In This Series
- Introduction
- Surf skill: the top turn
The wind-up
Spot where you want to turn at the top of the wave then come off the bottom towards it. Twist your torso like a spring and prepare to rotate through the turn. Your head will act as the centre of the turn so keep it down.
The release
Now release the spring, driving through your legs and into the board. Try to be as high on the wave as possible to slice the top of the wave off with your fins. Get under the turn so that your head and shoulders are right under your body.
Ride it out
Move your weight from your back foot on to your front foot and just let the tail of the board drift where it wants to. Don't let the rails (sides) or nose of the board drop under the water or you'll wipeout.
Come in to land
Keep one hand on the deck, to lower your centre of gravity, and the other on the face of the wave to steady you. Let the fins re-engage, keep an eye on the nose and start to stand upright again as you come back down the face of the wave.
