THE POP UP

Alright, we've done beach safety and we've done riding prone. Now it's time to do what I'm sure you came here for: to ride the wave standing on your feet.

This is where surfing gets really fun...

We call the process of going form prone position to your feet the 'pop up', and we'll be covering it in detail below.

WHY IS THE POP UP IMPORTANT?

A good, effective, quick pop up to your feet is super important to improving your surfing. An effective pop up will allow you to get to your feet quickly, stay balanced, and avoid wiping out more often.

It's a tricky skill to learn as it requires the use of muscles that you'll like never knew existed, and for that reason there are a number of different techniques you can use depending on your levels of strength, mobility, and agility.

Lets take a closer look at the different types of pop up we recommend.

THE THREE BEGINNER POP UP METHODS

At this stage of your surfing journey there are three pop’s you need to know about.

KNESS METHOD

PUSH UP METHOD

AUSSIE POP-UP

The pop up that you roll with from the start will depend largely on your level of dexterity, flexibility and strength.

With that being said however, what we really want for you is to eventually take on the Aussie pop up.

Why?

Of the three methods above the Aussie pop up is the only method that is building the correct foundations in the long run.

The others are great as stop-gap methods for getting to your feet, but beware as you can pick up bad habits that can stay with you for a long time.

THE KNEES METHOD

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: EASIEST

The knees method is for the student who doesn't quite have the mobility or strength to perform any of the other methods.

This is also a great pop up for anyone who is carrying any kind of injury. So please keep this in mind.

BREAKING IT DOWN

Come onto your board as we did when we were practising the prone technique.
Begin your paddling. Remember, once the wave has collected you, you'll still need to paddle an extra 3 strokes to be sure you're on the wave.
Once you feel the wave has collected you, place your hands near the pectorals (chicken wing position).
At all times keep your eyes looking forward.
From this position bring your knees up and forward in line to wear your hands are placed on the deck of the board.
Once here continue to place your hands on the deck as you pivot your back foot into position.
Your back foot needs to position on top of the fins at a 90 degree angle.
Next bring your front foot through your hands (but make sure you don't lift your hands off the board as you do this).
Lock your front foot in place at around a 45 degree angle.
From this crouched position lift your chest up and place your arms either side of the body.
Bend your knees and ride the wave!

*NOTE: We try not to recommend this technique wherever possible as it can let bad habits slip into your surfing technique. Treat it as a stop-gap technique to master before moving onto one of the more advanced methods over time.

THE PUSH UP METHOD

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Reasonable

The push up method is for the student who has the strength and flexibility to be able to do a push up.

This type of pop up method can be great when surfing longer boards.

BREAKING IT DOWN

Come onto your board as we did when we were practising the prone technique.
Begin your paddling. Remember, once the wave has collected you, you still need to paddle an extra three strokes to be sure.
Once you feel the wave has collected you, place your hands near the pectorals (chicken wing position).
Place your toes on your board near the tail (in a push up position).
From here push up in one continuous movement.
Lock your back foot in first at 90 degrees and step forward and place your front foot at 45 degrees between your two hands - simultaneously lifting your hands off the board as you step through.
Place your arms either side of the body and look forward at all times.
Bend your knees and ride the wave.

THE AUSSIE POP UP METHOD

DIFFICULTY: Reasonable to hard

The Aussie Pop Up method is for the students who have enough mobility and strength to do a push up, and are able to rotate their hips too.

This pop up is the one we've had the most success with and it’s the main pop up we will focus on for the duration of this course.

Why?

This is our preferred technique because it sets the foundation for what we teach later in our Progressor Course, and it sets about building the best technical foundation to your surfing for the future.

BREAKING IT DOWN

Come onto your board as we did when we were practising the prone technique.
Begin your paddling. Remember, once the wave has collected you , you still need to paddle an extra three strokes to be sure.
Once you feel the wave has collected you, place your hands near the pectorals (chicken wing position).
From here bring your back leg and cork your leg towards your body (lizard toe) - if your doing this right your back leg will be placed on top of the fins.
Have your hips opened and slightly ajar.
Look forward throughout the whole process.
From this position in one continuous movement lift your body up whilst you press on your hands and your back leg.
Your back leg locks into place first at a 90 degrees angle as you simultaneously swing your front foot through your hands and place it on the deck of the board at 45 a degree angle.
From here, place both hands on either side of the body and continue to look forward.
Bend your knees and ride the wave.

WRAPPING IT UP

So now it’s time to choose the pop up you wish to focus on for whatever mobility, strengths and goals you wish to achieve.

If you can, try to focus on the Aussie Pop Up as this will be the best option in the long run.

POP POP POP

YOU MUST BE LOGGED IN TO ACCESS THIS COURSE

LEVEL 1 BEGINNER

GOTTA HAVE POP!

SPEED

TURNING

THE SUBTLE ART OF NEGOTIATING WAVES

PADDLING

NEXT STEPS...

LEVEL 2 PROGRESSOR

IT'S TIME TO PROGRESS...

POP-UP LIKE THE PRO'S

READING WAVES

CATCHING UNBROKEN WAVES

TURN BABY TURN

TRIMMING

NEXT STEPS...

LEVEL 3 IMPROVER

THE QUICKENING

ANGLED TAKE OFF

SPEED

BOTTOM TURNS

CARVING

CUTBACKS

NEXT STEPS...