Josh Kerr teaches how to master the aerial approach, which is the angle of attack you use to hit the lip and give yourself the best chance of landing an air. The lesson emphasizes gaining momentum, using a shallow bottom turn, and timing the hit precisely as the lip is breaking.
Key Takeaways & Tips
Speed is Key
The biggest trick for surfing and landing airs is making sure you are gaining momentum before you hit your section, not decelerating. Pop comes from going from a slower speed to a faster speed as you come off the lip.
Shallow Bottom Turn
Take a shallow bottom turn when approaching the air section. If you whip it up on too steep of an angle, you will get stuck in the lip. You want to orchestrate a very smooth line going into the section.
Timing the Hit
You must hit the section as it is breaking. You do not want to hit the section before it has broken. Hitting the little bit of breaking lip provides the kick-back needed, similar to using the coping on a skateboard.
The Approach Line
Keep your eyes focused up the face. Do not let your board face too far out to the front of the wave, because if you have to wrench your bottom turn too much, you will come up on too steep of an angle.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Hitting the Lip Too Early
Hitting the lip too early means there is no breaking lip, so there is no feedback to kick the board back and push you out. This will cause you to land off the back of the wave.
Too Steep of an Angle
Coming up on too steep of an angle will result in getting stuck in the lip or having your board flip out, as your momentum is not going in the correct direction.
Decelerating
Failing to gain momentum before hitting the section (decelerating) means the board has a much harder job getting out of the water.