Turning as a beginner or intermediate surfer often feels slow, wobbly, and out of control. This tutorial identifies and provides fixes for the two biggest turning mistakes that can easily be corrected, allowing you to execute clean, responsive turns.
Key Takeaways & Tips
Fix 1: Shift Hips Back (Belt Buckle)
To engage the turning part of the board (the tail), shift your center of mass (hips/pelvis) back over the tail. The cue is to imagine your front belt buckle moving back over your back foot. This subtle hip shift makes the back leg bend and compress, making the board feel loose and responsive.
Fix 2: Build Speed First
Always build speed and momentum before thinking about turning. Trying to turn while barely moving causes the board to get sticky, bog the rail, and leads to falling. Speed is necessary to maintain balance and flow through the turn.
Three-Part Dance
Turning is a three-part dance forward and back: 1) Narrow stance, weight forward to build speed; 2) Widen stance, step back to set up for the turn; 3) Hips shift back to commit the turn. Finish by shifting weight forward to drive down the line again.
Land Drill: Hip Shift
Set up your phone and film yourself practicing the hip shift on land. You must see and feel your hips actually moving back over the back foot (back leg bending) rather than just bending your back knee while keeping your weight forward.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Weight Forward When Turning
Keeping your weight over the front foot while trying to rotate the upper body. The board ignores this movement because the tail (where turning response comes from) is barely engaged, leading to a slow, awkward turn.
Only Pushing Back Foot
Thinking the solution is simply to “push harder with the back foot.” This doesn’t solve the problem, as the weight remains centered on the front leg, locking out the back leg and preventing a proper turn.
Stalling After Turn
Staying at the tail for too long after the turn is complete. This causes you to stall off the back of the wave and lose speed. You must immediately bring your weight forward to regain speed and drive down the line.