Did you know that if you watch our ‘How to Surf’ videos your surfing will improve by at least 74 percent?  Also if you watch them twice happiness levels can increase by up to 38 percent!  In our latest video, surf instructor Helen looks at some common pop up mistakes, and how to get rid of them.  So if you’re a secret rail-grabber, a naughty knee user, or a jack-in-the-box perpetrator – then this is the video for you.  Also we’ve got the usual questionable jokes, awkward pauses and because it’s December there are some festive treats.  (Editor’s Note: there are no festive treats, this is just a tenuous link to try to appear topical).

So yank it and crank it surf fans!  Fasten your seat belts because we are diving into the pop up…

The surf pop up sets up 99 percent of your ride, so try to avoid those errors.  Here’s a quick recap of some of the key characteristics of a good pop up…

1. Look up.  Never ever see your surfboard when you are popping up on it.
2. Put the hands flat on the deck of the surfboard, thumbs touching the ribs.
3. Try not to bring your knees onto the surfboard.  It’s better to die on the feet than live on the knees.
4. Get the front foot landing in between the hands.  Pull the front knee into and across the chest.  Imagine you are Jane Fonda in a 1980s aerobics video.
5. Twist it baby!  The hips don’t lie so channel your inner Shakira.
6. Don’t be like a jack-in-the-box.  Pop up and pause in the surfer’s crouch, count to two, and then stand up.
7. Prior preparation prevents piss poor performance.  When you are lying on your board you must have good posture.  So that means boobs off the board, legs together (no slutty paddling), butt engaged like it’s holding in a fart, and feet together (visualize Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz tapping her red shoes together – sorry my reference points are a bit archaic).