The bottom turn is an essential maneuver in modern bodyboarding. It's the move that opens the door to the wave's critical section.
You've paddled hard, taken off on a good-looking wave, and eyed a long and steep shoulder. Perfect.
There's a new world waiting for your rollos, cutbacks, 360s, and airs. But how can you transform drop speed into down-the-line speed?
An effective bottom turn is the answer to almost everything.
However, unlike in surfing, where you must fly down the wave straight and then turn aggressively and 90 degrees towards the surf line, bodyboarders should do it using a slightly different technique.
Learning how to perform a good bottom turn might seem pointless, but details matter, and they will play a critical role in waves of consequence, i.e., fast, hollow, and larger waves.
Bottom Turn 101
So, make sure to tick all the following boxes:
- Paddle for a wave and take off early;
- Move forward into the trim position;
- Ride down the wave at an angle of 45 degrees;
- Don't let your shoulder or elbow touch the water;
- Lean your shoulder over towards the face of the wave when you reach the bottom half of it;
- Use your outside hand to push the board into the wave;
- The board's inside rail will slice the water like a blade;
- Arch your back and gain speed;
- Draw an optimal surf line;
- Set up the next maneuver;
A common mistake is going too far into the flats before and after a bottom turn. In both cases, you'll lose the wave and its energy.
In a perfect bottom turn, you will see the bodyboarder performing a natural smooth curved line across the wave without losing speed.