Does your front foot land first?

[SeaCliff]

In my continuing quest to analyze and find ways to improve, I've been noticing that my front foot is landing first on my popup - not by a lot, but def first. One more thing for me to work on, which is fine - I'll just add it to my list. 

At the very least, I'm sure of course that it's desirable for them to land at virtually the same time - but I wonder, how much is it impacting?
Thoughts?

[frricK]

Ive seen guys that do that...I don't know if that will make much of a difference.  it all depends, is your front foot landing then dragging your back foot behind....thats kind of no good. Its all about one good quick motion to your feet at once....

[SeaCliff]

Ive seen guys that do that...I don't know if that will make much of a difference.  it all depends, is your front foot landing then dragging your back foot behind....thats kind of no good. Its all about one good quick motion to your feet at once....

Much improved in that respect - still get a little lazy and tired sometimes, tho...constant battle, but I've spent the better part of the winter on it.

Have a feeling that on more critical drops, a front foot landing - even a fraction of second - could easily result in a blown takeoff by burying the nose...hmmmm...well..I'll keep working on it....

[jscottk]

Yep lands first and lands hard.
Most of my boards end up with some mighty deep heels dents mid board.

[Psycho]

ON My fish and longboards, Im like a ninja. Im quick & after seeing myself pop up on Video Im pretty gracefull, get me on the potato chip tho & I can see & feel that my back foot hits 1rst. recently I made a full drop down the face of a chest/head high wave  on my back foot only while my front foot was off the board about 3 inches. When I finally got to the bottom of the wave my foot planted & I went for the bottom turn but because it wasnt where it was supposed to be I was not digging my rail in & I lost speed and the ability to catch yup to where I shoulda coulda been & got closed out. lol!

Seacliff, You & I should just surf together a few times & our opposite psychic energy should pull our feet closer to where they gotta go on the board. Its science. Like 2 magnets on the wrong sides. My Front foot & your back foot will be drawn to the correct position once we flip the script!

There!

[Igotsoul4u]

I imagine landing with your backfoot first would create signifigant stall/drag.  The only board I try to get my back foot going faster then my front is on my bonzer stubb.  I find it gives me more speed at take off.  i still think my front foot lands first but not with as much weight as my other boards which are all surf off your front foot style.

[Looseness]

I really have no idea. I think that unless I'm tired it's simultaneous but that's just a guess.

[SeaCliff]

I imagine landing with your backfoot first would create signifigant stall/drag. 

I thought so too....and I spent the last few sessions with it on my mind. I experimented a bunch, and here's what I found.

Oddly, stall/drag from a backfoot landing doesnt appear to occur. From all I can figure, for a standard thruster setup, it actually turns out to be quite the opposite. Here's what I came up with: On popup, the power of the wave is at the tail of the board. Landing on your front foot first "buries" more of the board in the face of the wave, and lifts the tail away from the power of the wave itself, giving the wave less board to "push"...at least initially. After the initial "push" has generated forward thrust, a fraction of a second later, the front foot comes down and planes the board out, and has the "gas pedal" effect.

Curious, isnt it? Fun to study. Gonna keep experimenting.

 

[frricK]

I have been noticing that sometimes my pop-ups are really slow and it messes up my take-offs..I think it is due to the fact theat Ivebeen surfing like a madman...and my arms are poop! but I realize now that my feet pretty much land at the same time...maybe front foot slightly first...sometimes..

[SeaCliff]

I have been noticing that sometimes my pop-ups are really slow and it messes up my take-offs..I think it is due to the fact theat Ivebeen surfing like a madman...and my arms are poop! but I realize now that my feet pretty much land at the same time...maybe front foot slightly first...sometimes..

i know what you mean. The more tired I am, the more my popup technique suffers, and the more my front foot lands first. I'm giving myself the rest of April to get ready - starting in May, I will no longer get tired surfing. 

[Igotsoul4u]

I imagine landing with your backfoot first would create signifigant stall/drag. 

I thought so too....and I spent the last few sessions with it on my mind. I experimented a bunch, and here's what I found.

Oddly, stall/drag from a backfoot landing doesnt appear to occur. From all I can figure, for a standard thruster setup, it actually turns out to be quite the opposite. Here's what I came up with: On popup, the power of the wave is at the tail of the board. Landing on your front foot first "buries" more of the board in the face of the wave, and lifts the tail away from the power of the wave itself, giving the wave less board to "push"...at least initially. After the initial "push" has generated forward thrust, a fraction of a second later, the front foot comes down and planes the board out, and has the "gas pedal" effect.

Curious, isnt it? Fun to study. Gonna keep experimenting.

 

I was thinking about the foot thing today and I found the same thing!!!  My bonzer started working insane when I tried to make my back for more dominant on the popup.  I always thought it was a little slow on the take off (when compared to twinzer) and on faster waves i was getting caught behind the whitewater.  No problems today as I stomped the tail hard on the drop.  I'm spoiled with the twinzer with its 0-60 with no pump instant speed.

[Crackie Onassis]

I'm spoiled with the twinzer with its 0-60 with no pump instant speed.

See that?

[SeaCliff]

I imagine landing with your backfoot first would create signifigant stall/drag. 

I thought so too....and I spent the last few sessions with it on my mind. I experimented a bunch, and here's what I found.

Oddly, stall/drag from a backfoot landing doesnt appear to occur. From all I can figure, for a standard thruster setup, it actually turns out to be quite the opposite. Here's what I came up with: On popup, the power of the wave is at the tail of the board. Landing on your front foot first "buries" more of the board in the face of the wave, and lifts the tail away from the power of the wave itself, giving the wave less board to "push"...at least initially. After the initial "push" has generated forward thrust, a fraction of a second later, the front foot comes down and planes the board out, and has the "gas pedal" effect.

Curious, isnt it? Fun to study. Gonna keep experimenting.

 

I was thinking about the foot thing today and I found the same thing!!!  My bonzer started working insane when I tried to make my back for more dominant on the popup.  I always thought it was a little slow on the take off (when compared to twinzer) and on faster waves i was getting caught behind the whitewater.  No problems today as I stomped the tail hard on the drop.  I'm spoiled with the twinzer with its 0-60 with no pump instant speed.

Cool!! Thanks for the feedback - and damn, 0-60 with no pump sounds like a deal - where do I sign up??

 

[Igotsoul4u]

Long live the twinzer.  I don't know how I got into those boards but its just freaky how fast those things go with no effort.  Sometimes they are a bit stiff, but it doesn't bother me.

[Ya Motha!]

For some reason, my third foot comes down first