3 Tips To Improve Your Pop-Up
It’s been about a month since I arrived at Still Salty and assumed my position for the season, and I can say first-hand this place is a DREAM. I am extremely excited to share this virtual space with you all and cannot wait to physically welcome you to this special getaway.
I mean, please:
View from our beloved yoga shala.
Anyway, let's get to the good stuff: Welcome to my first blog post. This one is for our novice surfers :)
Although the pros make surfing look rather effortless, the first couple of times can be really hard. Don’t be discouraged, the world of surfing is beautiful and worth the struggle!
Today I’ll be giving three tips to improve your pop-up:
1. Keep your butt low!
This was a game-changer for me. I had a really hard time maintaining my balance during my pop-up because we naturally tend to stick our tail up first. Try to keep your focus on lifting the head and chest first, hips and feet last. This will aid in controlling your center of gravity and give you more stability once you stand up.
2. Check your paddle
Are you wobbling from side-to-side on your board while trying to catch a wave? If this is the case, odds are your pop-up will be chaotic and you’ll likely find one of your rails going too far into the water, knocking you off your board. Next time you set yourself up to catch a wave make sure you are keeping your core engaged and are perfectly centered on your board. Practice keeping chest high and head still while paddling to maximize stability on the board.
3. Bend your knees
Novice surfers have the habit of immediately locking knees once they’ve successfully stood up. This brings a lot of tension and ultimately loss of control, throwing you off your board before you get a chance to enjoy your wave! Keep a wide stance and bent knees until you gain stability. It’ll be easier to find your style once that part is figured out.
Remember, consistency is key and not all days will look the same. Keep practicing, I believe in you. Now go out there and share the stoke! I hope this was helpful!
With love,
Manu
Would you like to join the Still Salty familia?
Our work-trade applications are open! We are always looking for photographers, videographers, ambassadors, surf instructors, etc. We have a pretty sweet work-trade program, so if you feel you have something special you can offer to the team don't hesitate to send us an email at stillsaltyescape@gmail.com and we will get back to you as soon as possible!
Same goes if you’re interested in hosting a retreat with us! Feel free to send us an email with a brief introduction and we’ll be more than happy to send you all of our options.