Lessons
10.Generating Speed
11.Floaters
12.Slash
13.Reo (Off the Lip)
14.Carves
15.Tail Slides
16.Late Takeoffs
17.Laybacks
18.Foam Climbs
19.360
20.Backside 360
21.Roundhouse Cutback
22.Backside Roundhouse
23.Riding Big Waves
24.Tube Riding

14. Carves

The carve is a great power move that you should learn if you want to be known as an all round surfer. Its all well and good being able to nail airs and spins but if you cant do power surfing moves like carves you will never have the full package.

So what is a carve? A carve is a full rail move that is done on the open face of a wave, it is all about smooth lines, speed, power, spray and rail! If you want to see a carve performed to its maximum check out guys like Pancho Sullivan, Taylor Knox and Timmy Reyes. All guys with great powerful styles who perform powerful carves as good if not better than anyone!

We are going to teach you how to do a carve on your Frontside. Like with a lot of moves in surfing the more speed you have the better! Having lots of speed will make the turn a lot easier to do and also make it look a lot better! So what you are looking for in a wave is a nice open face, you don’t want the lip to be coming down on you but you want to be doing the turn in the pocket or curl, where there is plenty of power in the wave. If you do the turn too far out on the shoulder you will sink or bog a rail or loose all your speed so doing it in the critical section is key. As you come off the bottom you want to angle your board as if you were going for a snap. If you come off the bottom angling too high you will end up going into a Reo. So angle your board about 45 degrees towards the section at the top of the wave you want to carve on, when you get towards the top of the wave start your turn by transferring your we ight off your toe side rail and onto your heel side rail, you should have your weight evenly distributed over both feet whilst putting pressure on your back foot to drive the turn, at the same time really open your body up so spread those shoulders, remember to keep that weight evenly placed over both feet during the entire turn. By doing this your rail will be set in the wave allowing you to do the carve. During the turn make sure you keep your knees slightly bent. When you have come round as far as your happy with its time to come out the turn and go back down the line. To come out of the turn all you need to do is stay centered over your board, tweak your front and back ankles so you have pressure on your toes and lean into your toe side rail, its best to keep a little more weight on your back foot when you come out the turn because if you stay on your front its very easy for your rail to catch/bog and throw you off balance. This will release you from the carve that you have just done on your heel side rail.