Re-learning to surf switch stance

Just a quick read as we have actually made a little Vlog about this one!

As many of you are probably aware (I know I’m banging on about this like it’s the worst thing thats happened in 2020!) but I have hurt my foot (in case you didn’t know, lol). In all fairness, it’s been pretty tough not being able to surf seeing as I am able to go about my life almost as normal.

I decided to do a little experiment to get me back in the sea. I am a regular footer, but I figured that surfing switch stance (right foot forward instead of left for me) wouldn’t put my foot under and strain or pain. Nobody wants to be around a Sally that hasn’t surfed for three months…not that they can at the minute anyway.

The injury was very specific. The damage was from being in my surf stance and the weight of about 3 tonnes of water pushing through my body culminating in a dodgy foot movement under the enormous pressure. This basically has resulted in ligament and tendon damage in the exact foot position I need to use when I am surfing.

I’ve decided to commit to learning to surf as a goofy footer for a couple of months. I had in my head that it wouldn’t be that difficult, but it is something I have never tried to do before straight from pop-up. It wasn’t easy. The video shows all my failures, confusion and eventually a couple of OK pop-ups. I was re-playing what I teach in my lessons in my head the whole time, often ignoring my own advice when I was in the moment. It definitely gave me some insight into being a beginner or intermediate surfer.

Watch the video to find out more…