In Surfing, do I have to move my back foot around to do aggressive turns ?

Question

I always seem to put my back foot right in front of my traction pad when I take off, is there anyway to correct this problem? And if so do I have to move it when I want to do a snap or reo? And when do I move it?

Answer 1

You can keep your feet where they are. It is more of 'balancing' yourself (repositioning the rest of your body - not your feet) and put more force into moving the back of the board with the back foot.

Answer 2

It isn't a question of actually moving your back foot, it's more like unweighting your front foot so you can press with your back foot.

Keep at it, you'll get it!

Answer 3

You have a traction pad, use it. The pad should indicate that your foot is in the wrong position if you are not standing on it. Unless you are on a long board, your back foot should be on the pad most of the time.

If you are taking off and are forward on your board to pick up speed, then maybe your board is too small and slow for you/the surf. It may also mean that you are taking off to early and need to take off or be closer to the peak of the wave.

When doing a cutback or turn, the optimum position on your foot should be on the pad (unless your pad is positioned incorrectly).

Answer 4

Uh, you have the traction pad so your foot can have some traction.  When you pop up, your back foot should already be on the pad.  Thats something you have to practice.  Or you can just move it back after you get up if thats too hard.

Im not sure if you're talking about using your back foot or actually moving it up and down the board.  You use your back foot for pushing off of.  You can move it around if you want, its all a matter of choice and the way you pull of your moves.

Answer 5

your back foot should be on your traction pad when u pop up that's what its there for. as for the turning you don't have to move your back foot just use your arms and momentum when turning you can practice on land to just get low and snap the way you want to go. just practice and try it in the water poeple have different techniques, but its all mainly the same idea.

Answer 6

Generally, the pad should be placed back as far as possible, most of the time placed right up against the leash plug. If it's in the wrong spot, that's not going to help you. If it is placed correctly, use it! Like others said, that's one of the reasons it's nice to have one. It can help you find that "sweet spot" on your board.

If you watch videos of pros surfing, you can notice that when they are doing maneuvers, their back foot is placed on the very back of the tail pad. When they are riding in the barrel or just going down the line, their foot is usually on the board in front of the tail pad, or right on the very front of the pad.

When you are trying to get speed, you want to have more pressure on the front of the board, hence the reason the pros would have their feet off the tail pad. If you want to do a maneuver, you will have your back foot farther back, applying pressure on the tail.

When you stand up, try forcing yourself to step back a little farther than you are used to. See if your surfing improves. It will be much easier to do turns and tricks.

I put two links to some pictures that will show what I am talking about with foot placement.

This one shows his back foot farther up on the board to get more speed: http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/6255/...

This one shows his back foot farther back to make turning easier: http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/874/t...

Good luck.