THIS is how to control your CROSS STEPPING!

In today's longboard surfing vlog, I discuss an eye opening tip that has helped my cross stepping tremendously! The cross step is not an easy thing to accomplish, however this is one method that will help! Enjoy.
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Board: Bing Continental
Location: New Jersey

[@jackdoughty4238]

Yep, need to break my habit of shuffling up the board, and commit to a slow and measured cross step. Will have to try next time out. Thanks for the good analysis.

[@LongboardSessions]

Lets go out again when you're back! I think you should try focusing on the first step only and stay in that cross stepped position for the whole wave. Or atleast do that in the white water after the waves is over.

[@jpodlipec]

I am binge watching your videos. I've been long boarding many years but so many of your tips are revelations to me. Thank you for sharing and helping me be a better surfer. Great looking waves where you are.

[@LongboardSessions]

Well that's exactly what I want to hear! Glad you're finding them helpful

[@emans4seam]

Love your videos. Really enjoy feeling like I'm on a journey to improve my longboarding with someone! Motivates me to start dawn patroling again.

[@LongboardSessions]

Awesome Ethan! Do it. always worth it

[@emans4seam]

@@LongboardSessions absolutely is. Got back to it today. When you’re cross stepping, are you looking at the board, the nose, the lip of the wave? I’ve can never quite tell where my eyes should be.

[@HawksAerie]

@@emans4seam Look where you want to go, and keep an eye on what the wave is doing. So you want to be able to see what the lip and the nose of the board are doing, but you should be looking "into the future" as it were.

[@nplcdrums3746]

You know what? This is the perfect piece of advise that I needed to hear. I was actually thinking about exactly this idea. Shuffling/cross stepping, as opposed to just stepping. Such a great observation. Guilty as charged over here! haha Thanks so much!

[@LongboardSessions]

Thats awesome! This really helped my cross stepping overall. Also, watch this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3aUnoujpapnm5I . This one also really helped me with keeping the rail enganged to keep the board stable. Good luck!

[@BRAINLESSBREED]

Thx for your tips I appreciate it Al lotttt!!! I will try it in a few days

[@LongboardSessions]

You got it! let me know how it goes

[@p0otty]

Seems like you had a great session! Also, it's nice to see your work pays off with fluid cross steps :)

[@LongboardSessions]

It's the best when you say you're going to try something and it actually works! doesn't always work out like that though hehe

[@reginaldinoenchillada3513]

Success is earned in the hostile environment for ppl called the ocean.

[@gyulahohmann3123]

You Brian crack me up man, you're so funny😅🤣and it's great to see you and your friend having a good old muck around and laugh, awesome. P.s.LOVE all your vids and tuition bro🇦🇺👍

[@LongboardSessions]

Haha thanks! Yea me and Gillad like to have a good time hehe

[@BenConsidine]

cross steps are looking epic! and great vid 🤙

[@LongboardSessions]

Thanks Ben! getting there 🤙

[@richardfowell5687]

Hi Brian, not sure you may know this already but an environmentalist who was a surfer once told me,.. If you ever think you have surfed in an area that you suspect my be contaminated with sewage drink a can or bottle of cola straight after your session, it will kill any bacteria ingested in the gut. I have done this for many years and always tell people this. Could be a good or bad advert for cola! Lol 😂👍

[@LongboardSessions]

Wow I love this tip lol! Hopefully it works, but even if it doesn't, it gives me an excuse to drink coke. A nice cold can of coke after surfing in sewage will hit the spot!

[@wijakphu1983]

Oh. Thanks man. This definitely unlocks me. appreciate for your sharing. We can see you love it.

[@LongboardSessions]

Awesome! glad this can help. I'm still using this method and it's been huge for me so far. Thanks for the kind words

[@uchilois]

THANKS BRIAN FOR YOUR WORDS I REALLY APPRECIATE THEM AND I WILL PUT INTO PRACTICE..THE FIRST STEPS ARE NOT EASY !!

[@LongboardSessions]

Anytime! First steps are the hardest... but it only gets easier from there!

[@bobturner6142]

Super helpful to watch someone learn to cross step instead of a professional

[@LongboardSessions]

Great to hear Bob! Yea it is helpful to watch someone trying to do exactly what you're trying to do hehe. We're not alone in this painful yet fun cross stepping journey 🤙

[@Hotwire_RCTrix]

Great analysis. I imagine it's getting a bit cold over there now. Time for a southern holiday. 🤣

[@LongboardSessions]

oh man it’s almost boot season! I’m hoping that there are some winter suits on the shelves cause I need a new one haha

[@claytonkensley203]

Your comment on forgetting your fin is probably a good video idea. Go surf a session without a fun and document your experience. Thanks for all the great videos and advice from your experiences.

