Surfing tricks are an exciting way to develop your skills, challenge your balance, and add more style to your time in the water. From basic manoeuvres such as trimming and bottom turns to more advanced techniques like cutbacks, floaters, and aerials, learning the right surfing tricks can help you become a more confident and capable surfer. The key is to build a strong foundation, understand how your board responds, and practise each movement at the right stage of your progression.
Keep reading to discover a few surfing tricks you can practise as you progress. From essential turns and wave-riding techniques to more advanced manoeuvres, these tricks can help take your surfing skills to the next level.
What Are Surfing Tricks?
Surfing tricks are manoeuvres performed on a wave using a combination of balance, timing, body positioning, and board control. Some are designed to help you generate speed and stay on the wave, while others are performed for style, direction changes, or more advanced surfing.
The best surfing tricks to learn depend on your experience, board type, wave conditions, and surfing goals. Beginners should focus on fundamental manoeuvres before progressing to more demanding techniques.
1. Trimming
Trimming is one of the most useful surfing techniques to master. It involves positioning your board along the wave’s fastest section so you can maintain speed without excessive paddling or movement.
To practise trimming:
- Keep your knees slightly bent.
- Maintain a relaxed stance.
- Shift your weight gently between your front and back foot.
- Look towards the section of the wave you want to reach.
- Keep your upper body centred over the board.
Good trimming skills will make it easier to perform more advanced surfing tricks later.
2. Bottom Turn
The bottom turn is a fundamental manoeuvre that connects your take-off to the next section of the wave. It allows you to redirect your board back towards the open face and generate speed for your next move.
As you approach the bottom of the wave, bend your knees and put controlled pressure on your rail. Rotate your shoulders towards the direction you want to travel, allowing your hips and board to follow.
A strong bottom turn is particularly important because many advanced manoeuvres begin with this movement.
3. Top Turn
A top turn is performed near the upper section of the wave and is commonly used to change direction while maintaining speed.
As you approach the wave’s lip or upper face, shift your weight and rotate your shoulders towards the direction of your turn. Keep your knees bent and allow your board to follow your body’s movement.
Start practising on smaller, clean waves before attempting sharper or more powerful top turns.
4. Cutback
The cutback is one of the most recognisable surfing tricks. It allows surfers to redirect their board towards the breaking part of the wave after moving towards the shoulder.
To perform a basic cutback:
- Build enough speed along the wave face.
- Look towards the breaking section.
- Shift your weight and rotate your upper body.
- Engage the rail as your board changes direction.
- Reconnect with the wave and transition back down the face.
Timing is essential. A cutback performed too early or too late can cause you to lose speed.
5. Floater
A floater involves riding over the top of a breaking section before landing back onto the wave face. It can help surfers navigate sections that would otherwise close out.
Approach the breaking section with enough speed, then move your board towards the top of the wave. Keep your body balanced and your knees soft as you travel across the breaking section.
When the wave opens again, guide your board back onto the face and absorb the landing with your knees.
6. Snap
A snap is a quick, sharp turn performed near the top of the wave. It requires good timing, speed, balance, and rail control.
As you approach the lip, compress your body before extending through the turn. Rotate your shoulders and hips while applying pressure to the board. The movement should be quick and controlled rather than forced.
Practising bottom turns and top turns first will make learning this surfing trick much easier.
7. Re-entry
A re-entry is an advanced manoeuvre where the surfer rides up towards the lip and redirects the board back down onto the wave face.
This technique requires confidence in your approach, strong balance, and accurate timing. You need enough speed to reach the lip while maintaining control of your board.
Start by practising controlled top turns before attempting a full re-entry on steeper waves.
8. Tube Riding
Tube riding is one of the most challenging and rewarding surfing techniques. It involves positioning yourself inside the hollow section of a breaking wave as it forms a barrel around you.
Reading the wave is crucial. You need to recognise where the barrel is forming and maintain enough speed to stay ahead of the breaking section.
Beginners should only attempt tube riding in suitable conditions under appropriate supervision. Wave size, current, reef, and local hazards should always be considered.
9. Aerial
Aerial manoeuvres are among the most advanced surfing tricks. The surfer launches the board above the wave before landing back on the surface.
Aerials require excellent speed generation, timing, body control, and board handling. Before attempting one, surfers should be comfortable with bottom turns, snaps, and other dynamic manoeuvres.
Practising the movement on smaller waves can help you understand how to generate lift and control your landing.
Improve Your Surfing Tricks Through Training
Physical preparation can make a significant difference when learning surfing tricks. Surfing requires balance, coordination, strength, mobility, and endurance.
A useful surf training routine can include:
- Squats and lunges for lower-body strength.
- Single-leg exercises for balance and stability.
- Push-ups and rows for upper-body strength.
- Rotational exercises for core control.
- Swimming or interval training for endurance.
- Mobility exercises for the hips, shoulders, and ankles.
A proper warm-up before surfing can also prepare your muscles and joints for movements such as paddling, pop-ups, turns, and landings. Training should complement time in the water rather than replace it.
How to Learn Surfing Tricks Safely
Progression is more effective when you focus on one manoeuvre at a time. Choose waves that match your ability and practise your technique before increasing the difficulty.
Pay attention to your positioning, timing, and body movement rather than simply trying to complete the trick. Video feedback can also help you identify habits that may be difficult to notice while surfing.
Most importantly, respect the conditions. Check the surf forecast, understand local hazards, and avoid attempting advanced manoeuvres in waves beyond your ability.
Final Thoughts
Learning surfing tricks is a gradual process that combines technique, fitness, wave knowledge, and consistent practice. Start with fundamental skills such as trimming, bottom turns, and top turns before progressing to cutbacks, floaters, snaps, and aerial manoeuvres.
With regular practice and the right conditions, each new technique can help improve your confidence and overall surfing ability. If you’re ready to put these skills into practice, Flowstate Bali can help you build your surfing technique, confidence, and fitness through guided surf experiences in Bali. Get in the water, keep practising, and take your surfing to the next level with Flowstate Bali.
