The pop up- intermediate

[deshram]

I am some what decent at surfing i can do sprays and pump down the line and ive done a snap or two but one thing that never ceases to embearass me about my surfing is my pop up. A lot of times when the waves arent that clean i stand up and almost lose my balance, i can only start doing what i want to when ive finally gotten ahold of myself. I find dropping in backside i really dont have this problem most of the time, but i just cant help but feel retarded every time im standing up and im wobbling on the board. When there is a clean face and some good size to it im perfectly fine with it and i can do a trick or two once i get myself but i just dont know how to deal with this problem. I am trying to surf blacks in San Diego and the wave REQUIRES you to pop up immediately and get in the pocket with a bottom turn or you will snap your board. I know the routine with hands on the rails and jump and all that xxxxx but i just cant quite get it down, i think i would be able to do some really sick tricks if i just got rid of this problem. anyone have anything that they do for themselves to help with this problem? btw I am about 5'7 160lbs and i ride a 6'0 thruster

[IB_Surfer]

6'0" at 160lbs is perfect for any waves chest high or bigger. So, two answers depending on what you mean "waves aren't clean"

1) If you mean fast big barreling steep waves: For many the popup is something they just firgured out, they never discussed it with their friends or sought advice on whether is was being done correctly. One possible solution (there might be others, just one here) try landing the back foot first while your hands are still ont he deck then the front. This is a split second maneuver, you are still poping up both feet, but by keeping your hands down longer and by having the back foot planted it should eliminate some of the shakes.

2) If you mean smaller waves that crumbly: You need to start a quiver, at 160lb a 6'0" is probably good for anything chest high or bigger, but you will need a small wave board. Everyoe has one, some of us many more boards. I actually have a board I use for small mushy waves that is different from the board I use for small steep waves.

I dig blacks, but for sure it's a steep and fast wave. I have had some awesome rides there, but most have been big fun closeouts. Lastly, 5'7" at 160lbs, 6'0" is what a great surfer would use. Have you tried a buddys 6'2" to see if it feels better at blacks? Fast wave, hard to catch, you might be slightly undergunned.

Hope all that helps...

[isaluteyou]

its all about experience. The more waves you get under your belt the more issues are ironed out all on there own. Blacks is a pretty unforgiving wave and can take a while to figure out how to surf correctly.

As far as your issue goes seems like it may be a board issue as it took me a while to get used to surfing a 6'0 always found myself a touch wobbly but when i nipped it in the bud due to lots of practise it wasnt a problem although i favour a 6'2 these days the touch more paddle suits the way i surf. The only way for certain is to try a few other boards out and see if the problem persists then you will know whether its the board or you