i have a JP surf pro 8'10 @90kg, but im still crap at top turns. I can crank a bottom turn around, but in my top turn (ive been told) i kinda just stand/square up, then fire down the line again and crank another bottom turn before another lame top turn.

And If i do try and crank the top turn a bit more i often just fall to the inside . onto my back
So - what are your tips?

im not really using my paddle in the turn to pivot - is this key

Also feel (after yrs of windsurfing maybe) that im kinda missing the boom or something as my windsurfing top turns are fine.

All ideas and thoughts appreciated

Slide backfoot back just before cutback.
Most hard cutbacks are started just after 1/2 way up the face.
You bend low for balance as the top turn has little board speed compared to toe side bottom turns.
Cutbacks are easy going backside on a wave.

If you're falling off to the inside of a turn, the board isn't carrying enough inertia to complete the turn you're expecting, or you're not adding enough energy to complete the turn. Most likely, the board is stalling. The board either needs to come more up on the rail so it will turn quicker, or you need to put more energy into keeping the board moving using compression and extension of the body. When the board is starting the transition back up the wave face, you start to bend at the knees. This not only starts to "coil the spring," but un-weights the board so it doesn't slow down as much when coming to the top of the wave. About half way up, you'll start the transition to the other rail, and as it starts to come around on the top of the wave, push with the compressed legs. This imparts energy to the board (like pumping a swing), and keeps it moving. But the real trick with any turn is to be tuned into what the board is going to do, and keep your mass over the board. Keeping in mind that coming down the face into a bottom turn, the board is accelerating, and has lots of energy to carry even the straight legged through a bottom turn. But it will lose speed and energy when going back up the face. This is what makes the top turn challenging. It's either a less powerful turn, or you have to add the needed energy. Some people will use the paddle to push the board around, but paddle turns don't look (nor feel) nearly as beautiful as a rail turn However, you can also use the paddle to impart energy to a rail turn by adding forward drive, but I don't think it adds nearly as much as driving with the legs. A lot more complex than it sounds... Keeping the mass over the board is a "feel" and practice thing that can't be taught; just comes with experience. My advice would be to just get back to the top of the wave and start by trying to turn harder and harder off of the top of the wave. Then move to start turning before you get to the top of the wave, etc. Hope that helps a little? Not a good teacher or instructor, but surfed for four decades. It's all feel, so I really have to think through the mechanics when trying to explain what I think something is, and it's not always clear...even to me



edit* Of course foot placement is also really important. Especially on a SUP. When coming to the top of a wave on a bigger board (SUP), stepping back with the rear foot can also help. There's a lot of speed coming off the bottom, so my rear foot and weight is usually quite forward to keep the board from slapping. When coming into a "lean back" turn with less speed, I find that I step back and to the inside with the rear foot. Another reason these turns are so much harder to pull off cleanly than on a short board, IMO.

What is absolutely critical for all turns, but especially the top turns, cutbacks, etc... is to have your head looking where you want to go, (and put your rear foot above the fins).

BTW, this is my main problem. I can very well see that I often do not turn my head on the top turns on my vids. When I manage to remember to do it on the water the effect is quite magical, though.

And don't forget to bank...lean..the board up on it's inside rail...which stalls the board....which requires you to step BACK..and forces you to get low to bank the board while retaining balance

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northy1 said..
i have a JP surf pro 8'10 @90kg, but im still crap at top turns. I can crank a bottom turn around, but in my top turn (ive been told) i kinda just stand/square up, then fire down the line again and crank another bottom turn before another lame top turn.

And If i do try and crank the top turn a bit more i often just fall to the inside . onto my back
So - what are your tips?

im not really using my paddle in the turn to pivot - is this key

Also feel (after yrs of windsurfing maybe) that im kinda missing the boom or something as my windsurfing top turns are fine.

All ideas and thoughts appreciated

I rarely "pivot" off my paddle.... too lazy I guess
I simply take a "sweeping" stroke off the top as I snap the board off the lip.

Throw a hard bottom turn, sharply up the face
Time it so you put the bottom of the board into the lip as it throws out
Your butt should be way out off the rail.... somewhere near the same height as your board.
Let the lip slap your board toward the beach.
That is when you "sweep" off the top with your paddle and snap the board back under you.

Just happen to have some shots from todays session on my 8'11 GenRation SP 25
Snappy little board that loves stuff like this... even on weak days like today.