I went for a much needed surf today the bonus was getting some nice waves.
i took the 18 old nephew who's only been surfing since the start of summer.
he comes from a surf lifesaving family with achievements in state and nationals on a ski,bit of prone paddle boards
he knows all about surf ,waves ect ect.

he's doing well starting to turn and slot the board.
today I'm sitting out the back hanging sh!t on him as he takes off on a wave and i notice he goes natural on rights and goofy on lefts WTF.
he paddles back out and i said 'why' 'how' he said it feels better.
i know its a great talent and it comes natural for him.

So should i encourage it or should i get him on a backhand?
i just believe he would miss out on so much like backhand off the lips,they feel great to me.
and what side to go backhand? it starts to get complicated if you think about it
imagine having two natural sides and two backhands to learn.

whats your thoughts.

Geez I think encourage the ability to switch it up brother - I wish I could get it to work .... I've tried and just fallen off in disgrace

Leave him be for mine. Dual direction sports like kiting and skating and sailing don't really suffer from it, although they may prefer one. A little different I know but the principle is the same I think.

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thePup said...
Geez I think encourage the ability to switch it up brother - I wish I could get it to work .... I've tried and just fallen off in disgrace

Yep

Let the talent flow Cobra,let it be.

Just whisper words of wisdom.....

Leave it alone, that is weird but a very cool weird.

Ambidextrous?I had a mate that could ride a skateboard natural both ways but he was goofy on a surfboard.I'de probably leave it but as you say,he's missing out on some great backhand manouvers that feel excellent?..

Let it roll.
If he ever wants to go backhand he can do that both ways too. Twice the fun. Or is that quadruple?

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Al G said..
Ambidextrous?I had a mate that could ride a skateboard natural both ways but he was goofy on a surfboard.I'de probably leave it but as you say,he's missing out on some great backhand manouvers that feel excellent?..

I've never seen or heard of it before other than switch foot. the brains trust is sounding unanimous in leaving it alone.
but like you said missing out on something very different.

Cobra I surf with a bloke in his 60's who does it.

First time I surfed with him I was stoked how good he was for a old bloke and the nice H midlength he was riding. We were surfing a left hand bank.

Next time I surfed with him he takes off on a right and was surfing left foot forward(the way it should be)
So I'm thinking I'm sure he was goofy. Next few waves he caught,yep his natural footed. Then I'm paddling back out and he takes off on a left,and yep he is goofy again.

We are sitting out the back and I'm all wtf and how, why and all that jazz.

He said to me that when he was a grom the boards where so farking big and heavy,and KN only being small bloke. I decided it was easier just to surf left and rights on forehand. Than surfing the beasts on his backhand.

Oh he can't surf on his backhand. We call him king Neptune. Great bloke and very smooth surfer

Envious - as others have said I reckon leave him be. Always easier to get slotted on your forehand

Once he starts nailing round house cutties he will get that backhand snap feeling

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Ted the Kiwi said..


Once he starts nailing round house cutties he will get that backhand snap feeling

true Ted

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chrispy said..
Cobra I surf with a bloke in his 60's who does it.

First time I surfed with him I was stoked how good he was for a old bloke and the nice H midlength he was riding. We were surfing a left hand bank.

Next time I surfed with him he takes off on a right and was surfing left foot forward(the way it should be)
So I'm thinking I'm sure he was goofy. Next few waves he caught,yep his natural footed. Then I'm paddling back out and he takes off on a left,and yep he is goofy again.

We are sitting out the back and I'm all wtf and how, why and all that jazz.

He said to me that when he was a grom the boards where so farking big and heavy,and KN only being small bloke. I decided it was easier just to surf left and rights on forehand. Than surfing the beasts on his backhand.

Oh he can't surf on his backhand. We call him king Neptune. Great bloke and very smooth surfer

cool story chrispy like SP said weird but a cool weird.

