How to Stand Up On a Surfboard

The pop up is the hardest part of surfing for most beginners. Even though catching a wave is often easy, and riding it can be simple for new surfers, it’s the in-between stage where newbies spend most of their time wiping out.

In order to stand on a surfboard:

  1. Position your hands on the board in front of your chest, with your elbows close to your body.
  2. Using your hands for support, press your body up and arch your back so that most of your weight is on your feet.
  3. Slide your feet into position on the board while pushing off with your toes.
  4. Keeping your knees bent helps you maintain a low center of gravity.
  5. The best way to enjoy the waves is by Surfing!

That’s the basic idea, but we should go into further detail. We’ll talk about how to stand up on a surfboard, appropriate foot placement, and some common blunders new surfers make when standing up in this post.

Popping Up

The pop up is the move that gets you from lying down on your board to standing up. Always try a few pop ups on the beach, in your living room, or anywhere else where you won’t fall over.

The most important move you will learn is how to pop up. A well executed pop up means getting to your feet quickly and smoothly.

You should perform your pop up after you’ve paddled enough and have caught a wave. The pop up is a simple move.

  1. Place your hands on the board, under your chest.
  2. Push your torso up, keeping your back straight.
  3. Place your feet on the board and slide your legs under your body.

Positioned Correctly on the Board

If you want to properly catch a wave while surfing, make sure you’re positioned correctly on the board. If not, you’ll end up in the wrong spot once you pop up.

When you paddle to catch a wave, your center of gravity should be only slightly behind the vertical center of your board. To check if you’re in the right spot, focus on the nose of the board.

Keep your nose 10-20 degrees above the waterline so that you don’t nosedive while catching a wave.

Make sure you’re not too far back on the board. Your tail should not be immersed in the water. Slowing down and making catching waves more difficult is one of the most common reasons surfers are injured.

The Best Time to Stand Up on Your Surfboard

As a general rule, it is advisable to take two more strokes on a wave than you think necessary before standing up. When learning how to pop up, it is recommended that you ride the wave on your stomach for longer than more experienced surfers will.

Popping up Technique

It’s crucial to understand the popping up technique before you attempt it yourself. This will ensure a smoother pop-up process.

Goofy Footed or Regular Footed

When surfing, you can either be goofy-footed or regular-footed. If you are goofy-footed, your right foot will be in front when on the board. Regular-footing individuals have their left feet forward while riding a wave.

To figure out which your ‘natural’ posture is, have a buddy push you from behind while you have your eyes closed. The foot that you use to brace yourself first should be the one that faces forward on your surfboard.

Standing on The Board

When you’re standing on the board, your feet should be slightly farther than shoulder-width apart. To lower your center of gravity, bend your knees. Finally, keep your eyes forward while riding the board.

Few Mistakes That Beginners

Popping up might seem easy, but it takes some practice to perfect. Here are a few mistakes that beginners make while they’re learning. 

Looking Ahead

The weight of your head can easily throw off your balance if you’re not careful. When popping up, be cautious to keep your head lifted and looking ahead.

Practicing on Small Whitewater Waves

To learn how to pop up on a surfboard, start by practicing on small whitewater waves. Don’t try to surf the face of a larger wave right away.

Grab onto The Sides of The Board

Position your hands close to your chest or ribcage, with them flat on the top of the board. When you pop up, don’t grab onto the sides of the board; this will affect your balance and slow down the board.

Spine Straight

Keep your spine straight, and avoid popping up onto your knees or transferring between positions while seated. When standing up, move quickly from your chest to your feet.

Stay Upright

While you’re standing on the board, remember to stay upright and avoid squatting or arching your back, as this can make you lose your balance.

Facing The Outer Edge of The Board

When you pop up, your feet should be facing the outer edge of the board–not in a ‘ski stance’ where both feet are next to each other at the nose of the board.

Completely Caught The Wave

Rolling in is not considered a part of surfing. Before attempting to stand up, be sure you’ve completely caught the wave.

Center of Surfboard

Stand near the center of your surfboard and make sure to not push back too hard when you stand up. If you are not far enough forward, the board will go slower and start to sink.