Surfing Waves

So this is my second time surfing shortboard and for some reason when ever I go to stand up my surfboard starts to wobble and slips out. I may be taking to much time to stand up but I need help quick anything will help

If you have learned to ride a bike it is a similar thing....the faster you go the more stable the bike is.....


....also, similar to if you asked on the internet how to not fall off a bike when you were learning, I would answer to go faster, keep your head up and eyes on where you want to go.....and don't fall down. All the same advice applies along with don't be in a hurry to stand up straight (if at all)....stay low with your head up.

Not sure if this addresses your issue; you might still be hung up on the pop up mechanics....doesn't hurt to practice the technique on dry land to improve your speed and smooth out your pop up.....in the end bigger waves = more speed = improved stability provided you are able to get up with a degree of control and balance. Practice pop ups and keep your head and chin up while doing so (don't look down ever)....that will start you off.

Also....it might take more than a couple of times out ..........keep at it and don't give up!

Danielbrooks wrote:So this is my second time surfing shortboard and for some reason when ever I go to stand up my surfboard starts to wobble and slips out. I may be taking to much time to stand up but I need help quick anything will help

So to clarify a bit is this your second time out? Or your second time on a shortboard?
IF the answer is the second, what did you surf before?
Next question just what is the short board upon which you wobble?
How tall is the body and weight of your body , age might help too!
We will help you mend your wobbling ways, but a little more information might help!

As basic as it may sound, a long wide board is a stable platform (but harder to turn) and a shortboard is an unstable platform (but easier to turn).

So maybe you are just discovering that you dont have quite the balance and 'poise' you need for a shortboard - may have been fine for a longer board but now its being found out. It could be any number of things - feet in the wrong place, hips and/or head in the wrong place, not enough core strength, arms waving around (especially up and down), leaning back too much. Too much movement through the ankles.

Unlike a longboard, a shortboard is not forgiving when your take off isn't perfect, you need to work on popping up in a quick and smooth motion and landing in the center of the deck with your backfoot on the tailpad, wobbling comes from lack of body compression and also bad balance so you're probably off center

i figure since you're slow to get up, the wave breaks on/with you and you're stuck riding the soup. White water is all aerated / agitated foaming junk. Your fins have no traction, your rails have no bite, the board slides side to side ever which way. Imagine cruising down a freshly paved asphalt road versus bouncing up and down a rocky mountain pass.

If you have a surfing problem, I aways say to look back two actions. In your case of what i suspect you being stuck in the white water, Fred Flintstone surfing, soup riding, etc. you can blame a bad Pop Up and a weak Paddle.

I also think you might:
1) Get up to both knees, then up on one knee, then to your feet, and have them not spread apart but touching
2) LOOKing at your feet
3) Death grabbing the rails during the drop
4) Didn't spend enough time on long(er) board.

So, to help you better, how much do you weigh and what size board are you using? And what size fins?