Surfing Waves

Howdy all, im back!
I've made some really great progress (or so I think) over the past month or two. It probably has something to do with my time in Hawaii surfing some decent waves .

Anyways, I think it's time to work on my bottom turn. I say this because I have gotten proficient with paddling, board/body positioning, pop up, etc. I am reliably catching waves (10 or more per hour Id guess).


I am catching waves, popping up and actually riding the face of the wave. So im riding the wave, thinking, "what now!?" my research online has told me that the bottom turn is essential to setting up good speed, next maneuvers, ect.

My understanding of how to make a good bottom turn:
Take off straight (slight angle if wave is steep), pop up going straight down face, *wait a few milliseconds to get to the trough*, compress knees, weight back foot slightly, look with head, shoulders and arms in the direction of the turn....and, well....turn!


I have a 8 foot wavestorm and hope to bring some video of my attempts (and fails!) in a week or two

Im also stoked because I got the 9 inch wavestorm fin replacement and will be slapping that baby on ASAP (im currently on mainland until tuesday )

Ive watched many videos on bottom turns, Im a tad frustrated because all these vids seem to have shortboarders doing bottom turns, which doesnt help us beginners riding logs!

You have described it pretty right. But I’ll add that on a big board in small waves, if you go down the face and then turn, you are turning from the flats and will almost certainly lose most of your speed (and the wave will pass you by). You might need to start learning to do a ‘face turn’ ie not down and turn (a ‘J’ type route) but start turning as soon as you pop up (a ~ type route). This will get you cruising along the face of the wave, which is the next step you want to aim for

Blackvans1234 wrote:I am catching waves, popping up and actually riding the face of the wave. So im riding the wave, thinking, "what now!?" my research online has told me that the bottom turn is essential to setting up good speed, next maneuvers, ect.

That's strange, how are you getting out onto the face without bottom turning first ??
You mean you've been catching at an angle to the beach and going down the line immediately after popping up ? It takes a lot of wave knowledge and setting your rail/edge technique to do that.

Blackvans1234 wrote:My understanding of how to make a good bottom turn:

1) Take off straight (slight angle if wave is steep) - not really, there's usually always a slight angle to every take off. ( unless you intend to go straight).
2) Pop up going straight down face - sometimes you wait for the wave's energy to build, sometimes you get up way quick. Sometimes you fade left to then go right, sometimes you stay down on your stomach or do a half get up.
3) Wait a few milliseconds to get to the trough - by then it's too late, by the time you reach there and think it in your head, the time for your brain to tell your feet and the momentum of the board will have already passed the mark.
4) Compress knees, weight back foot slightly, look with head, shoulders and arms in the direction of the turn....and, well....turn! - That's BACKWARDS. Top to bottom, NOT bottom to top. You go where you look, so your eyes (head), neck shoulders/arm, waist, hip, knees then feet engage to turn the board.