing.
What is the correct initial position for paddling? For effective surfing, the initial position is key. You should lie on the surfboard "face down," with both hands flat placed on either side of your chest. It is essential to pay attention to the position of your hands, as these will become your main reference point during the take off. By adopting this position correctly, you will not only facilitate the process of standing up but also improve your technique and control while surfing.
To remember where your hands should be in surfing, we suggest a simple trick: extend both arms along your body and locate the position of your elbows. That is the exact point where you should place your hands when pushing up and standing during the take off. This reference not only facilitates the movement but also improves your technique, helping you achieve a more effective and controlled pop-up.
This location will probably be slightly lower than where you normally place your hands, but it is precisely in this position that maximum movement efficiency is achieved. By positioning them correctly, you will be able to perform a more fluid pop-up with less effort, which not only improves your surfing technique but also helps you dominate the waves more effectively and with greater control.
Tips to improve your take off in surfing
If you place your hands too far forward, near your shoulders, the mechanical efficiency of the movement during the take-off is considerably reduced. This is similar to trying to stand up by doing a push-up, which makes a fluid and effective pop-up difficult. To improve your surfing technique and make the most of each wave, it is crucial to position your hands correctly. This way, you will facilitate a more efficient take-off, improving your control and performance in the water.
What we are really looking for with a correct pop-up is to achieve the “seesaw” effect. This involves bringing the fixed point, in this case the hands on the board, closer to the center of gravity, which is located in the pelvis. By correctly positioning the center of gravity, when pushing and lifting your body, the lower part (pelvis and legs) naturally and effortlessly tends to move forward, achieving an optimal standing position for surfing. This technique improves your control and stability on the surfboard, allowing you to better use each wave and perfect your technique.
Try it now on your floor at home to improve your take off:
Step 1:
Try to stand up in the classic push-up position. You will notice that it is very difficult, and the lower part of the body (from the navel down) tends to remain static. Without additional effort from your muscles, it will be difficult to move the lower part forward when trying to perform a pop-up.
Step 2:
Repeat the exercise in the same position, but this time place your hands a few centimeters above your navel. When pushing from this position, you will observe how the seesaw effect occurs. The lower part of the body, including the legs, tends to move forward almost effortlessly, thus facilitating a more efficient and fluid pop-up.
Magic! You've already improved your pop-up.
Conclusions
Now, with this in mind, it's time to provide our brain with the necessary reference points for the correct placement of the front foot when standing on the surfboard. Generally, the back foot finds its position naturally, as it does not tend to move during the pop-up. However, the precise location of the front foot is key to ensuring an efficient take off and a balanced stance on the board, which improves your control and performance on every wave.
Visualize your initial position on the surfboard as a triangle: each hand represents a vertex and both feet, located at the tail of the board, form the tip of the triangle. Got it? Now, when standing up during the pop-up, your back foot should remain very close to its initial position, that is, at the tail of the board, between the two front fins. The front foot, on the other hand, should be placed exactly in the center of the imaginary line connecting your two hands. Focus your attention especially on this last detail to achieve a more precise and balanced take off, thus improving your surfing technique.
Important! When standing up, both feet must touch the board at the same time to achieve an efficient pop-up.
The most common mistake in initial and intermediate stages is "falling short"
This means that, when you stand up, both feet are too close to each other. This displacement of the front foot is not enough to achieve good positioning and distribution of weight on the board, which marks the beginning of all subsequent problems in your surfing.
Extra Tip! You can keep your hands on the board while standing; this will provide you with a low and very stable position, ideal for the initial stages of surfing. Once you stabilize, you can separate your hands from the board, but always maintaining a low position. This will allow you to move more easily on the wave and start enjoying the ride :)
What better way to practice your take off than with one of our amazing surfboards from Flysurf?
