What are some tips and guidelines that you would like to share with other surfers about generating speed and getting the air?
honestly, I've tried to help people with lots of threads like this, but me nor anyone on this thread can really type anything that will change your whole outlook on airs. I just watch videos and study everything the pros do. especially dane. watch every vid on his blog very intently. thats the best way to learn. www.marinelayerproductions.com
I agree, I see a wider stance change during the air process at times. AKA currently in the quik pro right now.
I'm not gonna go into generating speed and what not. If you're doing airs, you already know how to generate speed. Pay attention to the wind and it's direction. It can be critical in attempting airs.
watch videos of guys you think have good style. watch how they set up for the maneuver and what they do beforehand, whatever it may be. that's usually where the answers are
Generating speed is by pumping... either short, rapid pumps driving off the fins and flex of the board, or big climb-and-drop pumps using gravity and down-the-line wave energy. The faster you go, the higher/further you'll go in the air, but you can still pop off the lip without going that fast, which is how you can start to learn. Start your turn no further down that at the bottom of the wave... not out on the flats. If you're not going that fast, you can take a more vertical line up into the lip... the faster you're going, the more horizontal your line to the top of the wave can be. Aim for a section of vertical lip and time it just right. Like any good turn, start with your shoulders and let your hips follow, then feet. Develop a sense of where the board is under your feet, because you'll loose contact more often than not. Wind direction and strength are key... as said above. Good luck.
The problem I seem to have had is when look at the air section and aim my board to go towards it, I never actually get the launch. But, practice makes perfect. You guys had some sick tips.
now... I have never done an air on a surboard but I do believe that the mechanics are very similar to doing an olly on a skateboard. on a skateboard, your stance is closer, meaning your feet are closer together then normally would be. then after you slam the tail on the ground, your front foot is dragging the skateboard upwards. resulting in a wider stance while in the air and landing. Im guessing that these surfers are dragging thier front foot upward along the surfboard to help raise it higher. But like I said I have never even tried getting an air on a surboard, but I might now. lol.
I think of it as... there's an ollie type air and a ramp type air. If you're looking to use your speed and really boost one, you're not so much jumping from the lip (ollie) as you are launching/rotating, unweighting/compressing, then extending for the landing. I never really got good at it, but when I've done it, that's how it feels.
What helps me is taking a high line and hitting the lip at a 20 degree ish angle. I would also recommend practicing ollies.
Do you need a bottom turn? Because sometimes I feel like I see guys just cruise it on the face then fly off, I don't get it.
as seventy1percent mentioned it seems as though taking a line from higher off the face is the way to get used to airing out. Once this is established I would assume lower bottom turns can then produce airs but the process should evolve from higher off the face. I haven't really tried this though to be honest my rational come from watching videos, but I plan on working on it soon. I am more into the heavy re-entries and swooping cutbacks at the first sight of the waves flattening out. Does anyone know if I have an advantage for airs by surfing mostly backhand waves, because I am goofy footed and surf mostly rights?
Ah...Grasshopper......It all depends on the conditions and what kind of boost you are trying to accomplish. Wave shape, power, rotation, timing, ect... Sometimes you draw out the bottom turn, sometimes you don't. Speed is your best friend...(not the drug) lol I'm not going to get into the whole mechanics of it as I could sit here for an hour explaining it. But, if interested you might want to check out this: http://www.amazon.com/110-Surfing-Techniques-action-surfers/dp/B0015FWK9I It's a bit kooky in the beginning, but near the end is decent. (little green waves) lol ....also you can check out this: http://www.amazon.com/Surfing-Manual-Advanced-Jim-Kempton/dp/0977556913 good read
Personally, my backside airs aren't the greatest. But, my backside cutbacks on the other hand are stellar. zing.......
