First Maneuvers on a Surfing Short Board
The first maneuvers on a short board are the same ones you will use all of your surfing career. They are the basics of surfing. Professionals include them in most every routine.
The maneuvers of bottom turns, cut backs, and accelerating can be practiced while still riding a soft top board. After a surfer is an intermediate riding real waves on a soft top, he starts moving to a hard board to improve carving and speed.
The First Maneuvers on a Short Board
The bottom turn is used frequently. The surfer bottom turns into the pocket after coming off the face of the wave. The surfer bottom turns up the face to perform ripping the lip or 360’s or aerials.
The bottom turn is initiated by looking in the direction of the turn with the eyes, head, and turning the upper torso toward the turn. Then slight to heavy pressure on the toes or heels that are closest to the turn. The thinner the rails of the surfboard, the more pressure can be applied.
The cut-back is for reversing direction. The surfer reverses direction riding the pocket when he wants to get back to the power of the wave. He reverses at the top of a wave to perform ripping the lip. He also uses a cut back to stall waiting for the power of the wave or maybe a barrel.
The cut back is initiated by turning the eyes, head, and upper torso in the opposite direction of travel. Then apply pressure to the toes or heels on that side of the board. It is also used for style. The surfer often performs a half cut back and then resumes his direction of travel.
Accelerating is crucial for short boarders. They accelerate as soon as they are in the pocket and after every maneuver. They must stay ahead of the lip and need speed for maneuvers. It is moving the nose of the surfboard up and down the lip with the front foot.
All of these maneuvers can be practiced easily on an 8′ soft top board. In fact, it is advisable to learn them on the soft top before moving to a hard board. It makes the transition much easier.
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