The Surfer’s Guide to Bottom Turns
Mastering the the bottom turn: a guide for intermediate surfers
After establishing the functional stance and the basics of turning, mastering the bottom turn is the next essential skill. This foundational move drives each following maneuver, propelling you from the base of the wave and connecting turns. Building this technique strengthens all aspects of your surfing. This guide is designed for intermediate surfers seeking to begin surfing a wave from top to bottom with confidence.
What Sets Intermediate Surfers Apart from Advanced Surfers?
Intermediate surfers may struggle with manoeuvres like pumping, frontside top turns, backside top turns, bottom turns, and cutbacks, often due to an improper stance. A functional stance is key, which allows you to shift weight smoothly between your front and back foot while maintaining balance. Your base starting point for learning a bottom turn is standing on the board correctly with your feet on either side of the fulcrum. This positioning enables balanced, controlled movement and smooth transitions into manoeuvres that follow.
The Fundamentals of a Bottom Turn
The bottom turn is a crucial skill that underpins your entire surfing technique. While there are variations for different waves and maneuvers, we’ll focus on the core fundamentals. The bottom turn consists of three main components:
- Compression
- Rotation
- Elevation
Follow these steps to develop a solid bottom turn:
1. Compression – As you ride down the wave face, compress your body into the wave with your weight forward. At the bottom of the wave, shift your weight evenly between both feet, and lean your body and surfboard into the wave.
2. Rotation – Maintain compression as you move through the turn. Reach forward with your leading arm, rotating your upper body and hips toward the lip. Keep your head directed toward your target to guide the turn.
3. Elevation – As you complete the turn, begin decompressing as you rise up the wave face. Keep your head focused on the lip, lift your arms, and lighten the pressure on your front foot to move efficiently up the wave. Too much front-foot weight here will cause you to lose speed and throw you off balance for your next manoeuvre.
Key Points for Optimal Timing
Start your bottom turn when you’ve reached maximum speed travelling down the wave face. If you begin your bottom turn too early, you are missing the opportunity to generate speed as gravity pulls you down the face of the wave. Beginning too late (out of the power source and in front of the wave), you will not be able to generate enough speed to reach the top of the wave.
Adapting to Each Wave
Wave size, power, and the manoeuvre you want to execute will determine the arc of your bottom turn. Adapting to these factors takes practice and experience. Over time, you’ll develop more variations. The deeper you are able to engage the rail and fins, the more speed you will generate from a bottom turn.