Punting

About 3 weeks ago I did my first "air" in the last maybe 5+ years. And it was NOT an air reverse. Just a clean boost off the lip and landed back down on the open face. I like turns way better. So my advise is limited to medical questions.

I just eyeball a steep part of the wave, come up hard of the bottom, and instead of putting it on a rail, just keep your momentum going up and out... arms an all. Keep your board under your feet and eyeball your landing spot. It's a lot easier not doing rotations and just keep a smooth arc through the air back down to the wave face.

 

I've never been goode at airs. Whenever i get a section that has potential, I usually try to launch into the flats as opposed to up. I look like an idiot though, Going to stick to turns and floaters

 

One of these days I will pull an air! I hate these dudes that can air off an ankle size wave!

 

A wise surfer once said Imagine the lip 3 feet taller than it really is and setup your turn for the imaginary lip.

I've only hit a handful of airs in my surfing "career". Speed is your friend. I prefer to go for it on a close out section so I don't waste a perfectly good wave.

 

You know I'm all about those turns, bout those turns, no airs
I'm all about those turns, bout those turns, no airs
I'm all about those turns, bout those turns, no airs
I'm all about those turns.
I'm bringing turns back, I'm here to tell you skinny *****es that.
Even though you think I'm old and fat
Every turn I do is perfect from the bottom to the top.

 

Y?Chavez?Y

 

I love to punt on 4th and long

 

Me rikey to hit lip hard. But sometimes I like to make sweet, sweet love to it as well.

 

Iv never pulled any air. Never tried. Probably never will. To me it just seems like a good way to keep myself out of the water when I'm older. Knees and what not.

So basically take this with a grain of salt because i truly no nothing about airs. Speed and lots of it, seems important. Secondly id say the section and the angle at which you approach it. I actually saw a three part video from some British kid explaining how to do airs, except i had it muted. Just kinda watched. Seemed like if i actually listened it might be a good lesson. But like i said, no interest in airs so i muted it. I'll see if i can find it for you

 

Look where you want to go. It's about learning to make new movements with your body, just like learning to do a bottom turn or a cutback. Ollie on a skateboard. Practice jumping on the beach. Rail to rail to get speed, bottom turn and look above the wave bring your front foot up trying to ride up the wave with the board flat. Imagine the wave as a halfpipe. Bring your arms upwards or look over your shoulder if you're trying to spin.

First, just practice generating speed by going rail to rail staying mid to high up on the wave. Speed is your friend. Once you have enough speed, tricks become second nature. When you have the ability to generate speed, your turn before the air becomes an extra boost.

Alternatively, try slowing it down in smaller surf and focus on the way the board reacts under your feet.

Oh, and the right board for the conditions and like a 20mph offshore wind on a good clean short period swell helps too LOL

 

It's hard when you're unathletic like me, but when you boost one it's a great feeling. Skating helps.

 

I've made point the past couple years at improving going top to bottom for speed (especially on the not so hollow beach breaks up here) and when having greater speed going back to the lip with more speed for those lip hacks. still need to get better at being more pocket aware and getting some carves in, especially when going frontside, which is left, which is the best, but one thing at a time

so with all those cane swells and ample, consistent and manageable chest to slightly OH sessions @ 12+ I was able to get some real speed in September (with all the slower beach breaks like I said). on one sunday morning a couple weeks ago I got a couple really, really good top to bottom lip hacks in where I just kept increasing speed down the line on my 6'8" 2+1. on the third trip up to the lip with a section coming up I really (instinctively) dropped down to the bottom and hit a sharp bottom turn fast to get back up before the close out (no such thing, I know) and some how managed to do a tail whip that released my fins.....for a very, very, very short time.

I was stoked on that wave for a week through another 1 or 2 subpar sessions compared to that

so my advise, get goode at going top to bottom. some day by accident you may get a little release.

 

Don't be afraid to go try airs with some light onshore wind. Onshores make it bowly, which is good... and it can help keep your board against your feet. Another guy I used to surf with said about doing airs..."you're riding the wind." I always thought that kinda worked, conceptually.

 

First thing you need is a rear and a front traction pad. Second thing you need is a pair of Volcom boardridershorts that have a zipper and a mini wax comb attached to a string in an oddly placed pocket. And you also need a Volcom sticker on your board and your car and your bike and your skateboard and your fridge.

[video=youtube;q5SjeQ1rgxo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5SjeQ1rgxo[/video]

* You can substitue RVCA for Volcom.


PS I cant do airs and am jealous if you havent noticed.

 

Drop in , pump your arse off , build up some speed , look for a part of the wave thats vertical like a quarter pipe . as your about to get to that part of the wave do three good pumps then a little bottom turn finding that angle towards that lip . What ever angle of attack you make for the air should also be the same for the landing . the faster you are going the more you can lay horizontal pushing into the wave for more load and pop . slower the more vertical you will have to stand and depend on pop . If you can skate board ramps or snow board the park airs should click . I call it the ollie gene , either you have it or you have to work on it .