Are You Goofy on the Water?

Are you goofy on the water?

You don’t need to be a prankster, or don a funny hat to earn that title. Just wakeboard with your right foot first!

Wakeboarders and surfers alike are dubbed “goofy” if they surf with their right foot first, “regular” if left. But how did surf culture arrive at such an oddball term—and just how common is it to be “goofy,” anyway?

We’re exploring these questions and more in today’s blog!

Why “goofy”?

If you didn’t grow up hearing the term, “goofy” might sound like a bit of an insult—like you’re doing something wrong by putting your right foot first. In reality, though, this could not be further from the truth! But the question still stands, then—if it’s not meant to be insulting, why call such a basic stance “goofy,” especially when there’s no proof showing that riders really tend to favor one over the other?

While we don’t know for sure, the answer might come from a potentially surprising source. Some point to the 1937 animated film, “Hawaiian Holiday,” a Disney short that actually stars Goofy as he tries to learn how to surf! Sure enough, in the short film, Goofy is depicted as riding with his right foot first. Perhaps, during the mid-to-late 20^th century as water sports were catching on, Goofy’s influence shaped the terms we would use to describe our stances and maneuvers. (Incidentally, according to Surfer Today, this was the very first animated movie about surfing!)

How to test your footedness

Let’s say you’re just starting out. How do you know if you’re goofy or not? There’s a surprisingly simple test that many boarders use, and it doesn’t involve actually getting on the water yet. Simply do a “push test,” in which the subject stands up straight with arms at their side. You can give their back a little push forward, to make them lean and see which foot they use to catch their balance first. If it’s the right foot, you can often assume they’re goofy—if it’s left, assume regular.

This is a great test because it’s so instinctive—you don’t need to know anything about wakeboarding before knowing what foot is best for you. But boarding is just that: instinctive. Don’t feel the need to twist your feet any one way, as whatever feels most natural to you on board is the way to go!

The only exception to this rule, of course, is if you’re trying out a more advanced trick that calls for some fancy footwork. For those specialized tricks, or for times when you want to get out of your comfort zone with a new stance or routine, switching it up is an easy option to try.

What’s your surefire way to test someone’s footedness? Are you goofy, regular, or trying to balance the two? Let us know in the comments below!