Surfing is thrilling but it can also be frustrating. The latter happens when you fail to stand on the board and you get knocked down in the water!
For beginners, do not be depressed when you do not get it right the first time. Even the surfing pros spent years of practice to achieve perfection in the sport!
While there are many things that you have to learn as a novice, one of the most important is the right stance, which is exactly what we will be tackling in the rest of this post.
The Importance of Stance in Surfing
Have you ever laughed at someone while riding a surfboard because he or she looks like an idiot in the water? Do not be the subject of laughter! This is why stance is important! With the wrong stance, you will definitely look laughable out there! Your position will be awkward.
More so, the right stance is a crucial element of surfing because it gives you the balance and power that is needed when you are on the board. When you have poor posture, it will be easy to fall off the board. This can also be a cause of surfing injury.
If you assume the wrong stance most of the time when you are surfing, it is also highly probable that your body will be excruciatingly painful the next day!
Practicing your Surfing Stance
To make it easier for you to learn how to keep the right stance when surfing, this section will be broken down into different parts.
Feet
Your feet will be the foundation of a good surfing stance, making it the most important. Your balance, speed, and control will all depend on the way your feet are positioned and how they work.
One of the most important things is to make sure that both the feet are in the center of the width of the surfboard. Otherwise, the weight distribution will be unbalanced, and it will be easy for you to be knocked down, especially when the waves are big.
Position your front foot at the center of the board. This is also where most of the weight of the body will be. Think of it as the anchor, which will be crucial in the stability of the board.
Pay attention as well to the right space between the feet. They should not be too close or too far apart from each other.
On the other hand, for the back foot, it should be positioned on the traction pad of the surfboard. It should be at an angle of 90 degrees across the stringer line.
Basically, there are two ways by which you can position your feet on the board. If you are a regular surfer, your left foot should be forward. On the other hand, if you are a goofy surfer, it is your right foot that should be forward. Some surfers position their strongest or dominant foot at the back of the board, but this all boils down as a matter of personal preference.
Knees
The knees have to be slightly bent. You have to make sure that they do not touch each other. A good thing to do is to imagine that there is a watermelon and you are holding it in between your knees.
While slightly bent, the knees have to be positioned in such a way that they are pointing at each other. This will give you better maneuverability and will make it easier to shift weight depending on the conditions of the water. You can quickly change the direction of the board when you slightly bend your knees. Meanwhile, bending the knees too much will make you easily lose balance.
Technically, what you need to do is to assume the Pooh stance. This is a position wherein your knees are facing outwards as you stand on the board.
Waist
It is important that you do not bend the waist while sticking the butt out. This will have a negative impact on your balance and maneuverability.
Your waist or hips should be comfortably positioned and aligned with the body to be able to easily shift based on the direction of the wave. It will also help to dictate where the balance of the body will be when you are on the board.
If your hip or waist is too stiff, your momentum can be affected. It should be moving in the same direction as the body. There should be no sort of resistance. If you are too hard, the waist will prevent you from going wherever you intend to be.
Arms
Keep your arms as relaxed as possible when you are surfing. If it is too stiff, the body will find it hard to shift weight when needed. You have to spread your arms at the right distance for balance. More so, the leading arm should also be pointed at the direction where you intend to go.
The right arm lift is also important in a number of situations. For instance, if you want to generate horizontal speed, you have to lift both of your arms up until it reaches the level of your shoulders. You should do this while the body maintains a straight position.
When you are already riding the waves, you should keep your arm up. This is especially important for the front arm. It should be stretched as if you are trying to reach the nose of the surfboard. The other arm, meanwhile, should be stretched to the back but make sure to not do it too much.
Head
Meanwhile, your head should be positioned up, aiming at the direction where you intend to go. The position of your head will also depend on the position of the arm. When your front arm is up, your head should be facing towards the same direction.
To maintain the right position of the head when you are surfing, you have to think of it as your steering wheel. It is going to lead you wherever you intend to go. If your head is bowed down, you will clearly not have a good vision of your board’s direction. Do not turn your head towards your back once you are riding.
Wrap Up
From your feet all the way to your head, it is important that you master the right stance when you are on the surfboard. Assuming the right position will provide the perfect balance and control while also being able to avoid injuries.
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