Question

I've tried on several occasions to learn to ride goofy... just for the fun of it. for me its like totally starting over. If this is even a conditon lol.... Im extremely right handed and have never really had a successful go at riding goofy.

 

What he said.

 

I play around with it from time to time. Frustrating to say the least. Look for a day with some soft lined up lefts and try to maybe bring a bigger board if you have one. Paddle hard, get in early with your board already pointed down the line and just hop up goofy - don't hop up regular and switch stance standing up like some people try.

 

First of all, you don't need to switch your stance to ride lefts, go backside. It's actually a little bit easier to get barreled riding backside, but it takes time...if you still don't buy into what I'm saying, then by all means try surfing switch, but expect it take a lot of time and practice...it's right up there with learning how to walk again. Some guys, ie Jamie O'brien make it look real easy, but it's like starting over as far as learning how to surf.
Good luck.

 

When you're not in the water, practice by skating switch

 

if you learn how to ride backside correctly you should have no problems seeing the wave (Hint: it has to do with your shoulders)

 

Learning to go both frontside and backside is part of the fun of getting better at surfing. It's also a lot easier to learn to go backside than it is to learn how to ride switch. I'd perfect going backside 1st, then after that start messing with switch. Otherwise, you'll never be able to go backside, switch or regular...

 

because we usually get rights where i surf, for like 7/10 breaks, and being goofy footed, i have learned to ride backside as good as frontside. i think being able to shred backside is as fun (cutbacks) and more unique anyway. it never seemed appealing to try learning switch just because it is easier. theres no way id be dropping in switch in some of the waves/places i surf anyway, as its sketchy enough sometimes with what i am used to.

 

I'd also like to echo the thought that learning how to surf backside is important. I really dont have a problem going right or left and sometime I feel like my best rides come when Im going left.... you can really dig into a cut going backside.

 

It's fun to mess around, but you will never ride equally good switch. You are what you are.... If you can't see the wave backside you should practice more, because you're doing it wrong.
If it were easier to ride switch than backside you'd see pros riding reg on rights and goffy on lefts...

 

i can go switch decently on a longboard, on a shorter board though its like forget it

 

I totally agree with everyone telling you to just learn to ride backside, because it's part of surfing and offers its own unique sensations and challenges. Definitely can be easier to pull in with practice, too. Don't start surfing switch to "get out" of having to learn to surf on your backhand.

That said, I've just started trying to surf switch when logging it on the small days myself. It's similar to people who will tell you to do mundane things like brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand. Surfing your unnatural stance can actually help to improve your surfing in your natural stance by tremendously improving your internal balance. The act of consciously rejecting the natural motion helps to open pathways in the brain and stimulate activity in areas that usually lie dormant and causes you to use both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously. Essentially, we all could use a little switch surfing in our lives!

 

switchfooting is fun for farting around on a longboard, but all surfers should be able to surf backside and frontside equally well. look at how many times kelly slater has won the pipe masters.

it ain't hard. square your shoulders so that they are at about a 45 degree angle to the stringer and lower your hips. it helps you really crank your turns!

 

What kind of board are you riding and where are you surfing? There are plenty of rights on LI. Change up your break if it's not offering them for a given swell direction.

Saw a recent video of Jamie O'brien going into a barrel backside and coming out frontside. Nuts.
But take a look at what he does 18s into this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQLgSMKWdGE
Pause it with the spacebar and use the arrow keys to step forward and back one frame at a time, and see how he stalls the board and shifts his weight forward.

Learning to move around on a longboard like that will help tremendously. When you feel that balance point when both feet are together and your chest is facing forward (think soul arch or standup monoski), you'll find that reversing your stance stabilizes the board... at least until you try to turn. Then it's all over for me.

But I don't think you should switch to goofy to ride lefts. Pumpmaster is right. Work on twisting/core strength to align your shoulders so you can see. Also pay attention to where your hands are; they shouldn't be on only one side of the board. Separating them gives you the force to twist your torso, and following your leading hand with your eyes will make your shoulders follow. You'll see where you're going just fine.

 

try switch stance on a skateboard... I can't do it!

 

I use to be able to somewhat, i was a decent skater for about 10-12 years and was able to ollie, kickflip, pop shove-it, varial, and varial-flip etc. all switchfoot, but that took lots of practice and I was never able to do anything as good as my regular stance, kinda like drawing a picture with your left hand when you are right handed, sure you'll draw the picture, but you'll see a big difference in quality. I'm a natural goofy foot, so switch for me is regular. As a surfer I end up going backside more often than frontside around here, but that skating background helped me quite a bit so it feels pretty natural going in either direction.

 

I play with it on smaller days with a long board. I will stand up goofy going right and then switch to regular by rotating on my heals and bringing left foot forward. Turning is very awkward but I can go down the line ok. It is fun to try and improve even if I never get it down. Backside is definately easier. Sometimes it is best to not see where you are headed

 

Just go backside. Like was said earlier, your shoulders are your key. When riding backside, I keep my chest facing the same way as my board until I need to do a turn. Pumping will feel very different but watching the pros will help you. Break down some video of good backhand surfers (Ace Buchan ****s on most).