Goofy Foot Surfing

Question
QUESTION: Hello:

Why is it customary to have the left foot forward on a surfboard instead of the right foot (goofy-foot surfing) while surfing?
Is it because those surfers who have their right foot forward are generally left handed, or are there other reasons?

I thank you for your reply.

ANSWER: Just like most people are right-handed, and don't particularly choose to be, so most people are naturally regular-footed and surf with their left foot forward.

The right-handed regular-foot rule doesn't work all the time ?I'm left-handed but regular-footed.

It is just what feels natural to the surfer.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello:

I want to thank you for your reply.

I did a Internet search on the term "goofy foot" and found this surf school at http://www.goofyfootsurfschool.com/goofyframeset.html.

At this site there is a definition of the term and an explanation of it. I found a Disney cartoon with Goofy trying to surf and his right foot is forward as he surfs toward the shore, but interestingly his left foot is forward as he tries to catch a wave unconventionally though. His surfing occurs at the end of the cartoon so you will need to watch all of it to see when he finally gets on his board.
Here is the URL for the cartoon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbLXZpcL0Yg

If the URL does bring up the cartoon, type in Mickey Mouse Cartoon - Hawaiian Holiday 1937 with Minnie, Donald and Goofy in the search box.

I do not know whether or not this is the cartoon that the surf school site is referring to, but it could be.

I just wanted to let you know!

Answer
Hi, thanks for that, cool!

Lots of mainstream representations of surfing make errors (goofs!) like this - Point Break for example, where in the night surfing scene one minute he's going right then the next it's a left-hander. Blue Crush does something similar. And Goofy's board is an old-fashioned belly board, you'd have a hard time standing up on that for sure!

Are you wondering if you are regular or goofy? Some people are one way on a surfboard and another on a snowboard or skateboard, and the very occasional lucky person can go 'switch-foot', i.e. whichever way they like! But generally you just do what comes naturally. If you lie on the floor and jump up as if onto a board, one foot will naturally lead.

Just in case that's what you were thinking of!