Cross-stepping: tips?

I've read a decent amount online, and all the advice seems to say to bend your knees and repeat what you're doing over and over and over.  Anything else I should know?

What's the minimum size a wave needs to be for me to be able to cross-step without completely dunking my board?  I was trying it today at Shores in 2ft mush and while the waves were pretty strong for such small waves, I just ended up sinking my board into the soup.

Oh, and one more thing: what direction should the feet face while cross-stepping?  Perpendicular, parallel, or somewhere inbetween?  I've seen various noseriders do it all kinds of ways, so is it basically whichever feels best to you?


Edited by twee - 19 August 2009 at 9:36pm

Yeah, the problem I run into is if I bend my knees too low I put too much weight into the board, which is what I think causes it to capsize.

However, I did manage to cross-step a couple times today, just barely, so I figure I could probably knock this down in a week or two.

That's actually how I've been trying to cross-step, and it's been working so far.

I seriously learned to cross step by watching DVD's of Joel Tudor surfing. While at home I would literally lay down, pop up and cross step on an imaginary line on the carpet and mentally reenact Joel's moves.

When attempting to cross step make sure to set up an nice line down the wave. I like to paddle straight towards the beach pop up then do a little bottom turn in to the face. If done correctly you should be about 2/3's up the face of the wave going down the line with some decent trim.

From there begin cross stepping making sure that your steps are along the stringer. Remember this stepping, not hopping or skipping. Keep in mind that before lifting a foot the other one needs to be planted and stable.

Good Luck!

if you wear a leash.. and you should, always cross your leashed foot behind the unleashed foot going forward and backwards.  Otherwise you tangle your foot in your leash or step on it while walking.  A lot of people who don't use leashes on their longboards use the excuse that it gets in the way when they walk the board.  It's because they aren't doing it right.   Sometimes my cuff will get turned around on me and I'll step on the leash, but that's my bad for not checking my cuff before taking off on a wave.

i dont quite understand the question . your standing in your normal stance ( let say regular ) . your front foot is at 1-2 o'clock and your back foot is at 3 o'clock standing on the stringer about shoulders width apart ( stringer being 12 o'clock at the nose and 6 0'clock at the tail ) . you are at your base or open stance . once you take a step with your back foot forward , you become crossed or closed . the only way i can picture both feet crossing each other is if both toes are facing 12 o'clock like on a high-wire trapeze act.

i dont see how it is possible without a lot of contortion for the back foot to pass BEHIND the front front ( with or without a leash ) . crossed behind i can not adjust pressure from the back to front foot becuase they are soo tight together . crossing in front there is more control .   

you guys, crossing your legs is the same whether your left or your right foot croses in front.   It's no tighter or looser.   If you are taking a bigger cross step when you cross over the front of your foot then you are overstepping.  The difference is that when some people cross the back foot in front of their stationary front foot, they try to take a wider cross stance than necessary which forces you to you turn your hips and body to the direction you are walking and plants your stepping foot with toes pointed towards the nose.  This seems like it might be more stable since it is a wider stance, but it is not. Now your facing towards the nose with your legs in-line one behind the other and both feet in line with each other, toes pointed forwards like you were on a narrow ballance beam.    This is bad for a transitional stance... great if you were planing on switching your stance between goofy and regular.   

Edited by Baratacus - 20 January 2010 at 3:10pm

If their walking a long board then they have a lot of realestate to cover and a simple cross step is probably not being preformed.  Cross stepping will move you one shoulder width down the board. Once you've overstepped and your hips are facing front, you are "walking" not "cross stepping"  I walk the board when I need to take more than one step, Usually on a long board when I need to get on the nose or run back to the tail from the nose.  I cross step when I need to shift my weight just ahead of the rocker.  With my 8'4" I usually cross step, but sometimes I feel the need to get my toes on the nose and I walk it. 

Edited by Baratacus - 21 January 2010 at 10:54am