Footedness
Encyclopedia
Footedness, similar to handedness
, is the natural preference of one's left or right foot for various purposes. While purposes vary, such as applying the greatest force in a kick or stomp, footedness is most commonly associated with the preference of a particular foot in the leading position while engaging in surfing
or other boardsports
.
When first learning boardsports like skateboarding
, riders tend to quickly choose a leading foot, establishing a preferred "stance" that generally becomes their permanently preferred stance.
In sports where switch riding is common and expected, like street skateboarding, riders have the goal of appearing natural at, and performing the same tricks in, both regular and goofy stances.
Riding in one's preferred stance may be called "riding regular" or "riding in regular stance", but this is seldom noted, and presents a potential source of confusion: Here, "regular" means preferred, not left foot forward.
". A "fakie trick" is one initiated while riding fakie, and a rider could "land fakie" from a trick where he or she rotated during the trick, ending up facing backwards. While there are some parallels between switch stance and fakie, riding fakie implies having the same posture used when riding forwards, while switch stance implies a reversal of posture so the torso faces away from the foot the rider usually leads with.
In skateboarding, most tricks performed riding backwards — with respect to the rider's preferred stance — are exclusively categorized as "switch" (in a switch stance) or as fakie, with the general rule that tricks off the tail are almost always described as fakie, and those off the nose are switch. E.g. a jump using the tail rolling backwards is a "fakie ollie" (not a "switch nollie"), and a jump off the nose is a "switch ollie" (not a "fakie nollie").
Both classes are of equal size and would be considered "regular". "Goofy" would describe riders whose trick preferences do not match their footedness: a rider who prefers to grind on the opposite side as do most is considered a "goofy grinder"; one who prefers to turn the opposite direction in mid-air as do most is considered a "goofy spinner". Few riders have either goofy trait, but some riders may have both.
Handedness
Handedness is a human attribute defined by unequal distribution of fine motor skills between the left and right hands. An individual who is more dexterous with the right hand is called right-handed and one who is more skilled with the left is said to be left-handed...
, is the natural preference of one's left or right foot for various purposes. While purposes vary, such as applying the greatest force in a kick or stomp, footedness is most commonly associated with the preference of a particular foot in the leading position while engaging in surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
or other boardsports
Boardsport
Boardsports are sports that are played with some sort of board as the primary equipment. These sports take place on a variety of terrain, from paved flat-ground and snow covered hills to water and air. Most boardsports are considered action sports or extreme sports, and thus often appeal to youth...
.
Footedness in Boardsports
When one must stand erect on a single, lightweight object that slides along the ground or on water, the need for balance causes one to position the body perpendicular to the direction of motion, with one foot leading the other. As with handedness, when this task is repetitively performed, one tends to naturally choose a particular foot for the leading position.When first learning boardsports like skateboarding
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
, riders tend to quickly choose a leading foot, establishing a preferred "stance" that generally becomes their permanently preferred stance.
- When learning other boardsports, riders generally — but not always — choose the stance with the same leading foot.
- Significant amounts of practice can yield a high level of ambidexterityAmbidexterityAmbidexterity is the state of being equally adept in the use of both left and right appendages . It is one of the most famous varieties of cross-dominance. People that are naturally ambidextrous are rare, with only one out of one hundred people being naturally ambidextrous...
between the two stances, such that even seasoned participants of a boardsport have difficulty discerning the footedness of an unfamiliar rider in action.
Regular and Goofy
Boardsport riders are "footed" in one of two stances, generally called "regular" and "goofy". E.g. a rider may be "goofy-footed", but this phrase may be abbreviated as "goofy foot" or simply "goofy".- Regular stance indicates the left foot leading. This stance is less commonly called "natural".
- Goofy stance indicates the right foot leading.
Origins and Myths
- The term "regular" may originate from any early belief that most boardsport participants are regular-footed.
- "Goofy" may originate from the fact that the character GoofyGoofyGoofy is a cartoon character created in 1932 at Walt Disney Productions. Goofy is a tall, anthropomorphic dog, and typically wears a turtle neck and vest, with pants, shoes, white gloves, and a tall hat originally designed as a rumpled fedora. Goofy is a close friend of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck...
surfed with the right foot forward in the early Disney short film Hawaiian Holiday. - Unlike handedness, it's likely that the distribution of participants in boardsports is evenly split between regular and goofy riders.
