Surfing Waves

Howzit everyone,

I live in Cape Town, South Africa. Been surfing for around 3 months now. Fortunately I'm able to surf 4-5 times a week with my work situation, so getting in lots of practise. Its also winter in SA - so much bigger swell coming in. I'm using a 7'2" minimal, but getting a 6'4" super fish in the next 2 weeks. (Have already tried a 6'6" and it worked well for me)

I do a lot of reading up on surf tips, but having some issues with a couple things. Was hoping for some advice.

1. Pop up

I'm fine with paddling and poppping up, but there's just very little consistency. Lately, my back foot seems to insist on getting down 1st. I've watched many other guys and girls surfing and their popups are so effortless. I'm obviously trying too hard or just have really bad technique.
I'm a natural so I obviously need to work harder on bringing the front leg knee into place before actually jumping up. Does anyone remember struggling with this and any tips?

2. When I drop in on big glassy waves, I find that I'm so stoked when I get to the bottom, that I land up in no-mans-land and mess up the bottom turn. I either take the plunge, which is because I'm leaning with my body too mjuch instead of using crouching lower and using hips. Or I end up using some rail, turning up the face and going back over the wave. I'm guessing its just my timing and technique (once again) thats out. My question...going front side, once you pull the bottom turn and you're heading up the face of the wave, how do you actually get the board to cut back down again - the other way. I.e. I can turn up the face, but struggle to turn back down again. I know that I need to transfer weight from toe to heel, but i'm struggling with the application.

Thanks,

Julz

Sounds like you've got a very good situation going!


Just keep practicing. I can't think of any specific tips to help get your feet landing at the same time, but if it's not really causing you problems I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Once you reach the point of not really thinking about you pop up you'll be able to think more about what you need to do right after it. That will help out your bottom turning situation.

When you start your bottom turn point your leading arm and shoulder to were you want to go. At first don't try going up the face too fast (vertical). Once you start turning you'll need to stop twisting/turning your body or you'll end up turning right off the wave. Practice just trying to turn a little and don't really jam it to hard. And to get back down you need to do a front side top turn (essentially the same as a backside bottom turn).


I hope that makes sense...

Thanks bro,

Just got outa the water....beautiful offshore breeze and pumping 4-5 foot waves. I live accross the road from a surf spot in Muizenberg (in Cape Town). Generally better for long boarders, but gets bigger in winter.

Thanks for the advice....will keep practising....and work on using the leading arm etc...

ciao