The Pop-up

[Dante]

I've recently returned to surfing after a 10 year absence. I'm starting to generally improve except...
the pop-up.
It's frustrating the hell outta me. The worst symptom seems to be dragging my left knee on the board (I'm natural stance).
Would appreciate any advice from the experts out there.
Thanks

[tiger]

Just pop-up, try not to drag your left knee.

[pridmore]

practice by doin pop ups on the road or concrete , get into the push up position then just quickly spring your feet into position without any dragging ( this is where the rough surface will encourage you not to drag the knee ), do it quite quickly and smoothly, not wobbly and stop start....repeat and repeat til it is habit then do it in the water.......sounds silly but does work or your knee bleeds...your choice

[Dante]

Thanks for that guys.
Don't know why I didn't think of it myself.

[Surfin Turf]

practice by doin pop ups on the road or concrete , .......sounds silly but does work or your knee bleeds...your choice

"if you can dodge a spanner ... you can dodge a ball ..."

[oldman]

........I'm natural stance).

Well there's your first problem...............

[daryl]

Mix them in with your pushups.

[Dante]

Yeah, I think you're probably right Iggy.Thanks

[RickyG]

Unfortunately this is an area I seem to regularly struggle with even after years of surfing. The biggest thing I can put it down to is that I look down at the board or even my feet as I get up. I've tried a few times to rectify it but probably didn't stick with it long enough ... so Dante it might be worth considering whether you do the same.

I reckon Iggy's on the money, it should just be second nature. If you watch a good longboarder they'll kind throw themselves into it and be walking up their board in trim in the one movement.

[Slowman]

Try surfing a tuflite, if you don't get up quick you will just fall off on take off. The extra buoyancy and speed are quite noticeable at takeoff and the thing will get away from you on take off so they force you to get up quicker. So when you have done the exercises and so forth practice on one in the water.

On a different tack, is there something wrong with your knees or hips? Or even your back? Is there any weakness or injury there that might be causing you to drag the knee? A few squats and lunges will probably show them up.

[Davros]

Also try to land your front foot a bit staighter on the stringer

[PeepeelaPew]

...

[TMC]

"if you can dodge a WRENCH ... you can dodge a ball ..."

Please don't misquote Rip Torn. A Tom Green Movie gets made each time you do.

[daryl]

Are your hands on the rails or close to them when you try to pop. If so its really difficult to get your front knee under your chest so a) your using your wrists more than muscles and b) you will be to upright due to the front foot being 1/2 foot to far back. c) weight in the wrong position. Then its all over.

Try putting your hands as close to the stringer as possible and let you chest do the work.

I find only in fast peaking waves launch from the rails as you dont get time to adjust your hands. But the aboves a start.

Its the most basic and first rule of standing up but over the years you tend to forget as to keen to get up and land a decent takeoff.

Also try to land your front foot a bit staighter on the stringer to keep your hips in a better position.

Hope this helps

Hmm, I've never put my hands anywhere but on the rails. No problems popping up at all.

Me too. I think might rethink this, when I get back in the water