In this Readers Video Breakdown, we take a look at some of the SUP surfing fundamentals that we all should be doing every time we catch a wave. This video focusses on the basic fundamentals of SUP surfing for beginner to intermediate paddlers. We highlight feet placement on the board and why moving your back […]
Thanks a lot for the feedback, I really appreciate it! Your insight and advice will help next time I have the opportunity to go for waves. I just wished it would come sooner: next surfing session should be end of April (yep, hard to live far from the sea) Shorten the paddle and faster cadence should be an easy one to try. Keeping my front foot centered is definitely on top of my list. (begin the wave with a more definite surf stance) Switching the paddle when backside, got to try… Got to lean on it more too. Better reading… Read more »
Hi JV, Awesome to hear you have taken the advice and will try it next time you go SUP surfing! Thanks for the footage and we look forward to seeing your improvement.
Brian Rasmussen
3 years ago
Great breakdown video. Thanks to Beau for exellent break Down of all the details that malkes the difference and to JV for sharing what real life sup surf looks like for us midaged men/women who haven’t surfed all life ;o) I hope I will reach that level soon… Beau: a comment on JV’s choice of board (and fin setup?) – does it fit JV in your opinion?
Hi Brian, thanks for the comment. Hope it helps you to improve as well! JV has been progressing nicely on the Whopper, but I’ll let you know that JV has been emailing us to find his next board upgrade and has gone for a 9’2 Starboard Wedge which we believe is a great choice to improve his SUP surfing. As for the fins, I’d say keep a 2 + 1 fin set up, but move the centre fin up or down the box as this will change the way the board feels underfoot. Further forward = looser, more twitchy feel.… Read more »
Hi Brian, My feeling is that the board is great to begin with. As I have it in “windsup” version, I use it for windsup and wingsup too. I also happen to paddle on the Seine. I only have one composite board. I don t consider that the board is or has been slowing me down. On the contrary it helped me in allowing me to go in different conditions (from knee high to a bit higher than my self weaker waves) on top of using it for more than supsurfing. Being midaged, non athletic and having never been on… Read more »
Great Tips Beau! They will help me and many other Sup Boarders improve their surfing anda have even more fun! Thank you for you reviews and articles. Have a Great 2022!!!
Glad you found the tips helpful Pedro! Happy New Year
Scott Krause
2 years ago
Fantastic Video! You mentioned that JV would get more rail engagement by moving his back foot to the inside rail. This is something that I have been strugling with. Once I’ve hopped back and put my rear foot over the fins, it feels “frozen” and I have trouble moving it to the side. Can you recomend any dry land or flatwater exercises to practice this skill?
It’s hard to move your foot once it’s been placed above the fins, so learning to place it over to the rail when stepping back is key. I always find that taking your fins out of your board and lying it flat on the ground to practice does help. Just make sure it’s a flat surface with nothing underneath to dent the board. Practice stepping back ‘off-centre’ and toward the rail you want to engage. Heel and toe pressure is another key element in rail engagement, so try and make sure you apply pressure to either and lean over the… Read more »
Matt Atkinson
2 years ago
Really useful video, same board and similar circumstances (but more proficient in JVs case) ,Thanks to JV & Beau for the breakdown and helpful tips
Just got another occasion to go sup surfing. I got myself a new board (160L starboard 9’2 x 32 wedge) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yfPuTLW1FI I did shorten the paddle height, tried to switch when backside. I had more trouble with my moving front foot though, not mentioning wave selection or placement. “Be not afraid of going slowly, be afraid only of standing still”
Thanks Beau, I did shorten the paddle! and tried to switch the paddle when backside. It still is difficult too keep my front foot centered, and to read the waves… The new board may help too (Starboard wedge 9’2 160L)
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Thanks a lot for the feedback, I really appreciate it! Your insight and advice will help next time I have the opportunity to go for waves. I just wished it would come sooner: next surfing session should be end of April (yep, hard to live far from the sea) Shorten the paddle and faster cadence should be an easy one to try. Keeping my front foot centered is definitely on top of my list. (begin the wave with a more definite surf stance) Switching the paddle when backside, got to try… Got to lean on it more too. Better reading… Read more »
Hi JV,
Awesome to hear you have taken the advice and will try it next time you go SUP surfing! Thanks for the footage and we look forward to seeing your improvement.
Great breakdown video. Thanks to Beau for exellent break Down of all the details that malkes the difference and to JV for sharing what real life sup surf looks like for us midaged men/women who haven’t surfed all life ;o) I hope I will reach that level soon…
Beau: a comment on JV’s choice of board (and fin setup?) – does it fit JV in your opinion?
Hi Brian, thanks for the comment. Hope it helps you to improve as well! JV has been progressing nicely on the Whopper, but I’ll let you know that JV has been emailing us to find his next board upgrade and has gone for a 9’2 Starboard Wedge which we believe is a great choice to improve his SUP surfing. As for the fins, I’d say keep a 2 + 1 fin set up, but move the centre fin up or down the box as this will change the way the board feels underfoot. Further forward = looser, more twitchy feel.… Read more »
Hi Brian, My feeling is that the board is great to begin with. As I have it in “windsup” version, I use it for windsup and wingsup too. I also happen to paddle on the Seine. I only have one composite board. I don t consider that the board is or has been slowing me down. On the contrary it helped me in allowing me to go in different conditions (from knee high to a bit higher than my self weaker waves) on top of using it for more than supsurfing. Being midaged, non athletic and having never been on… Read more »
very usefull video breakdown, thank you 🙂
Good stuff.
Great Tips Beau! They will help me and many other Sup Boarders improve their surfing anda have even more fun!
Thank you for you reviews and articles.
Have a Great 2022!!!
Glad you found the tips helpful Pedro! Happy New Year
Fantastic Video! You mentioned that JV would get more rail engagement by moving his back foot to the inside rail. This is something that I have been strugling with. Once I’ve hopped back and put my rear foot over the fins, it feels “frozen” and I have trouble moving it to the side. Can you recomend any dry land or flatwater exercises to practice this skill?
It’s hard to move your foot once it’s been placed above the fins, so learning to place it over to the rail when stepping back is key. I always find that taking your fins out of your board and lying it flat on the ground to practice does help. Just make sure it’s a flat surface with nothing underneath to dent the board. Practice stepping back ‘off-centre’ and toward the rail you want to engage. Heel and toe pressure is another key element in rail engagement, so try and make sure you apply pressure to either and lean over the… Read more »
Really useful video, same board and similar circumstances (but more proficient in JVs case) ,Thanks to JV & Beau for the breakdown and helpful tips
Glad you found this helpful!
Just got another occasion to go sup surfing.
I got myself a new board (160L starboard 9’2 x 32 wedge)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yfPuTLW1FI
I did shorten the paddle height, tried to switch when backside.
I had more trouble with my moving front foot though, not mentioning wave selection or placement.
“Be not afraid of going slowly, be afraid only of standing still”
Thanks Beau, I did shorten the paddle! and tried to switch the paddle when backside.
It still is difficult too keep my front foot centered, and to read the waves…
The new board may help too (Starboard wedge 9’2 160L)
Awesome JV! Looks like you are getting used to the new board. Thanks for the update and hope you keep getting in some water time