tip

To begin your cross step, step back with one foot and turn sideways on your board (remember the sideways wind stance?).  Now your toes and heels are pointing toward the rails (sides of the board).  Bend your knees slightly, keeping your back straight and head up.  Do not look down at your feet. Keep your chin up with eyes looking forward at all times.  The idea is to keep your weight completely centered over the middle of your board.  Slowly twist your torso so that your hips begin to open up towards the front of the board and at the same lift your back foot up and over your front foot.  Turning your hips, shoulders and head forward will really allow you to keep your body centered over the middle of the board, which is essential for cross stepping.  If your weight moves out over either rail, the board will tip and dump you over the side.  Once your back foot is firmly planted in front of the other foot slide it out and move it up about three or four inches then repeat the cross over with the back foot again.  Try making short steps until you get to the nose of your board then try it in reverse back to the middle and keep going towards the tail of the board and back to the middle.

Keep your arms tucked in (no flailing) and hold the paddle close to your body so that all of your weight is over the middle of the board.   Remember to keep your head up and turn your hips, which will consequently turn your shoulders and head toward the front of the board as you lift your back foot up and over your front.