Sitting On Surfboard
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It doesn’t matter if it’s your first time surfing or your hundredth, at some point you’ll get tired of laying on your surfboard and want to rest your abs a little.
You’ve probably seen surfers sitting on their boards and wondered how they could do that. If you’re like I used to be, maybe you roll off your board or your board shoots out from under you every time you try to sit on it.
To help you, we have a step-by-step guide of how to best sit on your surfboard. We’ll go over when, where on the board, and which way to face when you’re sitting on your board.
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When to sit on your board
If you’re too close to shore, sitting on your board is going to be more of a hindrance than a help.
You want to make sure that you are out past the breaking waves when you go to sit on your surfboard.
If you are on the inside, you’ll probably just get knocked off your board and tossed around.
When you go to sit, you want it to be during a time where you won't need to move for a while.
When you sit, it takes longer to get ready to paddle for whatever reason. If you are surfing quick, consistent beach break surf, it might not make sense to sit on your board since you will probably be paddling around too much.
Where to sit on your board
To sit on your board, you will need to find roughly where the center of balance is on your board.
You want to sit near the center of your board.
If you sit too far forward, your board will rocket out from underneath you.
Your leash and board nose can get tangled between your legs.
Not only will you look foolish, but it could also hurt someone around you or ding your board. Definitely not the outcome you want.
If you sit too far back on your board, you’ll still be at risk of having your board rocket forward. You are also likely to fall off onto your back.
How to sit on your board
When you're on the center of your board, push your hips up and swing your legs forward into a sitting position. Your legs should be dangling to the side of your board if you are sitting correctly.
It can be helpful to bring your feet closer together underwater below your board. Using your legs, you can sort of grip your board as you sit. Be careful though, if you bring your feet too close, you can mess with your stability making it easier for you to roll off your board.
The nose of your board should be pointed slightly up. The tip may even be out of the water, which is fine. At first, you may want to also hold on to the nose of your board with your hands for added stability, but it’s not always necessary.
Where to face
When you are sitting on your board, make sure that you are facing the waves. Not only does it help you to know when the waves are coming so you can better catch the good waves, it is also safer.
If you are facing towards the beach instead of towards the waves, you might be hit by a large wave by surprise. Facing parallel to the shore makes it easier for waves to come and roll you over. Make sure you keep your eyes towards the outside past the surf.
