How to Change the Angle when You're Surfing

Popping Up at an Angle

Push through waves as you're paddling out. Lay on your stomach with your toes tucked under your feet on the board. Paddle with your arms on either side of the board. When you get within 6 feet (1.8 m) of an oncoming wave, cut through it by placing your hands on either side of the board and doing a push-up. The idea is to put as much of your weight on the front of the board as possible to punch through the wave. If you're punching through bigger waves, kick one foot up into the air to increase the pressure on the front of your board.

Move towards the peak of an oncoming wave then turn and paddle. Look at an oncoming wave and paddle towards the highest part (the peak that will break first). Once you're stationed about 10–15 feet (3.0–4.6 m) in front of it, turn toward the shore and start paddling like crazy until you feel the wave start to lift and carry your board. Allow enough time and space to get at least 8 to 10 strong paddle strokes in before you attempt to pop up.

Paddle along with the wave with your head up and back arched. Paddle hard and fast to keep up with the wave. Once you feel it pushing you along and you’ve gotten a good 8 to 10 strong paddles in, it's time to pop up to stand on your board. Don't get discouraged if the wave takes the board out from under your feet the first few times as you prepare to pop up. It's hard to get the hang of it at first and falling is part of the learning process.

Choose the direction you want to go based on how the wave breaks. Look to see where the peak forms and how it moves along the wave. Waves can break to the right, to the left, or stay equal and balanced and break at the same time. If the wave breaks from right to left (from your perspective looking toward the shore), angle your board slightly to the left. If the wave breaks from left to right, angle your board to the right. If the entire body of the wave breaks at the same time, go in the direction where you won’t get in the way of other surfers or swimmers.

Look in the direction you want to go before you pop up. While you're paddling on a wave (right before you pop up), turning your head will help you focus your efforts on taking off in a particular direction. If you want to go right, look right. If you want to go left, look left. Going right is typically easier if you surf with your right foot back. The idea is to lead with your head and then let your shoulders and hips turn accordingly once you're up. Popping up at an angle means your board isn't perpendicular to the wave. It'll be slightly turned to the right or left at an angle of no more than 45-degrees. It's an important skill if you want to ride long waves that break to the right or left.

Apply pressure on the wave-side rail of the board as you pop up. Do a push-up motion on the board with your hands placed on either side of the board, applying more pressure on your right hand to turn right or your left hand to turn left. Extend one foot forward and place the other foot on the back of the board. Keep your body low and flex your core so your center of gravity is directly in the middle of the board—don’t lean over at any time. Keep looking in the direction you want to go. Position your feet shoulder-width apart or a bit wider. Point your knees slightly inward towards each other so it's easier to shift your hips backward and forward. Most people surf with their right foot back, but if that feels awkward, you may find placing your left foot back (called “goofy stance”) works better for you.

Shift your weight towards your toes if you want to turn right. Shift your weight to maintain the angle of the board on the wave. If you’re turning right and surf with your right foot back, place more of your weight on your toes and the balls of your feet. Don’t apply too much pressure because it will cause the board to turn too much. The closer the board gets to being perpendicular to the wave, the more likely it is the power of the wave will flip you over sideways. If you surf in “goofy stance” with your left foot back, shift your weight to your heels to go right.

Place more weight on your heels if you’re going left. If you’re going left and surf with your right foot back, slightly shift your weight onto your heels. Make a conscious effort to keep your body slightly compressed so you’re not tempted to straighten your knees and lose your balance. If you surf with your left foot back, put more weight on your toes to turn left.

Trimming a Wave

Turn your torso and hips in the direction you want to go. Right after popping up, make a conscious effort to turn your torso and hips to the side you want to go towards. This slight adjustment will apply pressure to the wave-side of the board, causing drag that allows it to turn. Always keep your center of gravity on the board. Leaning or bending your torso to one side won't help you turn and may cause you to lose your balance.

Apply slight pressure on the side of the board closest to the wave. Shifting weight on your feet either to your toes or your heels is key to angle the board and keep your balance. If you're angling to the right along the wave, apply a slight pressure on the balls and toes of your feet. If you surf with your left foot back and are going to the right, shift more of your weight to your heels. This is going to create some drag on the board, allowing it to set into the wave at an angle. No matter what foot you have back or what direction you’re going, you need to apply more pressure to the side of the board that’s closest to the wave.

Turn your head, torso, and hips toward the shore to readjust. If you feel like you've turned too much and are about to go back over the top of the wave, turn your torso and hips toward the shore to re-angle the board along the wave. Always lead with your head and let your body follow suit. It may help to slightly point your arm in the direction you want to go. For instance, if you want to turn slightly to the left to readjust, lift your left arm and angle it directly toward the shore while you're turning your head, torso, and hips. Try to surf at a 45-degree angle with the shoreline so you can ride the whole line of the wave.

Carving a Wave

Shift your weight slightly to your back foot to stall on the wave. Stalling is almost like applying the brakes on your surfboard. The added pressure on the back of the board will dig into the wave and slightly lift up the front of your board, making it easier to adjust your angle. It may help to place your back foot a little farther back on your board so your stalling is more effective.

Turn your head, torso, and hips in the direction you want to go. Think of your head as your steering wheel. Look down the line of the wave in the direction you want to go and then allow your torso and hips to twist. If you're surfing on whitewater waves, this can be right or left. If you're surfing unbroken waves, turn in the direction that the wave is breaking (i.e., turn so you're staying just in front of where the white foam first appears). If you're turning "backside" (or to the left), it may help to raise your right arm upwards and towards the front of your board to turn your torso to the left.

Compress your body on the turn to keep your balance. Flex your abs, glutes, and thighs to bring your shoulders slightly downward toward your feet. Lowering your center of gravity will allow you to keep your balance on the board as it's turning. When you’re turning right, extend your right arm straight out as if you’re going to touch the wave (if the wave is big enough you may even be able to trace it with your fingers!). It's common to want to lean over on the turn, but it'll throw off your balance. Staying low is crucial if you're turning left (also known as “backside” or “bottom” turning). It's common to want to straighten your legs and lean back, but don’t do it—stay crouched and let your head and torso steer the board.

Shift your weight forward to gain speed and seal the turn. After you've made the turn, lean your body slightly forward to place more weight onto your front foot. This will allow you to pick up some speed, which is necessary to continue riding the face of the wave at an angle. For instance, if you surf with your left foot forward, place a little more weight on your toes and the ball of that foot. When you shift your weight forward, your front knee will be slightly more bent while your back knee will be slightly straighter.