Surfing Waves

Fascinated and puzzled by this picture, what's going off with his stance?

Playing around? I don't see any reason to be in that stance other than he wants to.

Surfer seems to be riding in a Parallel stance. But how do you know he is “taking off” ? Sometimes you see guys in this stance mid transfer from switch stance.

I don't, I was guessing with the board riding straight ish.
My initial thoughts were it's a pose for the camera.

If you watch "Toots" surfing at Waikiki, you'll see him do the "Parallel stance" alot. It's something stylish surfers do probably cause they can. It's fun, because it feels funny. You turn by dropping/moving your hip.


I did ask how if you knew he was taking off because i noticed a lot of spray coming off the right rail, and that he might be cutting back off the shoulder.

Guess that's the answer then, Toots does it several times in this clip.

One answer for longboards in particular in quality but small surf..... goof around, experiment try new the nags, expand your repertoire.
Go for it see what it is like with a low centre of gravity and a high centre of hilarity.

Style.....

With the arms crossed like that, it's called the " $500 Stance " patented by Makaha legend Buffalo Keaulana. It one of the required moves in his big board contest.