CutbacksCutbacks represent the core of any great surfer’s repertoire whether they are on a longboard or a shortboard. A long drawn out maneuver down the face or a sharp, snappy one on the top of the lip can really get you some quality looks on your riding. If you really want to advance your surfing you need to have these down. Start at the top of the wave and drop down the face of the wave aiming to get maximum speed. Now if you want to do a slow one off the bottom gradually dig your toes or heels in depending on the direction you want to go.
If you’re looking to bust a powerful one on the top or a little off the top you will repeat the same thing only use your front foot to whip that front nose around for maximum speed and power. You will also want to climb to the top of the wave, speed down, and then cut into the top of the wave before you execute your trick. When done properly this trick looks beautiful. Mark Richards was known for his long sweeping maneuvers and cuts on waves while surfers like Kelly Slater are known for their quick, slashing cutbacks that throw gallons off the top and tuck them right into the pocket. The beautiful thing about this trick is it can be pulled off nicely on any board. Obviously a longboard is going to be cut out more for the long, drawn out ones but if you’ve got a Takayama or similar progressive longboard you can still pull a pretty snappy one if you really drive into it. This move really just takes practice and consistency to nail. Once you get it, it is an absolute breeze and will really help you stay where you want to be on any wave. Return from Cutbacks to Surfing Tricks |
