Beginner
10 Tips to Better Bottom Turns
Coach's take: Outstanding - explains the why, not just the what. Best teach in the set.
3.7
Bottom turn
Surfing / Popular
Set the rail and redirect speed from the lower third of the wave.
What coaches agree on
- Lean into your rail, weight onto your toes on your forehand or your heels on your backhand, as you drive through the bottom turn; engaging the rail is what lets the board hold and accelerate.
- Look and point your leading arm toward where you want to go as you come out of the bottom turn; your head initiates the rotation and the board follows.
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- Compress down as you drop into the bottom turn, then extend your legs as you come out of it; releasing that compression is what drives the board back up the wave.
Common mistakes
- Riding a full, deep bottom turn all the way to the bottom of a fat, soft, or gentle wave, instead of keeping it shallow and staying higher on the face, bleeds off the speed needed for the rest of the ride.
Beginner
Beginner Surfers | Fix Your Backhand Surfing + Utilise The Whole Wave
Coach's take: One of the best breakdowns in the batch — specific, correct, and clearly explained.
3.5
Intermediate
How to do a Proper Bottom Turn.
Coach's take: Really good on rail engagement - clear analogies, good comparisons.
3.3
Beginner
How To Surf On Your BACKHAND | Beginners To Intermediates
Coach's take: Clear, well-sequenced lesson, good starting point for the backhand bottom turn.
3.0
Beginner
How To Bottom Turn To Top Turn
Coach's take: Well-structured and clear, good progression from bottom turn to top turn.
2.9
Intermediate
A Surfing Lesson For The Intermediate Goofy Footer
Coach's take: Good footage analysis, bottom turn covered clearly among other moves.
2.6
Intermediate
How to Surf | Top 15 Tips for Intermediate Surfers | Improve your Technique
Coach's take: Good concise cues, though it's one tip among many rather than a full breakdown.
2.5
Advanced
Surf Simply's Question Time: Forehand Bottom Turns
Coach's take: Excellent, detailed coaching on the bottom turn mechanic.
2.4
Beginner
Beginner Surfers | Learn How To Turn In 8 Minutes
Coach's take: Clear beginner breakdown - head, arms, lean, compression.
2.4
Intermediate
Two Surfing Skills You Need To Learn | The Bottom Turn To Top Turn
Coach's take: Clear enough turn breakdown, but half of it is merch and channel plugs.
2.4
Intermediate
Improve Your Surfing Faster With These TWO Techniques
Coach's take: Real footage, clear cue, easy to try on your next wave.
2.3
Intermediate
Surf Simply Tutorials: Trimming and Carving
Coach's take: Clear, well-explained fundamentals — worth watching before drilling bottom turns.
2.3
Intermediate
Surf Basics: Is The Bottom Turn Ruining Your Progress?
Coach's take: Smart perspective, light on actual technique.
2.3
Advanced
Backside riding tips
Coach's take: Genuinely teaches the turning mechanics, just wrapped in windsurfing-specific sail work.
2.2
Beginner
Surf Simply's Quick Tips: Back Foot Position
Coach's take: Brilliant analogy for why the back foot must be over the tail - high-value fundamentals.
2.1
Beginner
How to transform your turns (For Beginners)
Coach's take: Strong, practical fixes for your turns.
2.1
Intermediate
Start Performing Big Turns In The Surf With These Tips
Coach's take: Excellent on the whole-body mechanics of turning.
2.0
Intermediate
Surf Simply's Quick Tips: Using Hips to Transition Weight
Coach's take: Great cue for shifting weight with the hips, not the shoulders - solid foundation for the turn.
1.7
Beginner
How to Turn on a Longboard - Beginner's guide to Carving
Coach's take: Clean, structured carving instruction - good teaching, mild course plug.
1.6
Intermediate
Surf Basics: Why Turning at Speed Is So Difficult
Coach's take: Good concept on speed and turning, not a how-to.
1.4
Advanced
How To Flow Between Turns With Filipe Toledo
Coach's take: Excellent flow and power-zone lesson; well taught.
1.3