Grabbing Rails on pop up

Questions and answers for those needing help or advice when learning to surf, improving technique or just comparing notes.

grabbing rails

Postby dan@progressworld » Wed Aug 02, 2006 9:31 pm

I would say that grabbing rails is a good thing, as long as your fingers don't wrap all the way around the rails.
If they do then this can slow you down and might leave you hung up in the lip! The problem is especially noticable when you wear gloves.
My advise is to place the palmes of you hands on the deck and hold onto the rails with the tips of your fingers.
This will reduce the drag whilst still allowing you to have full control. Dan
dan@progressworld
New Member
 
Posts: 2
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Fri Jul 28, 2006 12:11 am

Re: Grabbing Rails on pop up

Postby avillax » Sun Jul 29, 2018 8:19 pm

Hi buys, I grab the rails and after 5 years of surfing I hit my board with the knee 50% of the time and my take off is quite uneffective, check my video:
minute 2:10



After researching that today I think this is the culprit and I will be practicing to stop grabbing the rails from now on.
avillax
Surfer
 
Posts: 77
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2012 4:46 pm

Re: Grabbing Rails on pop up

Postby steveylang » Tue Jul 31, 2018 1:21 am

It seems a personal thing, but it was a bad practice for me because I would notice a hitch in my pop up, where I would have to “re-balance” in order to let go of the rail and then pop up. I think I developed the habit as a crutch to feel more stable during the pop up. I didn’t even notice until I saw myself on the Surfline cam rewind, and saw the hitch.

So basically I tried to consciously remember not to do this for a few sessions, and now I just push down on the board with hands flat on the deck, it’s just as easy and gets me up quicker.
“The best time of my life was when I was a young man, surfing at Malibu.”
–J.Paul Getty
User avatar
steveylang
Local Hero
 
Posts: 205
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Mon Nov 07, 2016 7:20 pm

Re: Grabbing Rails on pop up

Postby eaNYC » Mon Sep 10, 2018 2:20 am

The potential problem with grabbing the rails is that its harder to get your legs up properly underneath you. When you plant your hands instead of grabbing, they can more naturally come off the board allowing you more space to get your feet in proper position. The tradeoff is you might have less control of the board during your popup. I sometimes pop up both ways but find that my pop-up is smoother when I don't grab. Whatever works for you though, if you're flexible enough either way works.
eaNYC
New Member
 
Posts: 4
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Wed Dec 13, 2017 3:42 pm

Re: Grabbing Rails on pop up

Postby avillax » Sat Sep 22, 2018 5:04 pm

Hi guys, just wanted to let you know that after years of surfing making craters on my surfboards due to hitting them with my knee, I discovered the problem was that I was grabbing the rails. Once I realized this I started putting my hands flat on the board on the takeoff and problem solved plus much better take off, balance, speed. etc.

Don't grab the rails!
avillax
Surfer
 
Posts: 77
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2012 4:46 pm

Previous

Similar topics

Return to Surfing Lessons For All