Surfing Waves

When i am ready to get a wave, i am facing the waves, so i try and turn around so that the waves it behind me, but i find it hard to turn around so that the wave is behind me, any tips on the best way to do that?

Move further back on the board and get your nose further out of water and then turn. Easier turning on a smaller "point".

I also have problems with this, I just can't turn quick enough! I practice turning when I'm sitting up waiting for waves, I'm still slow but getting a bit quicker, I'm on an 8ft board so don't know whether that makes it harder or I am just useless! I watch other surfers turn and they get round in one smooth, quick turn, I guess like paddling it's just something I have to work at.

Sam

Its all in the hips - rock back so the front of the board lifts further out of the water and then twist with the hips - rock n twist

Board, feet, hips, and the magical ingredient... Practice!

If you aren't far enough back on the board good hip and foot work won't help. The further back you are the better.

Circle your feet when you are far back on the board and it'll turn. This is a good exercise to practice on it's own.

Use your hips to swing the whole board around. Again good to practice on it's own.

Bring all of it togethor and you can turn like greased lightning, even on a longboard.

Oh yeah. On a shorty you can easily get away with not circling your feet.

My experience is that it's easier with a smaller board. I ride both a 6'2 shortboard for chest to head high waves and 6'5" step up for overhead+ waves. The 6'2 I can turn on a dime and drop in,the 6'5" I can still turn easily but notice it not as easy as my smaller board. Also, the bigger board gets sucked up the wave easier, more buoyant, so I have to paddle slightly harder, but it glides much easier so I put in less effort overall.

The above is my experience tho, it might be my home break or style of surfing, but that is what I noticed with my surfing.

sit further back on your board when you want to spin around - like swiveling in a chair. Dip one of your hands in the water do a deep paddle and bingo you can turn that sucker around in one movement with minimal effort.

surfnoob wrote:Its all in the hips - rock back so the front of the board lifts further out of the water and then twist with the hips - rock n twist

Right on, and also use your legs to turn you, turn left by using your left leg-front to back, while twisting with the hips. Turn right by doing the opposite!