The Importance of Back Arm Position in Surfing

As a lifelong surfer, surf shop owner, and all-around enthusiast of the sport, I am always looking for ways to improve my performance in the water and on waves.

 

A lot of what goes into good surfing can only be learned from hundreds of hours in the water, but once in a while I stumble on a piece of advice that is easy to implement and that has an oversized impact on how I surf. Usually, these tips are pretty intuitive and common sense, but also something that I simply haven’t managed to articulate myself.

 

How to Improve Your Surfing with Back Arm Position

The most recent tip that I’ve come across relates to the position of the back arm while surfing. As explained on this Instagram post, the position of the back arm has a huge influence on the direction the surfboard takes and the efficiency with which it gets there. The video on the post provides a great visual demonstration of how having your back arm facing backward impedes your forward momentum on the board.

Once the chest and hips are opened and pivoted forward, the entire body can work together to propel the board wherever you want it to do, whether that’s pumping down the line, cranking off the bottom, or redirecting off the top. All you have to do is adjust where that back arm is pointing, and your entire body (and, by extension, your board) will follow.

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