Standing Up

Once you can consistently glide for 10 meters, you're ready to try standing up on the foil. We'll take it one step and a time, focusing on smooth precise motions. This lesson is a bit harder than the last, and can take between 10 and 100 attempts.

Dryland Practice

Just like every beginner surf lesson, we'll start on dry land, practicing the footwork of your pop up. Lay your board on the ground and get into your gliding position. Then we'll focus on three distinct steps:

1. Pull your front foot between your hands and place it on the centerline of the board. You might need to release one of your hands temporarily to achieve this, as it can be a bit of a stretch for some people. If this technique doesn't seem like it's for you, you can try an alternate pop up where you jump to the opposite knee and stand with your rear foot first.
2. Next, stand up with your back foot, placing it on the centerline as well. Keep holding onto the board with your hands.
3. Finally, release the board and stand all the way up.

Practice this a bit more than you think you need to, until the motion is smooth and intuitive. Take your time with each move, making sure to get your foot exactly where it needs to be, instead of rushing into a position that's off balance. When you're ready, try it on the water!

Standing Up on the Foil

Now we'll do the exact same thing on the water. Start each session by going back to some simple glides to refamiliarize yourself with a smooth, straight, relaxed takeoff. Then start adding the three steps above, one at a time. Don't rush to add the next step until you can comfortably get into position and ride out a 10 meter glide.

It's quite difficult to glide the board into the water perfectly while standing on your feet. At this point, don't wait for perfection — once you can stand up smoothly and in control, it's time to start adding some propulsion!