[@LongboardSessions]

oh that would be fun lol!

[@davidpiper1681]

Nice video! Love the little nuggets of knowledge in each one, and seeing you ride even in smaller waves. Practice makes progress.

[@LongboardSessions]

Thanks David! purposeful practice is important

[@williamjoyner3768]

For the first time ever I’m heading to the beach at 4am 🙃 for a 2 hour session so I can surf before work. You have me motivated to get this cross stepping down

[@LongboardSessions]

Haha good for you William! It always is tough waking up, but you never regret it

[@williamjoyner3768]

@@LongboardSessions I believe it 😩I over slept this time 😅

[@LongboardSessions]

@@williamjoyner3768 happens to the best of us hehe

[@shawnharvey6096]

Dude this actually helped a lot. I started getting my first cross steps in the last few days (unfortunately my gopro got smacked into the water by a kook on a wavestorm yesterday), this one helped a lot!

[@shawnharvey6096]

Also got my first hang 5 yesterday!

[@LongboardSessions]

awesome man! This has been the most helpful tip for me as well 🤙. Losing a gopro is no fun tho!

[@LongboardSessions]

Wow awesome! How long were you on the nose?

[@shawnharvey6096]

Pretty much the whole ride, had to dance a little bit up and down to turn a few times since the break at this beach shifts as it comes in, not the clean lines you have up your way haha

[@LongboardSessions]

@@shawnharvey6096 oh sweet! yea if you get that board locked in... you're set to be on the nose for a while!

[@Lavadx]

At 8:07 you did the floater/reentry on accident, but it still counts man, RIGHT ON!!! That's how you finish your ride with style!!! 10.0!!!

[@LongboardSessions]

Haha yes, a very little one. I suppose I dont try doing that to save myself from wiping out and losing my board. Maybe I should put the leash on one day and just go for as many re entries as I can to get used to it

[@Lavadx]

@@LongboardSessions it’s your ride, your session my friend, but yes it’ll be more work to finish and then have to paddle back out every time… Either way, great surfing, keep it up, and thanks for sharing your journey…

[@LongboardSessions]

@@Lavadx Thanks bro! will do

[@MissPoshosho]

I often do that cross step shuffle. Need to also slow it down. I’m just always keen to get to the nose even when the odds are against me haha

[@LongboardSessions]

I'm the exact same way. I want to get there anyway possible even if its ugly. I've surfed 2 or 3 times since shooting this video and my cross stepping is better than ever now by slowing things down. Totally worth it!

[@nicolasgoupil7284]

Yeah! Nice video, Good waves to practice!

[@LongboardSessions]

Thanks! It really was a perfect practice day. Worked out well

[@yunowhat9502]

It was nice tip for me that i have jumping step. Slow and slow~

[@LongboardSessions]

yes! Avoiding jumping has helped my cross stepping the most, that's for sure!

[@jessesmith7524]

Awesome and inspirational episode as usual! LOL, I find it funny that you are trying to avoid the beaches with "The Pipes". LA has a break actually called “Sh@t Pipe" where on a west swell a decent wave forms off the old pipe running into the water, take note that that pipe is no longer used anymore (I hope). So, setting that rail properly and creating a steady platform seems to be a key component, any advice or insights on doing that?

[@LongboardSessions]

Thanks so much! wow atleast that pipe creates a wave haha! Easiest way to explain setting the board up is to actually start turning up the wave. Almost like you're trying to get off the wave. After that, you cross step to the nose to avoid losing the wave. A lot more goes into than that, but that's a good starting point. Basically, you stand up, bottom turn (to purposely slow yourself down), start heading back up the wave, and than start your cross steps. Do all of that pretty fast though haha! Faded takeoffs also really help position yourself close to the pocket. You want to be on the nose in the most critical spot of the wave (right in the pocket) that way the wave is actually breaking on the back of your board. Hopefully this helps!

[@SeanKobiSandoval]

04:35 is when he begins talking about cross stepping

[@waikikiki-chan4609]

Yes, you can try to slow down. But the problem is you are afraid to stay in the crossed stance, so you un-cross to your base stance too quickly. Being crossed feels funny and unnatural, but you have to learn to be comfortable standing on your board crossed up.

[@LongboardSessions]

yes yes yes! that’s something I never realized. You have to be comfortable riding in that crossed stance before you start to excel at cross stepping. I’d argue you should learn to surf crossed before even trying cross stepping hehe

[@raphealgantz4574]

Nice video! Just curious I know you've been making these videos for ~9 months but how long have you been surfing?

