How to Pop Up on a Shortboard with the Chicken Wing Technique

Taking off on smaller surfboards, such as shortboards and fishes, is sometimes done with a different technique than the one used to stand up on longboards. The main reason is that your feet do not touch the tail of the surfboard when you are lying down on your chest and paddling into a wave. Therefore, you can instead bring your back foot up onto the surfboard’s tail using the “chicken wing” technique, as shown below.

1. Paddle until you really have caught the wave.

This might sound obvious, but for those who are just starting to ride shorter boards, it is important to keep in mind. Your shortboard will move with less speed and less stability than the bigger boards you used to ride. You need a proper paddle technique. Give those 2 extra paddle strokes to really match the wave’s speed before popping up.

2. Push your chest up.

Once you catch the wave, place your hands flat on the surfboard beneath your pectorals. You want to “push your upper body up” (only your shoulders and chest). Your hips and legs should still lay on the surfboard at this point.

3. Bring your back foot on the tail pad in the “Chicken Wing” position.

You want to place your back foot on the tail pad. To do so, slide and bend your back knee out to the side of the board’s rail.

4. Push up using your back foot and your hands.

Once your back foot is firmly placed on your surfboard’s tail, you can push your whole body up and over the surfboard. At this step, only your back foot and two hands touch the surfboard. This creates the necessary space between your body & the surfboard for the next step: bringing your front foot forward.

5. Bring your front foot forward.

Throw your front knee forward towards your chest and place your front foot on the surfboard. It should land about 1 or 2 inches lower than the palms of your hands.

6. Once you feel stable and comfortable, stand up.

Keep your lower body compressed: make sure your knees and hips stay low and that you are looking where you want to go.

7. Check your stance.

Before and after standing up, keep your feet positioning in mind. The distance between both your feet should be slightly more than your shoulder’s width. Having the back foot at 0 to 10 degrees forward and having the front foot at 10 to 30 degrees forward is probably the most common stance. Avoid having your feet (especially the back foot) pointing backward. Both your feet should be perfectly placed on the surfboard’s width, with your feet arches over the stringer (the line in the middle of the board).

Extra Tips:

• Don’t release the hands too early. Many beginners and intermediates try to stand up too fast. They take their hands off the surfboard without having enough control. It’s very easy to lose your balance on a shorter board, especially if you don’t use your hands to help your balance all through your take off.

• Don’t try to “throw” both your feet simultaneously on the shortboard. Novice surfers commonly think that advanced riders “throw” both their feet on the surfboard in one quick movement. Looking closely at slow motion, you will see that even professionals usually bring their back foot on their tail pad first. Then, they bring their front foot forward onto their surfboard. They do it so quickly that it seems like only one movement. If you can, take that extra half-second to make sure you place your feet correctly. Don’t “jump” abruptly on your surfboard two feet at a time; you will lose your balance on a shortboard.