Surfing Waves

HI all,

I've developed a terrible habit while surfing and need some help.

Every time I stand up I nail the top of my right foot on the back of my board. I think I am sliding my foot instead of lifting it. As a result, I have developed painful bruises and cuts that get re aggravated each time I surf. I try thinking about lifting my foot higher in that split second where I stand up, but to no avail.

Any advice on this? I've been surfing for years, but this habit seems to come and go and I can't figure it out.


Nate

I know the one... hurts doesn't it?

It's often that your hands are too far forward, so you end up popping along rather than up. Make sure your hands are by your ribcage and on the deck of the board (not the rails) and pop up.

I broke my big toe doing it when i first started surfing 3 years ago. i found that popping up just comes with time in the water and is easier to do on an unbroken wave than in whitewater. I remember the pop-up being an enigma when i first started, but now i look back and wonder what the fuss was about.

what kind of board and what size is it?

I had this problem and this tip worked for me - obviously you may be different.

Tip - just before popping up, bring your foot to the same position it is when you are standing on land (ie foot is 90 degrees to shin). Don’t have your foot in the 'paddle' position ie your foot is in a straight line from your shin. Then pop.

I realise this seems wrong - I hear you say 'I'm hitting my foot and he wants me to point my toes towards the board!' So here is the 'proof':

- stand up on land and then stand on your left leg only, bending your right leg backwards at the knee
- point your toes as I suggested and, keeping your body upright and left leg straight, swing your right leg through from the knee like you are taking a kick (as if you were toe poking the ball). You will see its no problem to do this
- now, stand on your left leg again in the same position, but point your right foot in a straight line from the shin - the way your toes will be if you are laying on the board (or swimming). Then swing your leg through to kick. Notice what happens (which is that your foot hits the floor).

I was leaving my foot flat when trying to pop up, and that just increases the length of your leg. So when you pop up and go to bring your foot through, its 'too long' and smacks the board. Whereas if you bring your foot to 90 deg, your leg is now 'shorter' and no problems!

Anyway, as I said this was my particular mechanical issue. But give it a go - of course, you still need to bring your hips up high enough to fit your leg and foot through, so DBB's tip is all important.

Whenever I hit my foot it's usually with my teeth, ( because it was firmly in my mouth).
just to show you it ain't all beginners, I took off on a good overhead wave today perfect pop up perfect position but my right knee would not unfold for any reason i just had to grab the rail and watch this magnificent wave drill me down like a heel on a cockroach!
Only good thing was that time dilation effect where everything goes into slow motion, I had a mass of time to contemplate my mortality and the squelching of my ego

thanks everyone for your replies. Dbb, I gave your advice a go the past week or so and it helped quite a bit. thanks for the tip! dtc: Thanks, I will also give your advice a try. Unfortunately I live in Santa Barbara and waves during the summer here are few and far between, so getting this perfect may have to wait till winter!

Nate

Here's a way to practice your pop up when no waves - outdoors on the road barefoot. You will certainly discover if you are still dragging your foot...

I have the same habit of a drag here or there..usually my left foot. Had a cut there and my drag had the scab knocked off at every surf...took 6 months to heal and never would have if I didn't start wearing a booty. Got a couple of scars on the top of the foot, but never had the issue after the booty came to town.

dtc wrote:Here's a way to practice your pop up when no waves - outdoors on the road barefoot. You will certainly discover if you are still dragging your foot...

Probably joined this conversation too late but discussion has been useful. I am 60 and ride an 8' 1" board on Sydney's northern beaches. I have been surfing since I was about 12 and only in the last few years I have managed to break several middle toes on both feet while surfing, most recently 3 weeks ago. I now suspect I have arthristis in one toe as a result.

Its not clear to me how it happems but I think must drag my foot as I stand up. I'll try the techniques suggested but I intend to strap middle toes on both feet with gaffer tape from now on!

Any other theories?

Welcome fellow oldf_rt, I occasionally catch a toe too! Particularly if my date of birth makes me feel tired