Is there such a thing? Are some surfers more inclined to put more weight on one or the other foot when surfing?
I Was talking with a mate toying around with this concept.
Front Foot surfers prefer boards with;
more nose rocker,
concave all the way thru,
wide point further forward
fins further forward
thicker under the chest area (usually thicker anyway with SUP).
Back Foot surfers prefer boards more the opposites.
My mate believes it, I'm not so sure. I think it has more to do with where on the wave you like to surf, the front foot surfer more on the shoulder, the back foot surfer more in the pocket. They will then prefer the boards that suits that style.
Any comments?
I reckon there is Dan although a surfers actual style would also come into it as well.
I know myself I am a front foot surfer, I put it down to the fact that I am a goofy foot but right handed so my right side/foot is the dominant one. As for boards I have always has custom boards and the best one I have ever had came from a shaper who knew me and my surfing style. I have kept that template ever since whenever ordering a new board. Surprisingly the shape has been pretty much what you describe, wide point forward, thicker under chest area and more nose rocker but not that much through the rest of the board.
Now looking at SUPS I am looking for basically a longer version of my shortboard, not sure if this is the right way to go but a few demo's will tell.
BTW: I like surfing in the pocket
Front foot for me.. Big drawn out turns that are smooth and flowing.. 
.. But then what would I know.. 
DJ
Not only are there people that surf more on the front than the back or vice-versa you also have the unique factor of how the weight is transferred throughout the various turns.
I have used this quote on this forum before: The back foot to front foot ratio is as unique as a persons fingerprint.
I surf front footed and have always asked my shapers with my shortboards to add 1/2 to 3/4 to their standard 1' from nose measurement, I like big fins to drive from the tail and also like a flatter nose rocker with the apex of the rocker further back to make a longer entry that apexes between the feet. Lean forwards onto the area and front section of the rocker for speed and back for turning.
Good shapers also play with the stringer line versus the rail line with concaves and vees and where they intersect and where the rocker peaks on either. It's why alot of surfboards (and I think a SUP is just a surfboard) look similar but are nothing alike.
there are front foot surfers and back foot surfers this is 100% correct
actually front foot surfers will surf better and normaly prefer less nose rocker as they are surfing off there front foot and too much rocker pushes water when they surf this way hence most front foot guys prefer flater boards.
The main problem you see in surfers today is from guys who are totaly back foot this is normaly brought on from learning to surf on a thruster that is too small for them like japanese surfers( not picking on em just an example) who learn on 5'11 x 17 3/4 x 2 1/8 cause thats what taj rides and hes my fav! So they dont do there time on a bigger board learn how to surf that then step down.
The best surfers are generally a good combo of both front and back foot surfing, if you watch the pro tour you will see good examples of this if you watch closely. Mick Fanning is a perfect example of this watch his round house cutbacks on this front foot then his reos of this back foot just good surfing. Or Occy who is a heavy front foot man!
CMC & DTM good answers.
Good little test if you don't know what foot you surf off is to jump on a skate board...check out which foot you leave on the board when you push off , that's your favoured leg.
eg; Natural surfer , right foot on > you are a BACK foot surfer...Left foot on >FRONT foot surfer.
I'm gunna mess you up Robbie, I surf natural and skateboard goofy. I am a confused sole, lol. I do know I am a back foot surfer as i have ridden mals most my life. Do love switchfooting though on the SUP.
thanks mate
This is another test we did with first time waterskiers who didn't know which foot to put forward , we would get them to stand with their feet together and push them in the back without warning....eg..left foot out first...Left foot forward (natural) skier seemed to work pretty well.
This is another test we did with first time waterskiers who didn't know which foot to put foreward , we would get them to stand with their feet together and push them in the back without warning....eg..left foot out first...Left foot foreward (natural) skier seemed to work pretty well.
Good to see Mac , but where this theory falls down is kids now learn to fakey in many disiplines , skating in a half pipe , snow boarding in all terrain and wakeboarding coming in fakey and popping their trick to come out front side.
It may become old school just to be a goofy or a natural .I was blown
away at the quickie pro watching the grommets expression session all their big moves involved coming out on their backside and sliding around.
