What Does It Mean to Be Goofy?

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By Christian Beatriz Toriz Gómez posted on 14 November 2023 | Reading time: 4 Minutes | Last update 13 November 2023

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Getting into an epic sport like surfing isn’t always easy, but learning some of its lingo makes it much simpler. Do you know what it means to be goofy?

If you’re taking your first steps as a surfer, you’ll need to learn all the technical terms and jargon related to this discipline—in other words, becoming a true expert in both practice and theory of the world of surfing. Today’s topic will be figuring out whether you’re a surfer who’s Goofy or Regular. Do you already know the answer?

Difference Between Goofy and Regular

The term "Goofy" refers to surfers who place their right foot forward on the board, whereas "Regular" describes those who lead with their left foot. Fun fact: the latter accounts for over 70% of surfers.

But why does this difference exist? Blame it on your brain’s hemispheres—they dictate which foot gives you better balance. These terms also apply to sports like snowboarding, skateboarding, and even wakeboarding, all of which involve riding a board.

**If you don’t know what kind of surfer you are... Try these exercises!**

Let yourself be pushed: For this, you’ll need a helper. Stand straight with legs together, back aligned, and gaze forward. Have your assistant give you a firm push from behind—your body will instinctively step one foot forward to avoid falling. That’s your indicator: right foot forward means you’re Goofy!

Climb stairs: Simple as it sounds. Face a staircase and climb without overthinking—your brain will automatically lift one foot naturally.

Take off your shoes: Wear socks and channel your childhood mischief on a waxed floor. Assume a skating stance, take a run-up, and slide. The foot you lead with determines if you’re part of the "Regular" majority.

As mentioned earlier, Goofies are in the minority—but this isn’t a flaw (though it was stigmatised in the 1960s). It simply means your brain’s wiring favours the opposite side to most.

Check out these Instagram profiles of champion Goofies who’ve won major surf titles worldwide:

Matt Wilkinson: Australian winner of the Quiksilver PRO Gold Coast in 2016.
Caroline Marks: The youngest American to compete and win the Women's World Tour in 2023.
Tatiana Weston-Webb: Brazilian runner-up in the 2021 World Tour.

Study their techniques—these Goofy surfers are proof that stance doesn’t limit success.

Now that you know which surfing term defines your stance... Let’s hit those epic waves!