Fix Your Surf Stance – Without Getting in Your Head
When your stance is wrong, everything else falls apart.
Turns feel stiff. Speed disappears. Confidence vanishes.
But when it’s right? Surfing feels lighter, faster, and easier – even without more power.
Here’s how to finally fix your stance – and why it has more to do with posture and pressure than muscle.
1. Stack Your Posture
Most surfers stand like they’re about to sit in a chair:
– Hips bent
– Back curved
– Eyes down
– Weight on the tail
Instead:
– Straighten your back
– Stack head over shoulders, over hips, over knees
– Let your front foot support your weight
Think: "hold the beer – don’t spill the beer." It calms your upper body and locks in balance.
2. Your Knees Steer the Board
If you want to go left, don’t twist your shoulders or throw your arms.
Just point your knees left – softly, deliberately, like you’re aiming at a mailbox.
Your body follows where your knees go.
Same as when you run, same as when you skate.
3. Fix the “Back Foot Freeze”
Stuck on your back foot? You’ll:
– Lose speed
– Surf flat
– Slide out mid-turn
The fix:
– Shift weight forward
– “Kiss the knees” to generate drive
– Use your front leg to support – and back leg to spring
It’s like skating: one leg carries, the other pops.
4. Move Less – Glide More
Trying harder isn’t the answer.
In fact, most surfers move too much:
– Arms flailing
– Over-pumping
– Jerky corrections
Instead:
– Move your hands with control
– Pump once, then glide
– Relax your face, your arms, your shoulders
The pros look light because they are light. Float like Ali, twist like a bomb only when needed.
5. Fix the Instinct, Not Just the Stance
Most bad stance habits come from fear:
– Leaning back to slow down
– Tensing up at speed
– Bending at the hips when things feel “off”
Recognize the instinct – then replace it:
– Feel the ramp? Kiss the knees.
– Feel too fast? Stop pulsing, don’t lean back.
– Need control? Look ahead, not down.
How TRAX Helps Fix Your Stance – Without Guesswork
TRAX doesn’t just track what your board’s doing. It shows:
– If your stance is stacked or collapsed
– How often you shift weight to your back foot
– Whether your turns are driven or flat
It takes the guesswork out of one of surfing’s most important habits – and gives you focused cues to train it right.
Related Reading:
→ Why You’re Still Surfing From Your Back Foot — You can’t fix turns if you don’t fix this first
→ Still Surfing Like a Robot? Here’s How to Surf Fluidly — Better stance = better flow
→ Fix Your Surf Pop-Up — If you start stiff, you’ll surf stiff
