How to Stand Up on a Surfboard

Standing up — the pop-up — is the moment everyone remembers. It's one quick movement, but it's built from a few parts.

Step by Step

1. Lie centred. Your body should be in the middle of the board, nose just out of the water.
2. Hands under your chest. Place palms flat on the deck beside your ribs, not on the rails.
3. Push up and look forward. Straighten your arms and lift your chest. Your eyes go to the beach, not your feet.
4. Bring your front foot through. Slide it forward between your hands in one motion.
5. Land low. Feet about shoulder-width apart, across the board's centreline, knees bent, arms out.

Regular or Goofy?

If your left foot goes forward you're regular; right foot forward is goofy. Neither is better. Most people discover their natural stance on the sand.

Drills on the Sand

• Ten pop-ups in a row, smoothly, not fast.
• Pop up and freeze: check that your feet are on the centreline.
• Film yourself; you'll immediately see if you're standing too upright.

Why People Fall

• Looking down (your body follows your eyes)
• Standing up straight instead of staying low
• Stepping onto the knees first and stalling
• Feet too close together

See Common Beginner Surfing Mistakes for fixes.

Next Step

Once the pop-up feels natural, it's all about timing — read How to Catch Your First Wave.

Ready to put this into practice? Book a surf lesson in Jaco — beginner lessons, private lessons ($140) or group lessons ($75), all taught by female surf instructors.