I feel NJ surf doesn’t often give the opportunity for big bottom turns... if it’s big it’s barreling and I’m dropping in sideways under the lip. If it’s crumbly “which is rare” I love doing heavy bottom turns. I find myself automatically bottom turning to set up an off the top when it’s available. I’d like to start drawing out my bottom turn more but fast beach break has me on autopilot.
Yeah I get it. We've got a "sometimes" wave here that is picky and hormonal, but when it's working there is no such thing as "bottom turn". Take off at an extreme angle and hope the wave doesn't outrun you and flatten you in a foot of water lol
Totally agree...a nice drawn out bottom turn alwAys feels good. Surfing screaming barrels takes on a different approach. Not drawing out your turns gives you a better chance at making and connecting sections. If your surfing a frames that shoulder out, the bottom turn is essential but angled drops on fast waves don't always give you the opportunity...the guy simply said I was drawing my turns too much...just enough to throw my timing on the upcoming barrel section. It made a huge difference for me on that trip and I am more conscious of it even surfing fast beach breaks.
a silky, soul arch bottom turn to layback-into-barrel (fast forward to the 1:50 mark). https://www.theinertia.com/surf/alex-knost-is-the-epitome-of-modern-day-style/
Depends on the wave, sometimes it's critical, most of the time here on the EC it needs to be skipped, take the hi line and pump, pump pump your boart gently down the stream, merrily merrily merrily life is but a dream
Technically speaking, a good bottom turn is a fine line between projection, flow and power. Tom Carrol ring a bell? The trick is to not burn off speed while trying to bury a rail and slingshot down the line without sliding ass. It's a tight rope act on big drops but so much fun, and you really know at that point in time if your board flexes well, if your fins are right, and if you are in tune. Then it's game on!!!
It is then also, that one knows whether you actually have good/great surfing skills, or a kook. And I disagree with those that say bottom turns can be done just with crumbling waves, not with hollow tubes, i.e. Pipeline type waves. Please view masters of the place Carrol, G. Lopez, etc. The ability to do bottom turns anywhere is the sorting out between good surfers and great surfers. Of course, there are a few notable exceptions in locations, ex-Tcheaupoo (could be suicide on a big day).
It’s all dependent on the situation, whether it calls for a bottom turn or not. Sometimes it makes sense and comes naturally and other times it requires a different approach or angle. Being able to make those decisions in the moment is crucial to getting the most out of the wave.
I’m not saying bottom turns are only usable on crumbly waves... Just saying NJ beach break doesn’t often allow a good op. I surf a lesser surfed wave quite often that is a big drop and you have to do drawn out bottom turns. That wave is a rare one in nj. It’s racing close outs on big days or trying to get under the lip before you get thrown over the lip. It’s not pipeline. Come down here and try to do a long drawn out bottom turn and you’ll be behind it in the whitewash.
