I am fine with footswaps on both sides until I try to do it with footstraps fitted. My front foot (when I swap from toeside to heelside) keeps getting caught in the strap when I try to bring it back and if I make a wider arch when I bring it back to get it out of the strap it upsets the board? I have tried loosening the straps and it still does it so its not that my foot is caught in the strap.

I have tried swiveling my foot in the strap to straighten it slightly before swapping feet but it still catches.

Any tips? Thanks

I have my footstraps pretty wide. So less high arc, more wide. I don't know if that made a difference for getting stuck (which I did do)
The straps are also mounted more longitudinal. So more at a 70 and 110 degrees angle rather than 45/135.

I do admit I don't use the footstrap to be strapped in but more as a reference for foot placement, and sometimes when I need it I move my foot more inside, but I like to able to move my foot at all times. This is complete personal preference and maybe its completely wrong.. but it works (for me)

Nikita said..
I usually wriggle my front foot out of the strap by a few cms before initiating the foot swap.

Same technique for me works well. I tend to also bring my back foot up a little to ensure my weight stays neutral.

Pull your foot out of the strap and put it on top of the strap ready to switch.

kersh said..
Because I'm old, value my ankles and knees and don't jump, I see no reason for footstraps.

If not jumping, why do people use them? Is it habit?

More with the front strap, but I feel like you can "pull" on the footstrap to help control the board. I think it's all a matter of preference. Having a bit of a snowboarding and wakeboarding background, I like the locked in feel of footstraps.

I absolutely hate not using straps. Everything is easier in them (for me, an intermediate).

For me the swap is accomplished by bringing my back foot forward, weighting it, then pulling the front out and swapping.

Oahuwaterwalker said..
If you're using standard "rectangular" shaped foot straps you can also try getting the ones that are wider on the nose side and skinnier on tail side. I'll post a link later.

That would be good thanks