- In skateboarding, goofy-footedness has no negative connotation, and professionals seem to be evenly distributed between the stances.
Switch Stance
To increase the difficulty, variety, and aesthetic value of tricks, riders can "ride switch stance" (or simply "ride switch"), where they assume whichever stance is opposite of their preferred stance. Tricks performed in this stance are described as "switch". For example, normally a goofy-footed skateboarder performs an ollie rolling towards the right foot and popping the tail with the left foot, but a "switch ollie" would have the rider roll towards the left foot and pop the tail with the right foot.In sports where switch riding is common and expected, like street skateboarding, riders have the goal of appearing natural at, and performing the same tricks in, both regular and goofy stances.
Riding in one's preferred stance may be called "riding regular" or "riding in regular stance", but this is seldom noted, and presents a potential source of confusion: Here, "regular" means preferred, not left foot forward.
- Snowboarders who ride switch may adopt a "duck stance", where the feet are mounted with both are twisted in opposite directions away from the body. In this position, the rider will have the leading foot facing forward in either regular or switch stance.
- In freestyle skiing, "switch stance" refers not to footedness, but to skiing backwards, travelling downhill while facing uphill.
Fakie
When a rider in his or her preferred stance rolls backwards, this is called "riding fakieFakie
In boardsports, fakie is riding backwards with the tail facing in the direction of travel. When used in conjunction with a trick name, like "fakie ollie", it means that the trick was performed as it would normally be done with the exception of riding backwards. Not to be confused with "switch" or...
". A "fakie trick" is one initiated while riding fakie, and a rider could "land fakie" from a trick where he or she rotated during the trick, ending up facing backwards. While there are some parallels between switch stance and fakie, riding fakie implies having the same posture used when riding forwards, while switch stance implies a reversal of posture so the torso faces away from the foot the rider usually leads with.
In skateboarding, most tricks performed riding backwards — with respect to the rider's preferred stance — are exclusively categorized as "switch" (in a switch stance) or as fakie, with the general rule that tricks off the tail are almost always described as fakie, and those off the nose are switch. E.g. a jump using the tail rolling backwards is a "fakie ollie" (not a "switch nollie"), and a jump off the nose is a "switch ollie" (not a "fakie nollie").
Other Examples of Footedness
In Soccer, footedness may refer to the foot a player uses to kick with the greatest force.BMX
In BMX, there is a de-facto relationship between footedness and preferences of grinding position and of mid-air turning direction. The terms "regular" and "goofy" do not indicate a foot preference as in boardsports, but rather they point out if the rider's footedness has the usual relationship with their grinding and mid-air turning preferences. For example, consider the following classes of riders:- right-footed riders who prefer turning counter-clockwise in the air, and grinding on their right.
- left-footed riders who prefer turning clockwise in the air, and grinding on their left.
Both classes are of equal size and would be considered "regular". "Goofy" would describe riders whose trick preferences do not match their footedness: a rider who prefers to grind on the opposite side as do most is considered a "goofy grinder"; one who prefers to turn the opposite direction in mid-air as do most is considered a "goofy spinner". Few riders have either goofy trait, but some riders may have both.
Miscellaneous
- In the competition "EtniesEtniesthumb|Picture of an etnies shoeEtnies is an American footwear brand based in Lake Forest, California, and owned by Sole Technology, Inc. In 2003, etnies, along with the city of Lake Forest, California opened etnies Skatepark of Lake Forest, the largest public skatepark in the state, with over of...
GvR" (for "Goofy vs. Regular"), a group of regular-footed skaters is pitted against a group of goofy skaters.
Predicting Footedness
Like handedness, footedness can be difficult to predict, but some informal tests could help in this speculation.- Ask a subject to imagine sliding across an icy pond, then ask which foot he or she would prefer in front.
- Push a subject gently from behind, and note which foot is put forward to regain balance.
- Ask a subject to climb steps, and note which foot is placed on the first step.