Looking down while cross stepping

[saltdog77]

Hello all. I'm new to the forum. I would like to put out a challenge I've been having converting from surfing a short board to a long board. I've been working on my cross-stepping and have no issues walking toward the nose, but it gets real tricky for me when moving back towards the tail from the nose. Hell, I've even walked off the back of the board. ; ) This leads me to ask is glancing down at ones feet part of cross-stepping backwards toward the tail? Ideally, I think my sixth-surfing-sense would kick in and I would intuitively know where I am on the board and be able to keep my balance, but its not happening...yet. Cross-stepping backwards feels awkward and sometimes I regress into the poor form of shuffling back.

I would really appreciate any ideas, comments, tips. Thanks.

[Big H]

From Noseriding.com
As you try the tips from the pros, it's also good to get cross-stepping down.

Bob Howard -- Fluid and natural cross-stepping is important for getting there and back quickly. So practice when out of the water by walking the curb, or a telephone pole or 2x12 plank laying on the ground. Go quickly up and back, until it becomes so natural you don't even think about it. Lean forward slightly, comfortably, to give yourself more momentum and natural ease -- it's a slight falling forward feeling -- when going for the tip of the plank, pole, curb or board. This will make running to the nose easier and more natural. Get use to going for that tip and Hang 5 and 10. This will also get you use to the distance of each step -- from whatever your starting point is -- and how many steps it takes. But don't count them or measure them. This needs to become automatic--so just let it happen. Repeat that over and over again. Then, do it even more quickly--at a run. Go up and back until you don't have to think about it at all. Then take it into the waves. The object is to get to the nose as fast as possible. And cross stepping is the way you do that, not scooting. Besides cross-stepping adds big points to your style quotient. And you can never have too much styyyyyyle! So practice. And have fun doing it.

Look at this thread; there are links to a surf blog from Wakikichan, fellow forum member....
viewtopic.php?t=25041

[Big H]

Anyhow, you don't look down or bad things happen, you get that. You need to feel the board under your feet, see the board in your peripheral vision and surf more and you'll start to get the rhythm and feel of where you are on the board. I used a tail pad to learn where the fins were.....also let me know when walking back when I got to the tail.....do it a few hundred times and you'll be better at it.

[waikikikichan]

This leads me to ask is glancing down at ones feet part of cross-stepping backwards toward the tail?

Have you seen videos or in person good nose riders looking at their feet ? It true I've said "where you look is where you go". But in this case, you are cross stepping to adjust the balance and positioning on the board, your eyes should still be on the next spot your want to get to.
Could you please explain in detail "what is happening" with your problem cross-stepping back ?
1) walking too far and off the board ?
2) falling off the side rail ?
3) legs / feet clashing ?
4) shuffling ?

With out knowing your exact situation, some advice would be to walk an inch shorter than your actual height. Standing tall locks out your knees.

Question: from the tail, how many steps does it take to get to the nose ? For me it's two full crosses and a half kick step.

[saltydog]

From Noseriding.com
As you try the tips from the pros, it's also good to get cross-stepping down.

Bob Howard -- Fluid and natural cross-stepping is important for getting there and back quickly. So practice when out of the water by walking the curb, or a telephone pole or 2x12 plank laying on the ground. Go quickly up and back, until it becomes so natural you don't even think about it. Lean forward slightly, comfortably, to give yourself more momentum and natural ease -- it's a slight falling forward feeling -- when going for the tip of the plank, pole, curb or board. This will make running to the nose easier and more natural. Get use to going for that tip and Hang 5 and 10. This will also get you use to the distance of each step -- from whatever your starting point is -- and how many steps it takes. But don't count them or measure them. This needs to become automatic--so just let it happen. Repeat that over and over again. Then, do it even more quickly--at a run. Go up and back until you don't have to think about it at all. Then take it into the waves. The object is to get to the nose as fast as possible. And cross stepping is the way you do that, not scooting. Besides cross-stepping adds big points to your style quotient. And you can never have too much styyyyyyle! So practice. And have fun doing it.

Look at this thread; there are links to a surf blog from Wakikichan, fellow forum member....
viewtopic.php?t=25041

Super helpful, Big H. I'll be focusing this more until the swells pick up enough for me to work on turns.

[waikikikichan]

I do not agree with Bob Howard's advice to lean forward. I feel you'll be trying to "catch" your steps as you instinctively feel you're falling forward vs. doing purposeful picking up / putting down planting of the foot. Wingnut, who taught me, told me to "walk like your walking on the sidewalk". Not hunch forward.
Also I think you SHOULD count your steps on land while walking next to your board. Yes, in the water you should be feeling not looking. But to at least get a base line of are far one stride takes you is important.

[saltydog]

I do not agree with Bob Howard's advice to lean forward. ...

I actually missed the "lean forward" bit. You are so right that I don't see good long boarders leaning forward but rather upright with light footwork.

BTW, it's super cool that you've had a chance (or more?) to learn from Wingnut!

[Big H]

I just cut and pasted the Bob Howard thing....saw it for the first time yesterday....what I liked was him talking about practicing on dry land....the edge of my pool is 12" square tiles and I used to practice after marking out the length of my board with sidewalk chalk on the tiles....I walk in balance, no leaning....seems to work for most things in life if you balance around your chi....WKK's blog is what I used to learn and still refer to.....what I found is that whether laying down or up on the board, the more I improve, the more I am able to see....relax and squeeze a peek out of the corner of your eyes....at least you'll be aware when you are near falling off either end.

