Surfing Waves

I dont know why but I really struggle with top turns. Everything happens so quickly and I usually wipeout. My bottom turn is not half bad. So what advice can you give me on
Top turn???

I am also confused do you do a top turn after a bottom
Turn, or do you do a top turn right off the bat?

The usual problem for beginners is they do not generate speed for their turns from the bottom turn which is usually the first turn after popping up and dropping down the face of the wave.
A half good bottom turn is not enough, your bottom turn needs to be a really strong feature of your skills and generate speed which you translate to a top turn.
Top turns for a beginner are sort of OH I've drifted to the top! Often over the back beyond the power line at the top of the wave then they think I'd better turn down now!
They then try a sort of leany type turn thing, no speed no balance and fall off.
That is virtually a turning version of standing up before the wave is caught with the same result.

Get your bottom turn in order, come out with a little more speed, head upward on the face but before you get to the top swing using that speed downwards again, do another bottom turn, repeat this recipe again and again gain speed and do it harder and faster!

Eventually you will succeed at doing a top turn, get the speed , floaters will follow, really get speed and you can consider airs.

Thank you so much... I was doing the leany type thing and it was gettimg me so frusturated... Your a lifesaver!!!

Another tip is use your body. Where it faces is where you'll go. Jaffa's got the speed and power down packed now you have to work on the technique too. Bottom turn and as you time hitting the lip, you want to twist your body/chest so it is facing down or slightly towards the next face of the wave. In doing so your lower body will generally twist in turn.

Hello!
I have written a little guide book with information on the tricks and tips I used when learning to surf, it is for both beginner and intermediate surfers covering everything from pop ups to aerials but there is a section on top turns which I have quoted some of below.

'Once you have completed your bottom turn you should now be set up for a top turn. The top turn halts your progress up the wave face and brings you back down or along the wave. In a similar way to the bottom turn, you should approach the top of the wave with your knees slightly bent. Keep looking at the spot on the wave where you want to reach the apex (i.e. top) of your turn and lean back slightly. My top turns were never really any good until I realised the importance of shoulder movement in this manoeuvre. You need to really swing your shoulders round and shift your weight forwards to face back down the wave, and then your body, legs and board will follow. The more you rotate your shoulders, the stronger and tighter the turn will be. Again, you extend through the turn then regain the slight bent-knee position to drop back down the wave face'

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