How To Cross Step & Noseride (Complete Guide 2022)

This complete guide to cross-stepping and noseriding will teach you the fundamental techniques needed to walk your longboard and hang five or hang ten. Mastering nose rides requires precise board positioning on the wave, knowing how to manage your speed using setup maneuvers, and developing the muscle memory for proper footwork.

Key Takeaways & Tips

Wave Positioning is Paramount [1:24]
For a stable nose ride, you must position your board in the middle to upper half of the wave face, staying close to the steepest part of the wave (the pocket). This maximizes the “tabling effect” of water hitting the board’s underside, creating lift.

Use the Breaking Lip for Lift [2:40]
The lip of the wave breaking over the tail of your board acts as a counter-pressure, pushing the tail down and lifting the nose up. This seesaw effect is crucial for supporting your weight on the nose [4:47].

Setup using the Fade Turn [8:18]
To set up a ride going right, angle your board left during the paddle, then stand up and whip the board around to the right. This turn slows you down, keeps you in the pocket [8:54], and raises your line on the wave face [9:03].

Control Speed with the Stall [14:13]
The stall involves applying weight and pressure to your back foot, acting like brakes [14:44]. This slows the board to allow the steep, breaking pocket of the wave to catch up to you, keeping you in the prime noseriding zone. A stall also helps lift your board higher on the wave face [16:30].

Angle your Front Foot to Open Hips [24:37]
To facilitate an easier cross-step, angle the toes of your front foot slightly toward the nose. This opens your hips and knee, preventing your back leg from catching and allowing for a longer, smoother step forward [25:03].

Engage the Inside Rail During the Cross-Step [25:50]
When stepping forward, place your foot slightly off the stringer toward the inside rail (the rail touching the wave face). This pressure engages the rail, locks the board in, and greatly enhances stability and the tabling effect.

Practice on Land for Muscle Memory [23:24]
Practice cross-stepping on land, using a wooden beam or visualized line, to build the muscle memory. This translates directly to quicker success and better body awareness when you get into the water.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Noseriding too Low on the Wave [7:14]
If you try to walk forward when your board is too low (down on the bottom third of the wave), it will be very unstable. You will either get sent out the back of the wave or immediately nosedive because there is not enough upward-moving water underneath the nose for lift.

Stalling Too Hard or Long [18:08]
Applying too much pressure or holding a stall for too long will cause the wave to roll out from underneath you, resulting in you falling out the back. Experiment with light pressure to slow down or quickly tap the back foot to check your speed.

Dropping Flat-footed on the Cross-Step [26:34]
Avoid coming down and immediately putting the outer side or heel of your foot down first. You want your toes and the pads of your feet to contact the board first, as this is what engages the inside rail and creates the crucial stability you need.

7. Tags (Approved Slugs)