How to Take Off on a Surfboard | 4 Different Techniques: Which One is Right for You?

[@barefoot_surf]

🏄🏻 Bring your Take Offs to the next level. Start for Free Here: tutorials.barefootsurftravel.com

[@coachkillian8692]

I am glad barefoot surf is uploading again! Thank you.

[@barefoot_surf]

More to come!

[@lucianonotarfrancesco4443]

Very good video, I think it’s very helpful. I surfed for the first time two weeks ago and I was able to do the standard pop up on a longboard bouncing on my toes instead of my knees. I practiced the week before at home on the floor. However, I watched a lot of videos and tried to understand how to do it with my knees like in a shortboard, but I couldn’t get it right practicing on the floor. Today I tried on the bed, with my feet hanging out, and I was able to do it, maybe partly because failing didn’t hurt so much as failing on the hard floor..I recommend it.

[@andreahiga]

This is exactly what I needed! As an intermediate surfer, I’m struggling with my pop-up technique. You content is always very useful and informative, you break it down really well!!

[@moshebriggs3080]

i know it's kind of randomly asking but does anybody know of a good website to stream newly released tv shows online?

[@jacksonyusuf733]

@Moshe Briggs meh try flixportal. just google after it :) -jackson

[@andrewiida3802]

An intermediate surfer doesn’t “struggle” with their pop up.

[@whoaitsjape]

@@andrewiida3802 I agree, with no disrespect to the OP. Perhaps you're on the seasoned side of a beginner and that's completely fine - it's important to know your skill level as this will help you advance to the appropriate board once you get better. Good luck with the pop ups!

[@death_knell]

These videos are so high quality, thank you!

[@corettamundo]

the back muscles pulling the lower part up is crucial to me on a standard shortboard pop-up. the power does not come from the hands or chest. a guy once told me and from then it was less exhausting for the shoulders. more paddle power. longer sessions. just saying, maybe it helps

[@Mustela_Furo]

Thank you for this video! I’m older and not flexible (but strong) and the kneeling technique is working for me right now. But I will come back to this video and practice the other ones!

[@barefoot_surf]

Thankyou for the positive feedback! Happy to help

[@anggitkunto7174]

Thanks really helpful, really like pop up slowmo part kiiiuuuwwwww!!!!

[@barefoot_surf]

Glad it helped!

[@freeflyer64]

A really good lesson putting in to place the vagaries of getting up. I've used the 2 knee/pop for years. Lately been focusing on the fast pop up and in my mind and on land no problems but committing on a wave...unless the ride's over :(

[@carolinex4364]

Such great videos thank you barefoot!

[@Feya297]

Wow this is so helpful!!

[@nuovosalario]

Which one would you recommend for someone heavy and stiff? I've always used the "chicken' technique (long board), an instructor suggested me do the knee technique as when getting up I don't spread the legs wide enough to achieve good balance I found that technique extremely hard though...

[@barefoot_surf]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out. It isn't easy to advise without seeing video footage. Ideally, you should choose the technique that helps you get to your feet in the correct position with the most consistency. This varies from one surfer to another. If both methods are relatively similar in terms of difficulty for you, then we would probably recommend the Chicken Wing, as it's a faster technique. Cheers!

[@jammyd33]

As a child I wasn't coached properly to do a pop-up and I kept using my back knee, it took a few solid months of working on it to re-learn the pop-up. One of the best things for my pop-up was practising a half-burpee on land. Tuck your hands down by your chest while lying on the floor (the further back the better) and then doing a burpee by bringing both your feet to land between your hands. It's really hard at first but with every practise you can get a little bit closer every-time until you can land your feet between your hands. You really need to swing your hips and bring your knees up to your chest, both skills that will help your pop up! during this always keep your eyes facing forward and don't look down (a key to surfing). Now I get my pop-up in the water 80% of the time and I practise half-burpees and pop ups in the gym. If you can work on it and manage a half-burpee, I would advise trying to pop-up straight to your feet, to avoid having to un-learn bad technique later on and so you can handle steeper/faster waves when the time comes! I wish someone helped me with my pop-up earlier in my surfing game. Also, yoga helps looooads to open the hips!

[@timquain5341]

My issue is getting my front foot on the board. My legs seem longer than my arms. I also get a blocking feeling in my front hip as I try to get more foot through.

[@1nvisibleguy]

Try putting your hands slightly split on the board. So if you are regular footed, you have your left hand about 6 inches in front of your right hand. This helps to pre rotate your body and make more space for your front foot to come up and through. Hope this makes sense!

[@reneedylan6147]

Thankyou! This is very helpful! :-)

[@barefoot_surf]

You're welcome!

