Gurus - I would class myself as intermediate surfer going left (I'm a goofy footer). But on my backhand I'm shocking. I'm not sure if my issue is because I'm fairly ambidextrous - doing some things left handed or left footed but many others right handed. When I go on a backhand I struggle with foot placement. I've tried the turn the shoulders drill and I consciously think about moving my back foot to the right but what mostly happens is my front foot moves as well and my rail digs in and it's all over. I'm reduced to a brief shot right then a 1/4 turn towards the beach and riding the wave in. Any helpful ideas appreciated!
What helped me a lot is forcing me to "unlock" my body.
Going backside I was stiffening up. Forcing myself to crouch a bit more and feeling fluid on my legs did the trick, plus practice of course.
Try imagining that your upper body is somewhat gimbal-mounted on top of your knees, moving around freely.
I am Goody as well but have no trouble backhand now doing exactly the same aS Colas, bend your knees crouch more and you loosen up heaps.
I got a surfskate last fall and while it doesn't always translate directly into SUP surfing, it does help with getting upper body involved in backside surfing. You might try switching your paddle too, having it on wave side will get your chest facing down the line and give you something to brace on if you start to bog a rail -- that used to happen to me a lot surfing backside, now only happens occasionally on bigger waves, not sure why.
What improved my backside surfing the most was having motivation to go that way. For me that was discovering backside cutbacks, which were like low hanging fruit that I had been ignoring. You don't have to be able to do a mid-face bottom turn on your backside, can start by just taking a high line to get some speed and then do the frontside bottom turn you already know how to do, just in a different orientation to the wave.
This prob a bad idea, but if your struggling going down line, could try grabbing rail. I sometimes goof around trying this and it's good for making you get low with a functional stance - you'll naturally square shoulders, drop back knee, weight front foot. Not gonna help with loosening upper body, but maybe help with stance.
Some good advice above. I find keeping back foot lightly positioned on the board (ie, toes and balls of foot, but not heel touching) rather than planting whole foot also allows more flexibility and sensitivity to open up top half to the wave and pump and drive down the line to generate speed. Critical to make sure you don't just open up your shoulders, but also your hips to the direction of travel. Closed hips = no drive or power or balance. Remember the fundamental of looking up at the lip if this is where you want to go and definitely agree with the advice re paddle swap to your backhand side. I love going backhand. Once you get it sussed it's great fun. Practice makes perfect .
Eventually your backside will be as natural as your front. And just as much fun. Enjoy the work getting there This shows some footwork on a big board. Almost 2:1 for me.
Not sure what board you are on but if it is a longer board try some tentative first step towards the nose. I enjoy back side as much as frontside and "nose riding" (cheater 5s) seems easier back side. Once you loosen up your feet you may find backside easier.
Cheers
Bob
You're not alone in this. Also a goofy footer and I struggle with riding backside as well.
I just did a SUP camp down in Costa Rica a couple of weeks ago and when we reviewed footage of our surf sessions, it was really interesting to see nearly all of us had issues going backside. Even those who were really confident and good SUP surfers riding frontside. And what I saw over and over again, including with myself, was the front leg stiffening up and straightening instead of bending upon dropping in, which made absorbing bumps impossible and increased the center of gravity. As well as what you describe, which is the front foot moving towards the inside rail instead of staying centered and letting the back foot do the work.
I had convinced myself that I couldn't surf well going left (and it is probably still true), but one thought crossed my mind which helped.
When going right (I am natural footed) I love doing/trying cutbacks. In my mind, I would come off the top, spray a huge plume of water (probably as much as a duck landing on the water), cut back and head back toward the power source, and then turn and head back for another bottom-turn, top-turn, and cut back.
But one day I tweaked to the fact that when doing the cutback and subsequent turns I was actually riding backhand. It all felt natural enough. I was still balanced and flexible and able to control my board through the required turns.
So, when I head left I just tell myself that I am really just doing a forehand cut-back. Of course, you don't have to turn immediately, but if you have to start going left by doing a backhand bottom-turn, it is easier to think of it as a fore-hand top turn, if you get my drift.
It is true that I still have not mastered doing proper top-turns and true cut-backs on my backhand, but I feel quite comfortable going left now.
When going left on the big board I find it easier if you get your back foot as far back as you can on take off, it seems more crucial when going left, than going right. I am a natural footer.
