Hi, I am a surfer who surfs forehand going left as well as right. I'm not sure how I learned that way but it is what it is. I also don’t seem to have a better foot while skating so I guess I have ambidextrous legs or something. Although I think it’s pretty cool that I surf the way I do, I have some worries. I feel that since I surf both stances it could be taking a toll on how quickly I improve because it’s like I’m learning to surf twice. I have also heard that backside is better for late drops? but i would never know because I don't ever take off backside. I decided to post here to see if anyone surfs both stances like me and ask advice on whether or not I should just choose a stance and stick with it.
I would say choose a stance and stick with it but don't loose the ability to surf switch. It could be helpful just like in skating. Best way to choose is lay a board flat (without fins in) back up a few steps and walk forward and jump on the board. See which way you naturally choose to land and that should be your go to stance. Works the same for skating too. Plus you can be cool like JOB and switch stance at mackin pipeline!
I can hop to the other side and kinda surf that way but not really well. When you choose one side it helps when backside and frontside. When riding backside you learn to ride on your heel side rail which helps cut backs round houses etc on your frontside. I actually think it would be really cool to be able to rip switch foot but after years of doing it I have hardly improved when I switch.
I remember a kelly Slater interview and he said that next thing will be to switch stance at will. You're on to something, It will only get better since we surf til we die
In the long run- surfing switch will help you to surf better. I would stick with it- but also learn to surf backside. Backside does have its benefits. I believe the reason most ppl dont learn switch is purely lazy ness - surfing switch is fun but it really is like learning to surf twice.
thanks for your input I guess I would consider myself Okay, imho, my wave reading skills are great, I generally have a good idea what the wave is going to do way before I paddle for it, I often paddle left or right to get in a better position for a wave(when there's no one around of course!), and almost every wave I paddle for I get so usually my wave count is much higher than those around me. however, even though my balance is pretty good and almost never fall off, I honestly hardly do anything while I'm on the wave. If it's a fast wave i just gently carve up and down and just enjoy it, If its a slow then maybe i'll do a cutback to stay near the curl then go back to my "carving" but that's it honestly. No tight turns, no roundhouses no floaters and definitely no airs. The only trick I excel at is taking off fins first and that's even fairly easy for people that aren't switch foot. So basically, I kinda look like a longboarder riding a shortboard Maybe never was the wrong word but I can't remember the last time I rode the whole wave backside, I'm pretty sure all the times I've taking off backside was when i changed my mind mid pop up but probably hippie jumped to my normal stance after hard grabbing the rail in the section. Anyway thanks for your opinions, I really agree that I should start surfing backside, the only problem is, It feels so unnatural and I feel like if im not surfing frontside I'm wasting the wave. by the way on a side note, the leash is a *****!
Attach two leashes two your board and wrap one on each ankle. Now a leash will always be on your back foot
