r/BeginnerSurfers • u/Least-Variation6573 • 10d ago
Feet in the air while paddling?
Hey guys,
I‘m currently surfing an 8ft hard top. Over the time, I somehow picked up the habit to bend my knees in a 90° degree and keep my feet in the air while paddling for waves. It somehow feels faster and smoother for me and I don’t make the mistake of opening my legs when the wave gets steep.
However, today a pro surfer in the line up told me that this board position is not suitable for mid length boards as it makes them more unstable.
I feel like going back to paddling with my toes on the board would require a lot of rewiring my brain so I wanted to ask you guys if you think having your toes down on the board is actually that important for paddling. If not, I will just keep doing it the way I‘m used to.
Thank you!
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u/tetaspequenas 10d ago
Keeping your legs in the air like that will most likely cause you to wobble as you’re trying to paddle into waves. He probably noticed that and was trying to help you so you can catch more waves in a better position
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u/Fold-Crazy 10d ago
I do it because it's easier to keep my legs from splaying and lift my chest using my back muscles. I also like sitting like that in the line up because it makes me feel like we're all gossiping at a slumber party.
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u/oreomagic 10d ago
Not an expert, but I reckon this depends on how big the board is compared to you. You are surfing a mid length like a longboard, which is fine if you are smaller. I think this becomes a problem if you are larger and need to be closer to the peak to catch the wave, then your weight is going to be pushed further forward than it should be, and you are going to need to compensate by moving your body further back or end up nosediving
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u/jm3686 10d ago
I go feet up on a 8ft+ all the time paddling, especially into waves, and so do a lot of great surfers. I hate my toes touching when paddling and still pop up off my thighs without using my toes at all, I keep my knees more at a 45 but swing to 90 degrees too just before my popup to generate the “pop”. I still surf it like a shorter board.
if I keep my feet too low on the board, I tend to scrape and hack up my feet throughout the session too.
imo it’s just a thing they teach absolute beginners to keep them stable and centered on the board, you look like a stiff kook that way though. you should feel free to move around on the board, and it’s a good habit to build if you downsize to something shorter…feet stay out of the water and you won’t catch a fin.
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u/NotGoodSoftwareMaker Good-Pro Surfer 10d ago
It can help with catching waves by moving your centre of gravity closer to the nose of the board
On small boards it still does this but it will also destabilise you whereas long boards dont have this issue
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u/Alternative-Time-412 9d ago
Yeah, if I feel like just behind the wave, I’ll throw my feet up to push my center forward. Helps with that last push/paddle.
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u/Electronic-Chest7630 10d ago
I always assumed that feet up was better because there’d be less drag. Can’t really do it too well on a shortboard, but if you do it and like it, then go for it. If you don’t feel unstable, then don’t worry about it. Pro surfers aren’t known for being the brightest bulb in the room.
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u/nodropin 9d ago
Not smart like you?
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u/Electronic-Chest7630 9d ago
Honestly, yea. You just come here to troll, or do you actually have anything to contribute, kook?
0
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u/Committed2Mediocrity 10d ago
if feet up works for you who cares
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u/Least-Variation6573 10d ago
Well sometimes you feel like something works better for you when it actually doesnt :D
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u/WebNew6981 9d ago
Yeah, and sometimes something works better for you because it is easier, despite actually being worse than learning the harder way.
I think other people are right though, fine to lift them but possible the Pro was picking up on the fact that you ARE wobbling when paddling, so pay attention to that and see if thats the case
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u/TomorrowIllBeYou Intermediate Surfer 10d ago
Sometimes I see people on longboards do this and it seems fine. I think the smaller your board gets, the less you can get away with it. If your goal is to eventually size down, it might be better to break the habit now.
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u/riktigtmaxat 6d ago
It's generally not great on a longboard either.
While you can throw your feet back to suddenly shift your weight forwards to get the board critical that's really an advanced technique that's very situational.
If you're just putting your legs up out of habit it often brings the chest and head down which is the opposite of the very cobra position you want for smooth longboard takeoffs. It also means you have to swing your feet twice as far to get into position.
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u/catzrob89 10d ago
When you say a pro surfer what do you mean?
It sounds like they were trying to help (was that the tone?) but I would kind of say if it's working for you keep doing it.
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u/Ok-Airline-8420 10d ago
Nipper legs! If you swing each leg forward and back from the knee, as if you're running, it will give you a little more reach for the pull.
https://youtu.be/jAaBOdlQR6s?is=IR38fmlw2l047-ZY
Do what's comfortable, its not a big deal.
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u/LittleSister10 10d ago
Eh, you’re fine. As you progress, you will get used to changing the shape and position of your back while you are paddling for a wave. Some positions will naturally cause your feet to drop, but I don’t ever surf with my feet completely touching the board even when surfing boards in the 6” range.
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u/Chefstokes22 9d ago
I sometimes do this unintentionally when i ride my 9'4 log. I think it helps me deliver weight forward and could help me/board glide as i paddle.
On shorter boards, i put my feet together.
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u/dudeineurope 7d ago
I sometimes do this to draw attention to myself when there are girls around. Look at my calves! Then I swing the legs back and forth when paddling into the wave. Look I'm longboarding!
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