Top 5 Tips for Improving Your Cut back

The front side cutback is a move that is used by surfers of all skill levels. The cutback allows you to use the rail of your board and brings you back to the source of the wave where you can generate more speed for your next hit.

Start your bottom turn with lots of speed

Put your leading arm in the water, and use it as a pivot point.

Finish the turn with your back leg straight and your weight over a bent front leg.

#1

Visual Cue: when dropping in start to look down the wave and chose a section that you want to perform the Cut back on, most suitable a nicely sloping shoulder of the wave to turn on.

Tips: when dropping in make sure your body and chest and arms are balanced and low to help maximize your speed. Speed is important in the bottom turn to get the right angle of trajectory whilst also carrying you through the cutback with enough momentum. Once you have chosen the spot you want to perform the cut back keep your eyes fixed on it.

#2

Visual Cue: you will start to lose speed from your drop in as soon as your reach the flatter section, start to indicate the bottom turn whilst maintain your eyes on your desired cut back section.

Tips: Like every other move in surfing the cut back starts with speed. By entering the turn with speed you will be able to lean on your rail harder adding more spray, and style to the turn constantly looking at your desired section. Start your bottom turn as soon as you reach the flats, and drive up the wave face at a 40 to 60-degree angle.

#3

Visual Cue: you will be approaching your desired section so you will need to start the process of turning before you reach the spot to give it the best chance of success.

Tips: When you reach the middle of the wave face bend your knees and shift your weight from your toeside rail to your heelside rail to initiate the cutback. You will need to turn and chose a new desired destination Twist your upper body in the direction you are turning, and extend your leading arm towards the water to keep a low centre of gravity. Most of your pressure should be applied to your back foot while your front foot guides your board through the turn.

#4

Visual Cue: you will start to feel the momentum of the board transferred into the turn creating spray hold this turn until you feel the board facing back towards the white water

Tips: Halfway through the turn, your leading arm should almost be touching the wave face. This keeps you low to your board as well as providing a point for you to pivot around. Lean on your rail as hard as you can during this part of the turn to create a tight powerful arc and to help maximise the spray created by the tail.

#5

Visual Cue: Finishing your turn you will lose a lot of speed you will need to stay low to maintain stability and then regain focus on your next turn

Tips: As your board turns back towards the whitewash you want to finish the turn. Do this by straightening out your back leg, and centring your weight over your fully bent front leg. This will add snap and style to the turn and also keep you low to your board. Your board will finish with the nose pointing straight back towards the white water. Now that the turn is finished turn your board back towards the open face of the wave by pressing on your back foot. Watch the transition of the wave as you pivot so you don’t nosedive, and go straight into your next bottom turn.