Falling backwards right before a snap turn

[kehaulani]

Hi was wondering, why I am falling backwards off my shortboard right before I pivot the board. I can get to the lip or high in the face after the bottom turn but when I hit it, I fall back and my board is still connected to my feet after I pivot into the turn. But I just end up in the water. Any suggestions on how to correct this?

[surferdude_scarborough]

it sounds like you are doing what i used to do and trying to use your legs to make the turn. if you just pull the board round with your legs then the board end up pointing back down the wave but ur just lying down n then fall off. you need to lead the turn with your head. aim at the bit of the lip you want to hit then as you initiate the turn you should start the rotation with your head then shoulders then hips. All the while pivoting round the tail of the board.

[kehaulani]

Right on man, I am going to give this a shot. I know before I done the head, arms, hips thing before but it just seemed like a weak turn. I ended back back on the board but I was like why didn't I throw some buckets? But now I really get the bigger picture. I THINK.

[themathteacher]

Might be the size of the board compared to your weight. I have several boards, including 3 shortboards. The biggest one, that I use when I feel lazy and on mushy days, is 6'8, and that one has on occassion stalled while doing a cutback, just because I can't whip it around like I can my 6'2. I'm 200lbs, so for a similar comparsion if you are 160lbs then a 6'3 would be harder to whip around than a 5'10. Hope that explains it a bit.

[kehaulani]

Yeah, I looked into that as well, I am 5'7 140 and I usually ride my 5'9 on small crappy surf. I save my 6'1 for when it gets chest to head on ocassion. I can "whip" my 5'9 but I think it's all in the technique of myself rather than my gear.