Posted by Every surfer that has begun to move away from the world of surf instructors and beginner breaks, and onto the singular form of learning and fabled “home breaks” knows how critical it is to get the “pop-up” just right. Over anticipate the pop-up and you can ensure that you’ll be watching the back of the wave as it moves past and away from you. Pop-up too slow or off balanced, and you can call the trough of that nice wave your home as you tumble into the white wash and go hunting for pearls.
You have to practice this one until it’s just right. It is the next hardest thing to learn right after the proper paddle. One of the hardest things to UNLEARN in surfing is an improperly learned pop-up! You have seen it many times at your usual surf breaks, surfers who constantly go to the knee first and then stand up from there. In theory, this is actually two pop-ups. Once to the knees, and then the body has to brace again for another pop-up onto a standing position. This is a major cause of most beginners’ inability to catch the wave before it breaks … the two step pop-up.
One of the most flawless pop-ups I have seen in consistently done by a girl at my local break. Pay attention to this one because we all could learn something. She paddles into the wave (make sure you have learned THAT before you concentrate on learning this stage), places both hands on top of her surfboard – slightly below where her armpits are – and executes a half push up. At this point, she looks left and right (looking is always important) … and like a pendulum swings her entire lower body under her arms (just like a pendulum). With a slight twist to the left (she’s goofy footed so she faces left) she lands both feet and executes one of the swiftest and sweetest pop-ups known to surf-kind.
The swing through is the most important part – although all of it is critical – for it determines how much time it takes her to go from full horizontal body contact with the surfboard, to only pivotal contact with just her hands, to a standing pedal contact with the board, and then into maneuverability. The shorter time spent in that transitional stage, the better. The less intermediate contact from prone (lying down) to standing, the more control you will have.
Think of it as those twist monkey toys you had as a child, the kind with the two sticks that you squeezed together and made the marionette-like animal on the string spin around. The movement is the same. You will be using your arms like a support system to ‘pendulum’ swing your way to a standing position. Knees need not be involved as an intermediary.
BUT this takes practice and patience. And a good portion of both at that! Don’t take the shortcuts, they could develop into some really bad and counter productive habits later on. A slower pop-up prevents many from getting into bigger waves and different breaks … out of sheer fear or panic alone. The more confident you are that you can quickly get to your feet, the better.
Good. So what about some tips?
- The surfing popup is essentially an explosive pushup …
- Practice several popups on dry land every day, as this repetitive motion establish arm strength and muscle memory
- Grabbing the rails instead of laying your hands flat on top of the surfboard makes it easier to slip off and give yourself a fat lip or botch a takeoff
- ARCH YOUR BACK instead of lying flat on your surfboard. An elevated chest gives you paddling speed, more muscle control, and a quicker pop-up
- Place your hands flat on the board anywhere from your armpits to the bottom of your ribcage, whatever is comfortable
- It’s easier to do a popup while you’re paddling into a wave before it has broken … the action of the popup pushes the wave down the face and gives you speed
- Try not to end up on your knees. This is a tough habit to break for most people!
Oh, before you go and practice, remember that each and every surfer’s popup is slightly different and a bit customized for the individual, but for all intents and purposes the technique is the same at its core. Now go surf!
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