[@LongboardSessions]

Thanks Rapheal! I've been surfing since I was 15 years old and I'm 33 now. However, I didn't surf at all from age 23 to 32. Got the bug again last year after I figured out how much fun longboarding was haha. I was previously a short boarder

[@LongboardSessions]

@@stephhernanadez8661 Oh that would be so fun 🤙

[@richlamb132]

Another great vid :) Out of curiosity, how far do you live from the beach?

[@LongboardSessions]

Thanks rich! Takes me 25 minutes to get there

[@richlamb132]

@@LongboardSessions Good effort. It's 30 miles to my nearest break, I need to start getting up earlier :D

[@LongboardSessions]

oh dang that’s a decent haul. Gilad has a 1 hour drive as well to get to the beach.

[@tylercouto3644]

Related question. How long does it take you to find the break you wanna surf? Or how many spots do you check? I usually just pick one at the house and stick with it. I don't have the patience to drive around, haha

[@terryforshee5203]

I was out surfing and practicing my crossover steps and after every second step I tripped over the backside of my ankle, I was getting so frustrated! Reason for tripping? I still had my leash on. smh.

[@LongboardSessions]

Ahh those darn leashes.. so annoying. Obviously surfing without a leash is better, but depending on skill level and conditions you gotta throw the leash on sometimes. What I do is use a calf leash on my back leg and make sure the leash is not at all tangled before taking off on a wave. It's a constant battle to keep it untangled.

[@terryforshee5203]

@@LongboardSessions good idea!

[@michaelburk9171]

Seems odd that nose riding is a maneuver but also a mindset and even a philosophy. It seems you're still focused on getting to the nose. Gonna get Zen-ish with "be here now". You need to be in every spot on the board on the way to and from the nose. Feel free to call me crazy.

[@LongboardSessions]

Well said. You have to be in control during the whole cross step process. This is something I'm just figuring out now lol

[@someone-hc7es]

what board do you ride?

[@LongboardSessions]

A 9'2" Bing Continental. Also looking at adding to the arsenal soon

[@someone-hc7es]

thanks!

[@TromboneAl]

Interesting, as always. I prefer the quick-slow step-almost jumping, as you say. My view is that that is not wrong, and it's actually a good thing. I don't think the board has time to get unlocked during the brief time that your legs are crossed. I did some research, and it looks like most of the pros spend only a split-second with their legs crossed. For example, check this out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/apSZfY2Ed7OVeNE (Noosa Festival of Surf 2018 - Noserider Division highlights).

[@LongboardSessions]

You're right to a certain extent. There are some waves that you're forced to jump. However, watch the pros when they "jump". Their board loses some of it's stability for sure. The style I'm trying to mimic are guys like Mick Rogers. He goes just as fast as the guys who jump, but keeps that constant pressure and the board stays dead still. I've surfed a few times since this video as well and have had the best days of cross stepping iv'e ever had. I think it's atleast a good drill to try to make your brain and body better understand how the board reacts to each step.

[@reginaldinoenchillada3513]

I want to pull that hat down a little. Ok have fun.

[@gbarbour6091]

Slow is fast.

[@LongboardSessions]

So true!

[@dperry9406]

It’s 2021, where what we would call a “surfer” wears a golf hat, to go surfing, while making a surfing video. I don’t care about all the workness or what have you- but-that-is lame, 8 days a week and twice on Sunday and I have noticed that apparently me pointing that out, has within itself become lame. How truly lame. This guy makes good videos though.

[@LongboardSessions]

Hey, as long as you like the videos eh? Next time i'm gonna wear a tennis visor to really upset you 😂

[@dperry9406]

@@LongboardSessions Pretty sure there is nothing quite like a golf hat. A tennis visor??? Like a 1981 vintage sea green transparent visor. It would be infinitely cooler if you did.😂

[@LongboardSessions]

@@dperry9406 lol an accountants visor

[@dperry9406]

@@LongboardSessions hey man... your representing NewJersey. Show them we got style, or else misrepresent. Yes style in and out of the water. Your channel is growing. I post you on Facebook and tell people its a good channel from a local Jersey guy. Yeah, you are representing N.J. Keep the good content coming and maybe remember to represent some surf culture as you do and not golf culture or other sports is all.

[@davidgough3512]

@@dperry9406 dude, surf culture is about freedom.Before all the big brands, we practically invented nonconformity. Wear whatever..Except for backward ball caps🤪. Be yourself.