This tutorial addresses whether the drop knee turn is a functional longboard maneuver or merely a novelty. The surfer discovers the turn’s benefit for backside surfing, as it correctly positions the body for cross stepping and acts as a perfect way to stall the board.
Key Takeaways & Tips
Functional Benefit
The drop knee turn is functional because it sets you up well to start cross stepping. A properly performed drop knee turn gets your body into the right position and stalls the board perfectly, making it a two-for-one maneuver.
Backside Solution
The turn is particularly handy for backside turns. It opens your shoulders, which helps you get into the drop knee position. By the time you complete the turn, your body is already in the proper cross stepping position, overcoming the awkwardness of an old-style backside turn.
Key Tip 1: Form
The first key tip is to slow things down and focus on form. The action is simply: drop your knee down, stick your toes on the tail, and hold that position. This is the fundamental motion to master before forcing the full turn.
Key Tip 2: Inside Rail Pressure
The crucial element is worrying about keeping pressure on that inside rail. This is the missing component that, when fixed, greatly increases confidence and stability in the turn.
Practice
The first thing to do when learning this turn is to get the form down on land first. Practice getting into the position with the ball of your foot on the tail and both knees bent.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Struggling with Speed
A common struggle is difficulty with speed and how much weight to distribute into the turn, which often leads to falling off the side.
Forcing the Turn
Trying too hard to force the turn will cause you to fall off. Instead, focus on the fundamental form (Key Tip 1).
Losing the Rail
A common occurrence is the arm flying up when inside rail pressure is lost. This is the body compensating for the board wanting to dip down the wave, demonstrating the lower body is not keeping the board stable.
Weight Too Far Back
A secondary mistake is keeping your weight too far back while cross stepping. This occurs on both left and right for the surfer but must be addressed in combination with maintaining inside rail pressure.