My surfing ability has reached a plateau...

[Johnny B]

So, yeah! My surfing ability isn't really progressing, I'm struggling to learn to bottom turn, which, of course makes further progression impossible. I get in the water at every possible opportunity, which is more often than most people can. This doesn't seem enough; the progression I make in a single 2/3 hour session (as long as I can stand the freezing North Sea) is lost by the time I next get surf.

So, I was wondering if anyone else has found this in their surfing and if and how they got around it. It seems the obvious choice would be private lessons, but being penniless this isn't easy. I am determined to get past this, so owt I can do I will.

Thanks for listening.

...J...

[miamisurfer]

Watch surf videos and see how the pros do it. Also just think about surfing and picture yourself in your head doing the tricks.

[bluesnowcone]

try angled take offs, angle your board slightly down the line to you dont have to do a bigger turn. Also look down the line and lead with your arm, you should hopefuls soon get the hang of it

[gdude335]

never get out of the water
then youll go pro and once youll get out, you'll have lsot everything....

Try to really remember what you did, watch exactly what you do and try to reapeat it next time.

[dondiemand]

just keep practicing, surfing is one of the hardest sport to learn, slowest learning curve and takes a lot of patience..i'm sure you'll pull some tricks eventually..dont give up!

[Jimi]

I'm just learing to bottom turn. I've been trying to catch any wave (even close outs) by paddling pretty straight instead of angling down the line. By doing so, I have to do a turn as soon as I'm on my feet to stay on the face. I've found that after a couple of weeks, I'm getting as many right as I get wrong. (I'm happy with about 50% of bottom turns turning out ok at this stage).

Other thing I try to do is just practice turning whenever possible.. even if I am only riding the whitewater on a small wave.

[isaluteyou]

Repetition is the key the more times you do it the more natural it beomes.

I mastered my bottom turn by necessity what i mean by that is if i didnt make a turn id eat some rocks (probably not a good idea but it gave me the insentive to make it or break it )

So imagine that if you dont make the turn you will get busted probably better than the way i did it

[RUSS-D]

Angled take-offs are the best way, unless it is over head high. IMO. Just start padling at a bit of an angle to the dirsction you want to go. aAs you drop in, start heading down the line at that point.I find I can get up faster, and have my feet set quicker doing this. Dropping in straight, and bottom turning is more for waves that are pitching at the lip as you drop, and you have to go out and turn so you don't get pitched or lip blasted. But then again, I have grown up surfing realy small waves hear in the G.O.M. so what do I know about big waves LOL.