This ultimate tutorial provides a step-by-step guide to the frontside straight air, using multiple camera angles and a surf skate simulation. The focus is on the crucial setup (deep bottom turn), precise timing at the lip, and the rotation mechanics required to successfully whip the board back down the wave face.
Key Takeaways & Tips
Board Choice
You want a board that is light and maneuverable, ideally a performance shortboard around the same height as you. Make sure you wax up the top of the board where your front foot will be.
Wave Selection
The rare time where you actually want a closeout section down the line is when doing an air. You can also use a shoulder that is steep enough to create the perfect air section. The lip should be starting to break right as you are about to go off it.
Speed Generation
You need lots of speed. Generate speed by compressing with your lower half and extending with your legs, swinging your arms up to chest-high level, and repeating the movement. Get low to carry all that speed.
Coil and Projection
Coil up like a spring to project up and off the lip. You are projecting up and out towards the beach, not just directly up. At the last minute, you point your nose towards the beach and project out.
Body Mechanics in Air
Extend your body, then lift your arms up and over your head to propel you out of the lip. Slide your front foot further up your board (like skating), and bring your front knee up quite high toward your face to keep the board under you.
Landing
Never look away from the landing. Finish low in a compressed position with your chest over your front knee. Landing on a crumbly section is much easier than landing in the flats. If you land with straight legs, the wave’s simply going to knock you off balance and you’re going to fall off.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Leaning Too Far Back
Leaning too far back is one of the most common mistakes people doing, causing them to fall backward.
Hitting Section Too Late
Hitting the section too late or not having enough speed will cause you to miss the lip entirely or get hung up on the lip.
Not Staying Centered
Failing to stay centered over your board is a major mistake that will prevent you from landing successfully.
Trying to Stall
Trying to stall into the barrel is incorrect for air technique, as the small sections will pass you by. You must slow down first, then ride through.