Tips on backside drop/bottom turn?

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Tips on backside drop/bottom turn?

Postby teaweed » Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:15 pm

Anyone have any good tips on developing a good bottom turn w/ your backhand? I am an irregular, and I think I have a good bottom turn+drop on my left, but when I'm going to my right, I drop in and my bottom turn is so drawn out that it looks as if I'm going straight. I'm having a hard time pulling back into the face in time while the wave hasn't had a chance to close out yet (8 out of 10 waves here are closeouts). Is it just a matter of putting less weight on my leading foot (right foot) while i do the turn?

I think one session, I'm just going to have to sacrifice that day and just go right every single time to get this thing down.

Thanks.
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Re: Tips on backside drop/bottom turn?

Postby jonathanderick » Sun Oct 11, 2009 11:11 pm

Take this with a grain of salt but...

I've seen many surfers and videos of surfers use their hand (the one corresponding to their back foot) to pull their rail upwards to make a sharper drop along the face. I'm guessing you maintain your center of balance in such a low gravity position.
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Re: Tips on backside drop/bottom turn?

Postby Aloha » Mon Oct 12, 2009 5:28 am

I reckon it's the easiest turn in surfing.
Bend your knees, lean on your back foot's heel and turn your shoulders and head to face where you are going .
I find the back hand bottom turn easier to do than a front side even though I go front side 95% of the time.
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Re: Tips on backside drop/bottom turn?

Postby garbarrage » Sun Oct 18, 2009 1:33 am

usually i swing the nose with the front foot at the start of the drop but the real trick is counter-intuitive... bit more pressure on the front foot (otherwise same as above). gut reaction is to put weight on the back foot, but leaning into your drop will give you enough speed to get into the face.
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