Australian pop up, 2 steps, 3 steps, with a jump ... what am I talking about? Of the Take off obviously. The Take off, or Pop Up if you prefer, is the key movement of surfing. Standing up is the first thing you will have to learn, a movement that seems simple, but that requires a lot of practice to be refined.
It seems unbelievable but there are really many variations of this maneuver that is the basis of surfing and if you ask a couple of more experienced friends to show you how to do it, they will probably give you different advice on the subject. Yet in the end the question of take off is quite simple and it all comes down to one thing: getting up on the table as quickly as possible, at the right time . Yes, it seems easy, but any beginner struggling with his first attempts knows that it's not that simple. Moreover it is not uncommon to see surfers already rather Bravini who continue to have problems with the take off. They are too slow, or always late or have awkward movements and the result when it is not a wipe out is a missed maneuver because they simply cannot find themselves in the right section of the wave.
But how do you make a good take off?
Explaining how to make the take off on a surfboard is no easy task. Surely it is easier to show it. This is why we decided to put together this play list of the 5 most useful video tutorials to watch and watch to learn and improve your surf pop up.
But before moving on to videos, just a few words about some key elements to think about while watching videos.
1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT WAVE, AND THE RIGHT POINT
It seems obvious but it is worth repeating. Choosing the right wave is fundamental, as it is essential to choose the right place to be. At first it will seem impossible to understand where to position yourself, but with experience you will begin to distinguish the waves and you will be able to position yourself in the most suitable point for your abilities. Until you have acquired these skills, try to observe carefully how other surfers move. On the line up, look at where the others are positioned. Generally you will see surfers with longboards stay a little further out, those with tablets instead below, where the wave is already steeper. If you are reading this post I suppose you are a beginner or almost so your place will not be beside the shortboards looking for the steepest sections,
2. REMA WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH
When your wave arrives, it begins to row slowly towards the wave. As he approaches he accelerates. The last 3 - 4 strokes are the decisive strokes during which you must give all your strength. You don't need to start rowing with force before, you just risk getting tired in vain. If you concentrate your efforts on the right wave at the right time, then a few determined strokes are enough.
Fundamental while rowing hard is to watch the wave from above your shoulder, and of course to check that no one else is already on the wave you want to take. Watching the wave while rowing will tell you if the wave opens to the right or left and then which way to go ... or it will tell you if you are late and if, for example, the wave is already closing and you have to let it pass.
3. RAISED ON FOOT
There is an instant, while you are still rowing hard, in which you feel that the surfboard starts to glide thanks to the thrust of the wave and you feel that even if you stop rowing, you will continue to move. That's the time to stand up on your surfboard. The sooner you can perceive this moment, the better.
After all, the Take off is a question of TIMING
In addition, of course, to the right technique that should allow you to stand up on the surfboard in an instant, without losing your balance. As I said at the beginning there are different variations of pop up and the best way to understand how to do it is to see it.
So let's see our favorite takeoff video tutorials.
1.How to Pop Up on a Surfboard | Beginner Take Off Technique
This video shows the takeoff technique on a longboard for beginners in a very simple and clear way, showing also the most common mistakes to avoid.
2. How to Pop Up on a Surfboard
This beginner video shows 3 different Pop Up techniques on the ground. Personally, I recommend the technique called Back Foot Pop (in the video it is shown last) and in any case it is by now not recommended by most schools for the technique that uses the knee (shown second) ...
A second video that shows once again the three different techniques.
3. How to Pop up on a shortboard
This video focuses on the back foot pop up and explains how to use it to perform takeoff on a shorty board.
4. Homework: exercises to improve pop up
You know, surfing requires a lot of training and unfortunately in our parts there are not always in the water the right conditions, for this training at home is fundamental from two points of view:
1. to acquire movement as automatism so that our body do it without having to think about it.
In this regard, I suggest you watch and watch this video, and if you don't already have it, get an indoboard to work out.
2. to strengthen our muscles so that they respond better.
5. The most common errors in Pop Up and how to recover them
Here is a nice video that lists the 7 most common mistakes beginners make in take off. Identifying your defects is essential for improvement.
Finally, a very last tip: try to get yourself filmed and let you take as many photos as you can during your sessions, not to brag to friends and share them on social media, but because video analysis is essential to understand weaknesses and improve!
And if you don't have anyone willing to film you, mount a gopro on the tip of the table!
Pubblicato il 06 marzo 2019 | Blog > Technique: SURF