How to do take off on a surfboard

In surfing, “To do the take off” means standing up on a surfboard, it is the maneuver that will allow you to discover the sensation of sliding. It is the basis of surfing, the key to catch your first waves. Unfortunately it is not easy at all, although it may seem so … If the first steps with a soft board surfboard may seem easy, when moving to a smaller board, even if it is a wide and bulky fun-board, things get quite complicated .

We are going to explain step by step how to do a take off, so that at least you are clear about the theory.

1.Identify the moment in which you should do the take off

You can get up perfectly on the board, if you don’t do it at the right time, it is useless. Too late, and you are off, too early and the wave continues without you.

When you’ve seen a wave, start paddling to pick up speed and position yourself in the right place. The right place is “the peak”, the area where the wave rises higher, but before it has begun to break. The peak can always be in the same place, as is usually the case with waves with a rock bottom, or move in each series of waves, as is usually the case in waves with a sandy bottom.

When you paddle but notice that the wave is pushing you, it’s time to do the take off. This step is key, you learn by spending many hours in the water, knowing the beach where you are surfing, observing, testing, correcting, adjusting, learning to read the sea to know which wave is for you, and how to adjust your position at the peak. To position yourself well, both respecting the wave and respecting other surfers. And since each day is different, each day you have to adjust.

2. Rise the chest

There we enter what the movement itself is. The first stage consists of lifting the chest, pushing on the edges of your surfboard. As we have seen before, you should only do it as soon as you notice that the wave is pushing you. The moment in which you start the movement is fundamental.

It is very important that you position your body in a balanced way on the table. Too far back, you do not advance, the tail is too deep, when you go to paddle a wave you will see how it does not carry you. Too far forward, the tip of your board digs into the wave and you fall.

3. Put your from feet on the board

The second stage consists of bringing your front foot forward and placing it on the longitudinal axis of your surfboard. You must perform this movement without supporting any of your knees on the board. This is the most common mistake made by beginners. If you put your knee in, in addition to denting your board, you will not be able to get up smoothly and quickly.

4. Get up

In this last stage, you are going to push hard on your front leg to get up completely, placing your back foot and balancing yourself with your arms. Your arms should be forward, and raised to shoulder level. This is essential, as it contributes to the weight of your body moving forward, on your front leg.

To be able to surf and take off, you need a minimum of physical condition. Don’t worry, you don’t need to spend hours in the gym and put on bloated muscles. You will see both children and surfers over 60, both women and men. What you need is tonicity and balance, and this is worked, before getting into the water.

You can practice the take off at home, you don’t need water or surfboard. You should not get into the water without mastering the take off on the carpet. Get on a rug, and mark a line of symmetry with something, tape for example. Train yourself to take the take off, making sure that your feet are on the axis of symmetry of the “virtual board”, and your knees never touch the ground.

Even if you have a good level of surfing, it is a very useful exercise to stay in shape, especially if you stop surfing for a few months.

I hope this article is clear, and if you still have doubts, watch this video where we explain everything in images:

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