Let’s face it, if you can’t get to your feet quickly (or in some case at all) it’s going to be a struggle to push your surfing as far as you might want to.
Stepping up to a shortboard means that the easy tricks you could get away with on a mini-mal just aren’t going to work when you can’t create leverage off your back foot.
But there is no reason why this information wont help you with a longboard pop-up if you are still not as quick off the mark as you might like.
You are going to have to learn to do it in one smooth, rapid movement. Here are my top exercises and stretches to smooth out your pop-up:
Watch this first
Four steps to a more successful pop-up
1. Flexibility
Sort out your posture, your joint mechanics, your muscles and fascia. You can do this with a local massage therapist, physio, osteopath or CHEK Practitioner (like me). You can also do this yourself with a little knowledge, and a sense of humour!
2. Stability & Flow
This doesn’t always mean stiffening the joint, but reteaching the body and your muscle memory how to perform within its optimal range of motion. This is what is needed to ensure that your flexibility training sticks. Otherwise, you might keep stretching but not get any improvement.
You don’t need to balance on an Indo to do this. Simple exercises can be more effective.
3. Strength
Work on creating a foundation of basic strength in pushing, and hip /trunk flexion. This will save you from getting injured in the next step, is lots of fun, and may even make you more attractive to members of the opposite sex.
4. Power
This means fast, explosive movements. Fast Glycolitic Energy system work. This is tapped out in less than 20 secs, so you can only do a few bursts. Make sure you stop as soon as you feel your speed or your effort diminishing!
This is really fun training, and is the basis for the Advanced Phases of my Complete Package.
Repetition is the mother of skill (as long as there is skill in the repetition).
Practice, practice, practice.
Every time you are on the floor is another chance to practice your pop-up. Get creative, have fun, and don’t expect to be perfect straight away. Two-three pops up every now and then is perfect, and definitely before you paddle out on a cold day!
I don’t know many people who were awesome at pop-ups without trying, or without being made of rubber and wax (like grommets). So don’t despair.
Every session is an opportunity to improve, even if only a little. If you have fitness related surf questions, send them to me here at ash@weekendsurfwarrior.com and I will do my best to get you answers in the form of an informative post, just like this one!
Until next time, hooroo
