Surfing is more than just a sport, it’s a lifestyle. And like with any good lifestyle, you need to have some style to go along with it. One of the slickest moves you can do on a wave is the top turn. Not only is it a crowd-pleaser, but it’s also functional in changing direction on a wave. In this blog post, we’ll take you through the steps of performing a smooth top turn, from choosing the right wave to positioning
How to Do a Top Turn in Surfing
Performing a top turn in surfing requires a combination of timing, technique, and balance. Firstly, you need to choose a wave with a suitable section to perform a top turn. Next, gain enough speed and momentum by paddling towards the wave. As you approach the section, turn your head and shoulders towards the direction you want to turn. Then, initiate the turn by leaning your weight onto your back foot while lifting your front foot slightly. Use your backfoot to pivot your board towards the direction of your turn, while extending your front arm for balance. Keep your eyes focused on the direction of your turn, and use your head and shoulders to guide your board through the turn. Once you’ve completed the turn, reposition your feet and center your weight back onto the board. With practice and persistence, you’ll be performing smooth and stylish top turns in no time!
What is a Top Turn in Surfing?
Before we talk about how to do a top turn, let’s define what it is. A top turn, also known as a cutback, is a surfing maneuver that involves turning the board back into the wave after riding up to the top of the wave. It’s called a top turn because it’s usually done at the top of the wave, using the energy and momentum from the wave to carve a smooth, round turn.
The top turn is one of the most important maneuvers in surfing as it allows surfers to change direction and continue riding the wave. It’s also a great way to add style and flow to your surfing, making it one of the most essential tricks to learn.
Choosing the Right Wave to Top Turn
The first step in performing a top turn is choosing the right wave. You’ll want to look for a wave that has a section that allows you to perform the maneuver. Finding a wave that has a good shoulder or section that runs down the line is ideal. Having a wave that has a clean face and a decent amount of speed is key, as it will give you the momentum you need to carve through the turn.
It’s best to watch the waves for a while before paddling out to get a feel for the conditions. Analyzing the waves ahead of time will help you anticipate where and when to perform your top turn.
Paddling and Positioning
Once you’ve found the right wave, it’s time to paddle out and position yourself. You’ll want to gain enough speed and momentum by paddling towards the wave, always keeping an eye on the wave’s behavior. When you feel you have enough speed approach the section with the intent to do a top turn.
As you approach the section, turn your head and shoulders towards the direction you want to turn. This will help you anticipate the upcoming turn, and prepare your body for the move. Once you’re in position, you’ll want to initiate the turn.
Initiating the Turn
To initiate the turn, you’ll want to lean your weight onto your back foot while lifting your front foot slightly. This will cause the tail of your board to lift and separate from the water. You’ll need to pivot your board towards the direction you want to turn using your back foot. Keeping your eyes focused on the direction of your turn, and use your head and shoulders to guide your board through the turn. At this point, you should be transitioning from your bottom turn into your top turn.
Carving the Turn
During the turn, you’ll want to extend your front arm for balance while still keeping your eyes fixed on the direction of your turn. As you carve the turn, apply pressure on your back foot to pivot more and lean your body, stretching it towards the inside of the turn. This will give you more stability and control over your board, allowing it to carve smoothly across the face of the wave.
Exiting the Turn
Once you complete the turn, you’ll want to reposition your feet and center your weight back onto the board. Make sure to be aware of the wave’s behavior at that point, and plan what you want to do next. You could keep riding down the line, or kick out and paddle back out for another run at it.
Practice Makes Perfect
Like any surfing maneuver, the top turn takes practice to perfect. You may fail a lot at first, but don’t get discouraged. Keep practicing, adjust your technique and try to correct your mistakes. Take advantage of different conditions and waves as each will vary, and use this to your advantage so you can test your ability in different environments.
You could start with small waves that allow you the time to allow you focus on technique, then gradually progress to bigger waves as you gain more confidence. Keep in mind that most surfers used surfboards achieved their expertise with persistence, so keep at it!