[Big H]

This is what I think of in terms of expanding your view.....

[oldmansurfer]

I haven't surfed a longboard recently but I do move around a bit on all my boards from time to time including running way out on nose and way back on tail. I have never practiced cross stepping but I am pretty sure my feet cross in front of each other but more like walking rather than cross stepping. When I get out on the nose I usually just walk out there but going back I often unweight and walk the board out in front of me instead of stepping back onto the board so I stay in the same place but the board moves forward in relationship to me. I don't know if this is good bad or indifferent but I am not having any problems with it and the biggest board I do it on is 8 foot long. I don't think I look at the board much.

[saltydog]

but going back I often unweight and walk the board out in front of me instead of stepping back onto the board so I stay in the same place but the board moves forward in relationship to me.

Not so long ago I had an "Aha" moment and finally knew what this meant!

[BoMan]

So practice when out of the water by walking the curb, or a telephone pole or 2x12 plank laying on the ground. Go quickly up and back, until it becomes so natural you don't even think about it.

I still do the curb thing when walking the dog. The neighbors (and the dog) think I'm weird but it helps.

To the advice posted, consider adding a stomp pad to your board. It's an easy way to know when to stop walking back and carve a turn. I learned to cross step by dedicating a half hour to the skill at the beginning of every session and practicing on small waves. I started with just one step forward and back and then added more. I also moved slowly at first then stepped more quickly as my confidence grew.

I agree with Big H ... WKKKChan's blog is a great resourse! http://alohaki.jugem.jp/

[RinkyDink]

This is what I think of in terms of expanding your view.....

That's a great graphic. It's so true.When you're a beginner, it's really hard to get past the tunnel vision.

[RinkyDink]

I bought a Goof board way back when I started. I don't use it much these days, but practicing cross stepping on it is, in my opinion, one good use for practicing with it on land.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_MK4N3CRDg

[waikikikichan]

but going back I often unweight and walk the board out in front of me instead of stepping back onto the board so I stay in the same place but the board moves forward in relationship to me.

Not so long ago I had an "Aha" moment and finally knew what this meant!

That's called "Board Manipulation". There's times you walk across/along the board. Then there's times you shove the board forward with your heels and pull the board back with the ball of your foot.
Easy way to explain is this experiment:
1) get out a credit card or driver's licence.
2) put it down on a smooth table
3) hold down one corner of the card with the opposite hand finger
4) walk back and forth along the cards length with your pointer and middle finger
** that's regular walking, as the fingers move forward and back **
Now for the 2nd part of the experiment
5) release the finger holding down the card corner
6) walk back and forth with the fingers again
This time the finger should stay in the same place but the card moves back and forth.
( there's also a 3rd trick to help you further with board manipulation )

[oldmansurfer]

So it is another skill? I guess when I want to get forward on the board I don't want the board going back but when I want to get back I want the board to go forward. So if I am on a flat section on a wave I want the board to not go back because it will go off the wave or if I want to go faster and go forward for that reason I don't want it going back either because that makes it temporarily a little slower. When I want to go back is once I have enough speed or the correct position on the wave and it is quicker to bring the board forward and I am in the right place on the wave so I don't want to change my position on the wave and just want to get ready for turning.

[oldmansurfer]

So what is the third trick?

[billie_morini]

I do not agree with Bob Howard's advice to lean forward. I feel you'll be trying to "catch" your steps as you instinctively feel you're falling forward vs. doing purposeful picking up / putting down planting of the foot. Wingnut, who taught me, told me to "walk like your walking on the sidewalk". Not hunch forward.
Also I think you SHOULD count your steps on land while walking next to your board. Yes, in the water you should be feeling not looking. But to at least get a base line of are far one stride takes you is important.

anyone and, I mean ANYONE, that wants to learn to step up and down a long board absolutely must observe Mika Dora! He was the smoothest cat!

[waikikikichan]

sorry, should of put 3rd part of the experiment. But in the end it is a "trick" for cross-stepping.
so for the 3rd part:
1) spread out the pointer finger and middle finger.
2) pointer finger on front end of card
3) Middle finger on the back edge of card
4) pull the pointer finger all the way back as far back as it can ( middle finer extends the opposite way )
5) now bring back the pointer to the first position.
6) push the middle finger all the way forward ( with the card ) as far as it can go ( pointer finger goes back )

This teaches how far you can manipulate the board to extend your gate/stride and how you can put your board into the curl of the wave or pull it out of the nose going under.

[billie_morini]

So practice when out of the water by walking the curb, or a telephone pole or 2x12 plank laying on the ground. Go quickly up and back, until it becomes so natural you don't even think about it.

I still do the curb thing when walking the dog. The neighbors (and the dog) think I'm weird but it helps.

To the advice posted, consider adding a stomp pad to your board. It's an easy way to know when to stop walking back and carve a turn. I learned to cross step by dedicating a half hour to the skill at the beginning of every session and practicing on small waves. I started with just one step forward and back and then added more. I also moved slowly at first then stepped more quickly as my confidence grew.

I agree with Big H ... WKKKChan's blog is a great resourse! http://alohaki.jugem.jp/

Cannot agree more with Big H and BoMan: alohaki.jugem.jp is a GREAT Resource!!!