How To Develop a Proper Surfing Stance (Positions and Techniques)
One of the biggest thrills of surfing comes from being able to catch that perfect wave and ride it until you can’t ride it any longer. Of course, to accomplish this, you will need to be able to pop up on your board and keep your balance as long as possible. To do this, you will first need to master how to execute a proper surfing stance. This is going to require a little skill and a lot of patience and practice on your part before you can perfect the proper surfing stance.
Here are five tips that you can use to develop and perfect a proper surfing stance:
● For good balance, have your chest face the side of the board.
● Position yourself at the center of the surfboard.
● Make sure that your feet are a little wider than shoulder-width apart.
● Your knees should be bent slightly inward to keep body mass compact.
● Keep your arms loose and aligned with the sides of your board.
In this article, I am going to walk you through the steps of executing the perfect surfing stance, as well as explain the reasons why each step is an essential part of the process. I will also provide you with a few techniques that will make it a little easier for you to learn how to stand up on your board and get the most out of your ride.
Have Your Chest Face the Side of the Board
If you want to be able to master the proper stance on your surfboard, the first step is to make sure that you have a good balance. That is why you need to remember to stand with your chest facing the side of your board. Not only will this help you to achieve better balance, but it is also vital to your comfort while you are surfing. Standing with your chest facing the front of your board will cause your body to be twisted and contorted in an unnatural position, which is also detrimental to your balance.
One of the easiest ways to ensure that your chest is facing the right direction while you are surfing is to imagine that your surfboard has a line running from the nose to the tail. Some boards come with one of these lines already on them. Your chest and your shoulders should be parallel to this line. If you want to master the proper surfing stance and make the most out of your rides, it all starts with good balance. Having good balance begins with making sure that your chest is facing the right direction.
Be Centered On the Surfboard
In continuing with the current theme of having good balance, you need to be sure that your center of gravity is positioned in the middle of your surfboard. While I am aware that I have already made it clear that balance is of the utmost importance to your surfing stance, I’m going to double down on this concept and say it again. I cannot stress how important your balance is to ensure that you have the proper surfing stance. If your center of gravity is off, your entire stance will be off as well.
If you are lucky enough to own a board with a line like the one that I mentioned in the previous section, you may want to make sure that the line is running between the balls and the heels of your feet. In other words, the arches of your feet should be resting comfortably on this line. If your board does not have one of these lines pre-installed, it’s time to use your imagination again. Whatever you do, you can rest assured that your stance will be as good as your center of gravity.
Make Sure Your Feet Are In the Right Position
The main thing that has good balance and a low center of gravity have in common is the position of your feet. If you give it some thought, the position of your feet has a direct impact on your performance in most sports. The same concept applies to surfing. While the torque you need to turn your surfboard is generated from your hips, you simply will not be able to generate this Force without having your feet in the right position. So, what is the right way to position your feet on your board?
First and foremost, your feet need to be slightly wider than shoulder-width apart from each other. Secondly, your back foot should be perpendicular to your shoulders. This will help you to steady and balance yourself while you are surfing. Next, you need to make sure that your front foot is parallel with your collarbone, with your toes pointed at the front of your surfboard. In other words, your feet should be in the shape of the letter “L.” This wide base will not only help you with your balance and your torque, but it will also help you to be more flexible out on the waves.
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Your Knees Should Be Bent Slightly Inward
Now, it’s time for a disclaimer. This next step may directly contradict any advice that has ever been given to you by any coach you may have had experience with throughout your entire life. Most sports coaches will encourage you to bend your knees outward. However, if you are trying to perfect the proper surfing stance, your knees should be bent slightly inward. Having your knees angled in will keep your body mass more compact, which will help you to have better control of your surfboard.
When you are surfing, having control of your board is every bit as important as having a good balance. One effective exercise for making sure that you have good balance and your legs are kept loose enough to comfortably bend your knees inward is called side to side lunges. Start from a standing position, keeping your spine and your core stabilized. Next, keep one leg straight, while putting your weight on the other leg in a lunging motion. Perform alternating sets with each leg. This exercise will help to loosen your legs, which will make it easier for you to bend your knees inward than if your legs were still stiff.
Keep Your Arms Loose
Ensuring that your arms are in the proper position is the final step to mastering a proper surfing stance. If you want to have good balance and better control of your surfboard, you are going to need to make sure that your body is loose. This especially applies to your arms. You will also need to remember to keep your arms wide as well. Besides, this will look much cooler in photographs than if you are in a rigid position and you are keeping your arms narrow. There are two exercises that you can ensure that your arms are loose enough and wide enough for the perfect surfing stance.
The first exercise is simple, but it works wonders for keeping your arms loose while you are out on the water. Try holding your arms at shoulder height, but stretching them out to either side of you. Start by making small circles with your arms, gradually getting bigger as your arms get looser. The second exercise to keep your formless rigid is called the standing trunk rotation. Keep your arms stretched out just like you did with the arm circles, but Twist from side to side at your torso. If you do these two exercises regularly, you will see a big difference in your stance.
Conclusion
Having the perfect stance is essential to being a good Surfer. Mastering that stance will require skill, hard work, and practice on your part. First, you need to start with your chest parallel to the side of the surfboard, for balance purposes. Next, make sure that you are centered on the board. Making sure that your feet are in an “L” position is the next step to having the proper surfing stance. After that, be sure that your knees are slightly bent inward for better control of your board.
Finally, align your arms with the sides of your surfboard, and keep them loose. Keeping your body and your arms rigid will have a direct effect on your balance, and will not allow you to be fluid on your board. In my experience, it’s always best to practice these steps on dry land before you try to put them to work out on the water. Now that you know the five steps to a proper surfing stance, it’s time to get out there and catch that big wave!
Related Questions
What is the best size wake to surf for beginning surfers? Just like with any other sport, your skill level will increase with time. The more you practice, the better you get. The better you get, the bigger waves you will be able to surf. With that said, the perfect size wake for beginning surfers is between one and two feet high. While this may not seem like it is a very big wave, it is big enough for the skill level associated with a beginning surfer.
Will the size and shape of your surfboard have an impact on your surfing stance? The short answer to this question is yes. Surfboards with rounded noses have a larger surface area, which will have a positive impact on your balance. Round nose surfboards also have a front in that sits higher in the water, which means that you have to stand closer to the front of the board. On the other hand, now we’re surfboards with sharper noses have less surface area, which requires you to stand closer to the back of the board.
Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Please consult a legal expert or medical professional to address your specific needs.