Surfing Waves

I'm a regular footed surfer and have problems positioning my feet. I noticed it when I started using my friend's board. They have those adhesive pads in the tail and I notice that I don't have my back feet on them. Usually my back feet is around 1 feet further infront of the pad. Am I suppose to have my back feet on the pad as soon as I popup?

I borrowed another surf board which is 8"4 and I find that I have my feet at the correct position as soon as I popup I'm stepping on the pad. It is so much easier to turn and I have so much control compare to my own board.

After the session I got on land and try my own board again. Positioned my back foot right at the back where the fins are sitting. It just feels like the board is too long and big for me. The size is 9’0” x 22 3/4” x 3 1/8”. I'm 173cm and 64kg. Might be a confidence thing? I just find the smaller board easier to control.

I have never surfed on a board with those tail pads but have considered it just because it will help me to know where my rear foot is placed. I hear form other surfers that for at least some surfers right in front of the pad is where they place their feet.

With any board if you have a tail pad it is not obligatory to stand on the pad!
With the longer long boards the better positioning is in front of the pad, for beginners standing on the pad leads to the technique of flap and wallow.
IT IS OK TO MOVE AROUND ON YOUR BOARD!
On a longboard moving can be your gear changes.

BaNZ wrote:After the session I got on land and try my own board again. Positioned my back foot right at the back where the fins are sitting. It just feels like the board is too long and big for me. The size is 9’0” x 22 3/4” x 3 1/8”. I'm 173cm and 64kg. Might be a confidence thing? I just find the smaller board easier to control.

On a 9ft board your feet arent meant to be over the fins, unless you are doing a sharp turn. As Jaffa said, you move around a bit - feet go back, go forward etc. If your feet are over the fins, the nose will be sticking up in the air.

A small board is easier to turn. But harder to catch waves, stand up etc. Maybe you are at the stage where you want to move to a shorter board - if you are currently at 9ft, maybe a 7ft6 minimal - although only you can tell what your skill level is at. Plus, of course, there is nothing wrong with staying on a longboard.

Yes, sorry I wasn't clear. I mean when I want to do sharp turns then my feet needs to be on the pad or it is not correct? I know you can walk all over the board. I just thought once I popup I need to have my rear feet on the pad so I can do turn quickly.

I only tried the funboard for a few hours. It just feels like I'm in control of the board and I can tell it what to do. With the longboard it is the other way around. I feel like I don't have full control over the board because it is heavier. But saying that I can catch more waves on the long one. With the funboard I need to take steeper drop.

It is very simple.
Try everything people are suggesting, then take what fits.
I ride a 9ft longboard rarely stand on the tailpad, only if I am doing tic tac turns one after the other in rapid succession, using them as a stall and set up, for the step forward to the accelerator.
The turns also gain momentum by switching your weight and pressure between your front and back feet and a shift ( slight ) side to side of the stringer of your back foot.
Think in terms of surfing in terms of Buddhist Dharma, "be in the truth of the moment." The wave will tell you what to do, forget thinking, you will have already missed the opportunity!

Go onto youtube and watch a few videos of longboarding. Sure lots of them spend their time noseriding, but once you are over that check out where their feet are and how they turn (the 'tic tac' turns, as Jaffa says) or stalling or doing cutbacks.

You will see most of the time the feet are several feet forward of the fins.

Keep in mind, as you are watching, that in competitions most people are set up to do a lot of turns, so surf differently. Find videos of Alex Knost or Joel Tudor or just people surfing (not competing)

Have a read of this thread it may also explain things to you a little better.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=22911&p=170603#p170603
If you look closely my feet are forward of the tail pad and I'm doing a standard bottom turn.

jaffa1949 wrote:Have a read of this thread it may also explain things to you a little better.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=22911&p=170603#p170603
If you look closely my feet are forward of the tail pad and I'm doing a standard bottom turn.

Oh I believe my feet is in a similar position to yours. Just when I lean as hard as you do, my face normally ends up on the water! Or I feel like I'm going to fall so I quickly lean back.

Jaffa, I can't wait. I'm heading to Taidong this weekend and try the waves there!

If your turn is entirely about leaning then you inevitable fall.
You need speed and to put pressure on your back foot and on your front has to move in an arc forcing the board to turn as well as the lean .
By your videos you are not yet generating speed, it will help,immensely.
Most of the waves you are trying to surf are pretty gutless, so not much help in developing skill.

You are improving so nothing is really lost .