Patrick Gudauskas breaks down the bottom turn, which he calls the “ultimate pinnacle” maneuver, emphasizing that it’s the epicenter of all power and style in surfing. The tutorial covers the mental approach, crucial foot and hand positioning, and the use of coil and rotation to set up powerful top turns.
Key Takeaways & Tips
Turn Importance
A good bottom turn is not only beneficial in good waves; it is **more beneficial** in shitty, small, and mushy waves because it allows you to generate speed where there is little power.
The Entry Pause
After standing up, pause, breathe, and assess the section. Great surfers do this to create momentum and center the body, similar to a skater pausing at the top of a half-pipe coping before dropping in.
The Back Hand “Surfboard”
As you lean in to set your inside rail, your back hand should become a “little surfboard” almost touching the wave face. This centers your entire body’s gravity and power right over your fins on the inside rail.
The Calm Front Arm
The front arm should be “glued” close to the body. This helps condense and center your energy and power over the fins. Tom Curren is noted for literally never moving his front arm during the turn.
Explosion and Coil
To explode off the bottom, open your chest up to the wave face. You must move your back hand (the “baby surfboard”) from the wave face to **behind you**. This opens your torso and begins the **coil** that becomes the power for the next maneuver.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Leaning Forward on Exit
Using your front arm too actively or leaning forward when exploding off the bottom is a common mistake that can disengage your fins and cause you to lose power.
Losing Center
If you are unable to condense your front arm and let the back hand ride (baby surfboard), you will lack the control needed to hold your bottom turn strong and long.
Neglecting Practice in Bad Waves
A crucial piece of homework is paddling out on the “worst day possible” to work on generating speed in non-powerful waves. Failing to do this limits the development of these essential techniques.