This ultimate tutorial provides a step-by-step guide to the frontside air reverse, using multiple camera angles and a surf skate simulation. The lesson details the importance of board choice, generating maximum speed, the arm coil/throw technique, and the critical front-foot landing required for a clean exit.
Key Takeaways & Tips
Board Choice
The best boards are typical performance shortboards or small wave grovelers, which are easier to ride and help you generate the necessary speed. Make sure you wax up to the chest, as your front foot will be sliding up during the air reverse.
Speed and Stance
Speed is the most important step; the sweet spot for air reverses is about two to three pumps. Widening your stance helps you generate more speed and perform the reverse with control.
Shallow Bottom Turn
The secret is doing a shallow bottom turn, which helps maintain your speed and get the most pop out of the lip. Keep it shallow, as a deeper turn results in a more inverted and upside-down air.
Rotation Coil and Throw
As you do your bottom turn, swing your trailing arm behind your back to load it up. Throwing it up and around will help you get the launch and rotation. Think of the word “tail” right before the throw to encourage tail release.
Projection Angle
Unlike a straight air, you are projecting up, out, and away from the lip towards the beach at a flat angle. This flat angle is key to getting the rotation.
Mid-Air Foot Slide
Mid-air, slide both feet further up the board (around 30 centimeters from their original position). This centers your weight and makes the landing easier, similar to landing on the bolts of a skateboard.
Landing
Land on the nose of your board, putting all the pressure onto your front foot to absorb the impact and keep the tail out of the water. Then, revert out of it. Landing on the back foot will cause you to poke the tail and fall.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Hitting Section Too Early
If you go off a section too early, your board will have nothing to push against and will fly out from under your feet. Timing is essential.
Not Following Through with Arm
Not following through with your trailing arm throws your whole center of gravity off and causes you to fall backward. Pretending to grab the rail helps keep you centered.
Narrow Stance
Failing to widen your stance will limit the speed you can generate and make the landing less controlled.
Deep Bottom Turn
A deep bottom turn will result in you getting too inverted and upside down in the air.