NO WAY,How dare he
, this is a habit that must be broken before it goes any further and ends with him surfing way better than you in half the time,Id suggest shortening his legrope to a maximum of 12 inches so he is forced to keep that foot on the tail whether he goes left or right,If that fails you can always nail gun his foot in the correct position.These young blokes have a hide doing these fancy pants tricks and they must be stopped.i grew up with a mate who was a natural foot and decided to learn to surf goofy,within two years he was surfing goofy better than me surfing my natural stance,FRIKKEN SMART ARSE,NIP IT IN THE BUD NOW

I think facing the wave is always best.....body symmetry rocks!

I surf with a guy who has always done a bit of switch foot'n. It seems to work well for him, he's equally sh!thouse goofy or natural

My 18 year old grom comes from a similar background but throw in a few years kite surfing with a strapless surfboard, he does the same , though I reckon he goes goofy a bit smoother. Id say let em be there's no rules and hes equally happy either way.

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Cobra said..

Al G said..
Ambidextrous?I had a mate that could ride a skateboard natural both ways but he was goofy on a surfboard.I'de probably leave it but as you say,he's missing out on some great backhand manouvers that feel excellent?..

I've never seen or heard of it before other than switch foot. the brains trust is sounding unanimous in leaving it alone.
but like you said missing out on something very different.

Did you notice what ankle he naturely wears his legrope on

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Al G said..

Cobra said..

Al G said..
Ambidextrous?I had a mate that could ride a skateboard natural both ways but he was goofy on a surfboard.I'de probably leave it but as you say,he's missing out on some great backhand manouvers that feel excellent?..

I've never seen or heard of it before other than switch foot. the brains trust is sounding unanimous in leaving it alone.
but like you said missing out on something very different.

Did you notice what ankle he naturely wears his legrope on

thats what first got me looking, i saw the leg rope on his front foot and thought KOOK

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Cobra said..

Al G said..

Cobra said..

Al G said..
Ambidextrous?I had a mate that could ride a skateboard natural both ways but he was goofy on a surfboard.I'de probably leave it but as you say,he's missing out on some great backhand manouvers that feel excellent?..

I've never seen or heard of it before other than switch foot. the brains trust is sounding unanimous in leaving it alone.
but like you said missing out on something very different.

Did you notice what ankle he naturely wears his legrope on

thats what first got me looking, i saw the leg rope on his front foot and thought KOOK

Ah,geez.I'm natural and of coarse wear it on my right ankle,I couldn't imagine it on my left ankle it would feel strange and probably get in the way,mmm this is a Stumper

thanks guys . i'll shut my pie hole

I had a big hole on my right ankle - right where the leggie was - last year that was well and truely infected. I could not bear to not surf. I put my leggie on the front foot and never had a drama. Stoked with the result. It's not as bad as you think.

Ah ok Ted,I've never tried putting my leggie on my left ankle ,might try it and see what happens!..
Hey Cobra,If he puts his leggie on he's front foot surfing right handers so when he goes left it would be on his back foot,which I'm assuming he's really a goofy footer and having the leggie on his front foot surfing right handers doesn't really bother him.Unless he changes it over after a wave

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Al G said..
Ah ok Ted,I've never tried putting my leggie on my left ankle ,might try it and see what happens!..
Hey Cobra,If he puts his leggie on he's front foot surfing right handers so when he goes left it would be on his back foot,which I'm assuming he's really a goofy footer and having the leggie on his front foot surfing right handers doesn't really bother him.Unless he changes it over after a wave

i asked him today about what leg he wears it on, he said I've never really thought about it,i just put it on a leg

It's pretty good that he can surf forehand both ways . I wonder if he can surf backhand both ways . That would be even more impressive

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smh said..
It's pretty good that he can surf forehand both ways . I wonder if he can surf backhand both ways . That would be even more impressive

That's what I was thinking to smh,that would be even cooler,haha .I'de probably encourage him to have a go at backhand,what has he got to lose Just my 2 cents worth

I'd also be sitting him down in front of a few clips of blokes doing switch foot turns..

Like this..

Opens up a lot of possibilities.
At 2.10 or so of this Coastalwatch clip JOB goes into a tube natural and comes out goofy foot (on a foamie).
http://www.coastalwatch.com/videos/14922/video-jamie-o-brien-just-needs-a-foamie
and this is him at Pipe...

Where are the clips of Buttons