What's Your Kryptonite?

[BoMan]

kryptonite-green-crystal.jpg (61.75 KiB) Viewed 510 times

I have strength and weakness.
I struggle through plateaus.
And there's stuff that just psyches me out.
My Kryptonite!

Does this happen to you? Is there a skill or situation that you can't get through on your own? Ask a question here and move forward

CrossStep.jpeg (7.08 KiB) Viewed 510 times

My Kryptonite is cross stepping. I ride a 90L board which bounces on the wave and I feel that I have to crouch LOW to stay in balance. In this position, I can only "shuffle" to the front for nose rides. When I try to stand more erect and cross step I wobble into the sea and it's not pretty. I'm working on this by cross stepping off the front of my board at the end of rides but it's still not working at the right time. Can you help?

[oldmansurfer]

Hmmmmm I am sure Waikikichan can say something useful to you about cross stepping but for me I never worried about cross stepping just plain ol stepping got me to the part of the board I wanted to be at. Unless I surf more I won't surf enough to find my kryptonite. I know I need to spend more hours in the surf ....maybe that's my kryptonite .....finding more time in the surf speaking of which....

[BoMan]

I know I need to spend more hours in the surf ....maybe that's my kryptonite.

That's so true for me too. Because I live away from the coast, it's hard to get in the water more than once or twice a month, and this make progress on any skill very slow. I'm planning to retire in September, pick up a new board, add more sessions to my schedule and flippin' master the cross step!

[waikikikichan]

I wobble into the sea

Could you explain more in detail what is happening when you "wobble" into the sea ? Do you rock the boat side to side. Do you fall of into the waves face or flip over backwards ?

[BoMan]

Could you explain more in detail what is happening when you "wobble" into the sea ?

The board will often bounce while I move the rear foot ahead of my front foot and it lands off center. The mistep ruins my trim and I will either make a clumsy recovery with no more stepping or wipe out. This isn't an issue when I keep a low center of gravity and shuffle but it's not what I want to do. Thanks for your help!

[waikikikichan]

I ride a 90L board which bounces on the wave and I feel that I have to crouch LOW to stay in balance. In this position, I can only "shuffle" to the front for nose rides. When I try to stand more erect and cross step I wobble into the sea and it's not pretty. I'm working on this by cross stepping off the front of my board at the end of rides but it's still not working at the right time.

The board will often bounce while I move the rear foot ahead of my front foot and it lands off center. The mistep ruins my trim and I will either make a clumsy recovery with no more stepping or wipe out.

Firstly, don't worry about the Cross Step. Yes, it is important, but not as important as locking down the tail FIRST, so you can begin to walk forward. Noseriding is like a See-Saw. You on one end and the wave holding down the other.

I would say a more volume board would get bucked around less than a lighter board. I'm 5'2" 120 lbs. if i don't get bucked off a 11 footer, you should not have a problem. Where you putting your board and When you're walking needs work on.

Crouching may seem more stable, but you lock out your controls and suspension.

"Walk never shuffle" is what Wingnut says. Shuffling causes that back and forth motions that upsets the glide and trim.

Don't stand too erect, but also don't squat down. It's a balance.

Try walking off the front of the board during the trim, not when you're going straight in. ( of course when no one is near ).

Your feet should NOT land in "the center". It should land closer to the rail on the side your going. It's called Rail Loading. Also you shouldn't be looking down. ( how do you know where your foot is landing ? )

[BoMan]

I would say a more volume board would get bucked around less than a lighter board. I'm 5'2" 120 lbs. if i don't get bucked off a 11 footer, you should not have a problem.

For the last year I have been relearning on a Greco and plan to get a real board when I retire in the fall. Could this explain the bouncing? http://www.grecosurfboards.com/product/the-eden/

Crouching may seem more stable, but you lock out your controls and suspension.....Don't stand too erect, but also don't squat down. It's a balance......Your feet should NOT land in "the center". It should land closer to the rail on the side your going. It's called Rail Loading.

Excellent points to work on!

[waikikikichan]

Oh yes, spongers are too flexy. Now i understand what you meant. But noseriding can be done on a sponger and actually a unique feeling since you can "feel" the wave thru the board. But you can't rush the walk and upset the rhythm of the flexing of the board.

[RinkyDink]

Here's a suggestion. Since you don't have a lot of opportunities to practice at the beach, try using a balance board at home while you watch TV. You can either make one yourself or buy one. I use a Goofboard when I just feel like chlling at home. I think it helps my surfing. I can't do the cross step moves or balance on one foot without a chair, but eventually I'll get there. You might want to pick one up.

[BoMan]

Thanks to WKKKChan for teaching me to "load the rail." I was trying to cross step down the stringer like this....

and I should be walking on the wave side of my board, like this....

Does anyone else have Kryptonite?

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[Big H]

Closing my eyes is my kryptonite....inner ear damage as a result of the decompression sickness destroyed most of my inner ear balance....doctor said and is true that I would learn to use my other senses, sight primarily, to balance.....I close my eyes and it is spinning vertigo.

[BoMan]

You must have amazing "vision balance" to surf the way you do! What's it like in a wipeout? How do you get through it?

[Big H]

You must have amazing "vision balance" to surf the way you do! What's it like in a wipeout? How do you get through it?

I think it's a normal compensation....that's what the doctor told me ages ago....at the time of diagnosis in '94 he told me it would take 5 years or so before my body figured out compensations for the absence of inner ear balance....visual, pressure in the soles of my feet, subconscious awareness of posture, terrain, etc.....wipeouts I sit tight, close my eyes usually and wait....it's all a washing machine anyway, I don't think too different than your or anyone's experience. Honestly not a big deal anymore; immediately afterward I was clumsy for a couple of years but now can surf, play soccer, skateboard, can even do Indo board exercise....I am not great diving anymore as gravity is one of the cues I apparently need and I feel a constant if small sense of vertigo, and like I said before, not good at all in the dark with zero visual cues.....if I swim or snorkel underwater and close my eyes it is a unique experience for sure.....feel like a spacewalker though nasal pressure is still a cue for right side or upside down underwater....

[oldmansurfer]

Here is some cross steppin for ya

[JuanPardo]

You must have amazing "vision balance" to surf the way you do! What's it like in a wipeout? How do you get through it?

I think it's a normal compensation....that's what the doctor told me ages ago....at the time of diagnosis in '94 he told me it would take 5 years or so before my body figured out compensations for the absence of inner ear balance....visual, pressure in the soles of my feet, subconscious awareness of posture, terrain, etc.....wipeouts I sit tight, close my eyes usually and wait....it's all a washing machine anyway, I don't think too different than your or anyone's experience. Honestly not a big deal anymore; immediately afterward I was clumsy for a couple of years but now can surf, play soccer, skateboard, can even do Indo board exercise....I am not great diving anymore as gravity is one of the cues I apparently need and I feel a constant if small sense of vertigo, and like I said before, not good at all in the dark with zero visual cues.....if I swim or snorkel underwater and close my eyes it is a unique experience for sure.....feel like a spacewalker though nasal pressure is still a cue for right side or upside down underwater....

being very used to sound migraines I am very impressed that you can surf after an inner ear balance problem.. sometimes time helps us heal slowly I guess... or that's what I hope too...

[BoMan]

Here is some cross steppin for ya

A beautiful video showing solid skills!
Someday that will be me (sans the bikini)