Master Your Pop Up Technique & Timing
Whether you’re a beginner surfer just catching your first waves or an intermediate surfer working to build consistency, one skill will shape your entire surfing journey: the pop-up. In this video, we break down exactly why mastering your pop-up is essential for faster surf progression, better balance, and cleaner wave riding. If you’ve ever struggled with late takeoffs, unstable starts, or missed waves, this tutorial will help you fix the root of the problem.
Your pop up technique is the moment that transforms paddling into surfing. It’s the bridge between catching the wave and riding it. A strong, efficient pop-up helps you get to your feet early, land in the correct stance, and set a solid foundation for every maneuver that follows. Whether you’re practicing on a longboard or a shortboard, improving your pop up technique will boost your confidence, your control, and your speed down the line.
Beginner Surfers
In this video, you’ll learn the proper pop up technique, including body positioning, paddling form, and timing—three elements that often separate struggling beginners from smooth, confident riders. We cover how to paddle into a wave with enough speed, how to keep your chest centered for stability, and how to launch yourself to your feet without hesitation. You’ll also learn common mistakes beginner surfers make, like stepping up onto the board instead of popping, looking down instead of forward, or shifting their weight too early.
Intermediate Surfers
For intermediate surfers, we go even deeper. You’ll see how small adjustments—like refining your stance, distributing your weight correctly, or improving your core engagement—can turn a basic pop-up into a powerful, controlled start that sets you up for better carves, cutbacks, and faster down-the-line surfing. A clean pop-up puts you in the sweet spot of the board, helping you generate speed instead of losing it the moment you stand.
Pop-Up Exercises For Home
This video also includes land-based pop up technique drills you can practice at home, allowing you to build muscle memory outside the water. Practicing your pop-up on the beach, grass, or a yoga mat is one of the fastest ways to see real improvement in the surf. Surf coaches around the world emphasize repetition because the more automatic your pop up technique becomes, the more relaxed and fluid your surfing will feel.
If you want to level up your surfing, start by leveling up the fundamentals. A strong pop up technique leads to better takeoffs, smoother transitions, and more time on your feet—meaning more opportunities to practice turning, trimming, and reading the wave. Whether you’re riding your first green wave or working toward more advanced maneuvers, sharpening your pop-up will accelerate your entire surf progression.
In this video, you’ll learn:
- How to perform a proper surf pop-up
- Pop-up drills for beginner and intermediate surfers
- Common pop-up mistakes and how to fix them
- How your pop-up affects your stance, balance, and speed
- Why mastering the pop-up improves overall surfing performance
If you’re serious about improving your surfing, hit play and follow along. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop a comment with any questions or future surf tutorial requests. Let’s keep progressing together—one wave at a time!
Don’t forget to watch our other guide on pop up exercises for home. We will help you develop the strength and the technique to pop up like Kelly Slater, Rob Machado and other professional surfers.
Pop up technique is not the only technical skill you will want to master in your surfing journey.
Equal to the importance of your pop up technique is your paddle technique. Follow this link to ensure you have to tools to strengthen your surfing paddle.