Nose Riding Tips for Longboards

"Hang 10" is easily recognizable as a surfer term, even to nonsurfers. Hang 10 is one nose riding position on a longboard where all 10 toes of the surfer hang over the end of the board. The key to nose riding a longboard lies in having the right equipment, according to Steve Walden, known in the surfing world as the father of the modern longboard.

  1. HIstory

    • Nose riding has been around since 1950s but the science of how nose riding is even possible continues to baffle surfers, according to surfer Matt Warshaw's "Encyclopedia of Surfing." The surfboard is controlled from the rear, so riding the nose just doesn't make sense. A University of California Irvine physics professor says the wave itself acts as a counterweight, allowing the surfer to ride on the nose. However, Warshaw points out that the explanation doesn't explain why surfers can nose ride an unbroken wave. Nose riding disappeared in the world of surfing after being criticized by surfer Nat Young at the 1966 World Surf Championship for defeating the individualism and creativity that are the essence of surfing. Nose riding made a comeback in the 1980s and 1990s and continues to be popular today.

    Equipment

    • While surfers can ride on the nose of any longboard, the design of some longboards doesn't allow the surfer to stay on the nose. Other longboards are designed specifically for nose riding. Walden recommends boards with an 18- to 20-inch-wide nose. Next to equipment, practice and knowledge are critical to successful nose riding, according to Walden.

    Footwork

    • Learning to nose ride means learning the footwork necessary to get the rider to the nose. Beginners use a shuffle step to get to the front; more advanced riders use a cross-step. Practicing the cross-step on dry land using a curb, until it is second nature, improves nose riding performance. The feeling of doing the cross-step properly is like falling forward.

    The Wave

    • Walden advises against nose riding on a beach break. He recommends a point break wave with quick pickup. Walden also suggests spending three-quarters of the ride setting up for the nose ride, while other nose riders say surfers suggest getting to the nose right away. The important thing is that the board is properly lined up to draw the longest line. Nose riders start trimming their board at the top half of the wave before moving to the nose of the board. Trimming is the transfer of weight from the back to the front foot to increase speed.