I started this series to help surfers with the most common problems they run into when they’ve just started learning. I want to show you in detail that these early mistakes can be corrected, often by doing something counterintuitive. You won’t find these solutions by paddling out on your own and falling into the water time and time again.
So far, we have covered fixing the nosedive, hand placement and today we will fix your stance for more stability and better turns. To help you understand how to do this, we’re going to look at the Charleston, a wobbly knees dance, for inspiration. But first, let’s understand how your stance is holding you back.
Here is what is happening when you are first attempting to turn on your wave.
– You don’t have the ability to distribute your weight effectively, because your feet are too close to each other and the knees are nearly touching. Or…
– Your feet are too wide and your knees are pointing apart . You are in the “sumo stance.”
You’re probably nodding and thinking that this is not happening to you. You are likely making this mistake though, but you don’t even notice it. Don’t believe me? Try the below drill and see for yourself.
How To Practice the Correct Stance
Find a smaller ball – or make a 20 cm diameter ball by crumpling newspaper sheets – and put it between your legs like this:
Is this how it feels when you are on a surfboard? Probably not. Can you feel the difference?
This stance allows you to shift your bodyweight without having to move your feet. It makes all the difference in making turns and generally staying on your board longer while surfing.
To keep practice, just find a ball and leave it somewhere in your room. Any time you are bored you can practice this. By doing this drill for 10–15 times in the coming weeks you will know what feeling to look for next time you’re out for a surf.
Try it out now:
1. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart
2. Make sure your feet are pointing in one direction.
3. Squeeze the ball between your legs (for guys, I mean the green ball…)
Remember: You need to be able to shift your bodyweight without having to move your feet.
You can also practice this feeling by doing the Charleston, just like our old friend here:
Also, as a general style tip, this will look better than whatever you were doing before. Using this simple drill, you will ride more waves and have more fun surfing. And that is what matters.
Thank you for the great feedback and the shares so far!
Yours,
Editor’s Note: You can let the author know if this helped you, or what you’d like him to cover next by emailing gershon@boostyoursurf.com.