Conclusion
The top turn is a classic surfing maneuver that is both fun and functional. It takes time, practice, and patience to get right, but the results are worth it. Remember, always focus on safety and take your time, as riding the waves is an enjoyable experience that should be savored. Head to your nearest beach and practice those top-turns today and always keep an eye out for used surfboards for sale that could help you perfect your craft without adding more burden to your pocket.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Doing a Top Turn
As with any surfing maneuver, there are some common mistakes that surfers make when performing a top turn. Here are a few to watch out for:
- Leaning too far forward: When initiating the turn, some surfers lean too far forward, causing them to lose balance and fall off their board. Instead, focus on leaning back onto your back foot while lifting your front foot slightly.
- Not looking where you want to go: Always keep your eyes fixed on the direction you want to turn. This helps you anticipate the turn and guides your body through the maneuver.
- Not extending your arm for balance: When carving through the turn, it’s important to extend your front arm for balance. This helps you maintain stability on your board while carving through the wave.
Preparing Your Body for the Top Turn
Before you paddle out to perform a top turn, it’s important to make sure your body is ready for the move. Here are some exercises you can do to prepare:
- Core exercises: Your core is essential in providing stability when surfing. Focus on exercises that help strengthen your core muscles such as planks and crunches.
- Swimming: Swimming is a great way to improve your overall fitness and build endurance.
- Stretching: Make sure to stretch before and after a surf session. This helps prevent muscle soreness and flexibility issues.
Adding Style to Your Top Turn
Once you’ve mastered the basic top turn, you can start adding some style to it. Here are a few ways to do that:
- Get Low: Bend your knees and lower your center of gravity, this will create a stylish crouch and surf stance
- Hand Gestures: Using your hands to emphasize your moves adds a little more flair.
- Adding Fins-Out: Engaging both your outside fins on your board, causing them to release more water increase your chances of looking stylish
- Body Rotation: Adding shoulder and hip rotations will increase the…surfer’s ability to look stylish
Conclusion
Surfing is all about fun, adventure, and style. With a good understanding of how to do a top turn, you’ll have the freedom to enjoy your surfing in a whole new way. Remember to practice and adjust your technique until you feel confident with it. Pay attention to your body, keep focused while surfing, and above all, enjoy yourself! Keep surfing and keep your eye out for used surfboards for sale, affordability and fun can always be enjoyed together.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are some common questions that surfers may have when learning how to do a top turn:
1. How do you know if a wave is suitable for a top turn?
You’ll want to look for a wave with a good shoulder or section that runs down the line. Waves with a clean face, decent speed, and size give you the necessary momentum to perform a top turn.
2. Can I do a top turn on any type of surfboard?
Yes, a top turn can be performed on any type of surfboard. However, performance boards and shortboards are designed to handle the speed and maneuverability of top turns better than longboards or other larger boards.
3. How much speed do you need to do a top turn?
You need enough speed to gain momentum and power through the turn. For a successful top turn, you need to have enough momentum to get to the top of the wave and initiate the turn.
4. What mistakes do surfers usually make when performing a top turn?
The most common mistakes include leaning too far forward, not looking where you want to go, and not extending your arm for balance.
5. Can I practice top turns on small waves?
Yes, small waves are a great way to practice the technique and fundamental maneuvers like top turns. This helps build your confidence and understanding of the movement before progressing to larger waves.
6. How do I prevent nose-diving when doing a top turn?
Leaning too far forward is the most common cause of nose-diving. Proper technique involves primarily using your backfoot to pivot your board, keeping your weight central, and elbows up for balance.
7. How do I know when to initiate my top turn?
Timing is key, and it requires some experience to understand the waves and the sections to confidently hit the top for that perfect top turn.
8. I keep top turning off the back, what do I do?
Make sure to engage your back foot, and lean your weight onto your back foot while lifting your front foot slightly. You also need to initiate the turn by turning your head and shoulders towards the direction of the turn.
9. How do I add some style to my top turn?
You can add some style to your top turn by getting low, rotating your body, using hand gestures, and adding some pivoting, even Fins-Out for flair.
10. Do I need to be in good physical shape to do a top turn?
While it’s not necessary to be in peak physical condition, surfing is a sport, and it requires a certain level of fitness. Regular exercise, particularly core strength conditioning, swimming, and stretching can be helpful in getting you well-prepared for it.
11. What if I lose balance and fall during a top turn?
Compared to other surfing maneuvers, top turns generally result in a lower risk of injury should you fall as the speed is slower.