How to go backside

[Coolryanrocks]

So I always go frontside surfing. It feel much more comfortable going frontside. I am having some trouble going backside. I popup slower (if I popup at all) and I normally fail. I'm 6 foot 135 pound and have a 5'8 board. Any tips?

[drowningbitbybit]

Worry about your shoulders, not your feet. Look where you want to go, turn your head that way, and even point with your forward arm - you'll soon be going backside along the wave

[dtc]

two thoughts:

1. often people (and by 'people' I mean a couple of friends I have spoken to!) dont feel comfortable popping up while looking over their left shoulder, because they are right handed. Sounds strange but is true. And I'm natural footed but left handed and I actually prefer looking over my left shoulder and have difficulty popping up frontside...Also, I suspect a lot of people by default turn their board one way (when turning for the wave). I prefer to turn clockwise (to my right) so turn to the backside (remembering I prefer to look over my left shoulder). You may automatically/more comfortably turn to the left (looking over your right shoulder) and then have to re-position yourself to go backside, adding a few seconds and always feeling like you are not quite in the right spot. The 'secret' (if you can call it that) is to practice rotating the proper way - right for backhand, left for front (assuming a natural footer).

2. a slight addition to what DBB said. When going backside you are facing away from the wave but twisting your body to be able to see the wave and you are all off balance. Once up, try moving your feet (particularly the back foot) from 90 deg across the board to more like 45 deg - so instead of your toes pointing sideways they point a little bit ahead. This will move your hips around and open up your body so you can see the wave much easier.

Everyone feels more comfortable frontside because you can see the entire wave and its more natural to lean forward into a wave than it is to lean backwards.

[billie_morini]

This is one of those things that is easier to when you don't think about it. Similarly, people asked me when I rode and raced motorcycles whether turning one way or the other was harder for me. Frankly, I never thought about it. I simply dove into any turn without thinking about it. When surfing, I don't pay any attention to front side / back side. I just go how the wave goes.

[still-learning]

I am also having the same issue...blimmin frustrating...i just seem to "stumble" on the pop up and if /when i am up, i cant seem to trim effectively backhand...i have missed a ton of waves due to the inability to go backhand.

But i need to get it right...often the beach break is busy and i need to optimise my time in the water with catching as many waves as possible. I will attempt the above advise and will let you know how i got on.