[@tiktak3559]

This is what so many instructors dont get not everyone is the same... and trying to drill the same thing over and over again... leads nowhere... Chickenwing it is ❤️

[@barefoot_surf]

🙌

[@harryind8677]

These videos are so helpful! Thanks

[@nelsonferreira8844]

The Sliding knee method is the one for me. Chiken Wing techique blew my back. Result: 7 days without surfing.

[@firebaobao]

very helpful~thks!👍

[@barefoot_surf]

Thanks for your feedback :)

[@hugofernandez2633]

Bravo!!! Buen video!

[@RC-qi3er]

Hi Barefoot Surf, not sure if you still watch comments on this video but here goes... I have a question regarding the chicken wing technique. In the explanation in the above video, the surfer first pulls in his feet, and then uses that + arms to go up. In the free course on your website, in the text version it is told like this. But in the video on the free course website, the woman is first extends her arms (almost doing a push up) and then pulls in her back feet (and it is also explained as such in the video). What's the correct way? Are both valid? Thanks! /beginner surfer

[@hammster8255]

Hi RC, either works. Showing my age but I used standard pop up for 25 or so years & been using chicken wing the past 20 with the odd standard pop up thrown in on steeper waves. I’ve lost some mobility! Works for me at Bells & the bigger waves down the Victorian 🏄‍♂️ coast. Sometimes I will just push up with back knee bent & swing front leg through arms so in the barrel position. Ideally when ready to pop up start with hands underneath chest so thumb lined up with armpit, look to where you want to go not down. While pushing up for chicken wing or standard do it in one motion. You only have a second or you end up down the wave or over the falls. Don’t over think it as it becomes muscle memory. If you are a beginner practice the standard pop up on a rubber mat or grass. Flick the legs up as you push up creating a pendulum type motion. Tip - pending agility wear runners when practicing on land. Good luck, Phil.

[@barefoot_surf]

The extension of the arms is what we call the “cobra pose”, the last step we take before our pop up comes. This stage is under our “angling the take off” tutorial.

[@stinald]

Very helpful

[@migueld997]

I´m not able to lift my knees, what could be the reason? I slide them so I make a mixture of Standard Pop Up and Push Up. Im in fit, I'm able to do push-ups, explosive push-ups, and burpees....Maybe is a lack of Flexibility?

[@barefoot_surf]

Hey Miguel, Many people have physical limitations when it comes to the standard pop up. The pop-up technique you decide to use should depend on your mobility, strength, surf experience and goals. Not being able to lift your knees could be happening for a range of different reasons. It is difficult for us to say what this may be, as we haven't seen you do your pop up ourself! With that being said, a great place to start to identify the root cause of your problem would be to check out our full, free course on The Take Off, and look specifically under the " Common Mistakes Section". tutorials.barefootsurftravel.com/courses/take-off-the-push-up-technique/ This course can help you find the take off that works for you, improve your technique, and fix your mistakes effectively. I hope this helps you in some way. :)

[@annie_c6964]

I am a bit curious about the push up one if it is really used. I have been practising at home this one because it is the easiest for me, but when I went on an actual surfboard on water with a guide, my feet were not on the board so impossible to use my toes to do an actual push up. When I mentioned learning that technique, I got looked at like an alien. I do regret not sliding myself forward on the board and trying it anyway, but I wanted to follow instructions I was given due to safety.

[@whoaitsjape]

I used the push up technique pretty frequently. I suggest practicing this popup on land and basically doing pushups on your knees or thighs on the floor (and not your toes). It might take some strength and/or flexibility training but you'll learn it's possible to do a pushup popup without your toes on the floor. Happy training and good luck!

[@wiilderworld5112]

Such a nicely produced resource!

[@neuvillealexandre2532]

Great video! I am finally able to do the standard pop-up, however by practicing it, my knee started to burn (the one of my front leg), maybe because I drag it a bit on the surfboard while throwing my knees forward, is it something common? do you have any advice??

[@migueld997]

Me too!!

[@drmarcolo]

Tomorrow I will try standard as you described.. If i make it, i will love you for ever 😉

[@JohnSmith-dm1wo]

Update

[@AmiR-mx8jp]

How to check if the waves r for us?

[@barefoot_surf]

There is a full course on how to read waves on our coaching platform, check it out: tutorials.barefootsurftravel.com/

[@mintcrust]

I push up and chicken wing

[@ThePathtoGreatness5]

I tried to like twice!

[@agustinagnolidavila2986]

a beauty

[@eliot327]

Yeah I kinda wish I never learned the push up technique it's making the transition to shorter boards harder

[@canuta2008]

I push up with arms fully extended and then chicken wing

[@pabloreyes2312]

cool

[@prypiat27]

Burpee

[@ashleyschriefer6029]

Wrong. All wrong

[@MsVanovariz]

Excellent video! Very helpful, thank you!