Ollie: Launch Off the Wave with Style
The ollie stands as one of the most fundamental tricks borrowed from skateboarding, and it translates seamlessly into wakesurfing, allowing surfers to pop off the water with flair. To perform an ollie, shift your weight towards the tail of your board, then quickly snap the tail downward with your back foot while simultaneously pressing your front foot forward. This coordinated movement propels your board upward and slightly off the wave’s surface. The key to mastering the ollie lies in precise timing and controlled weight transfer, enabling you to catch a brief moment of air and land smoothly back on the wave. Incorporating ollies into your repertoire opens doors to more complex aerial tricks, making your wakesurf sessions more dynamic and exciting. It’s an accessible trick for intermediate surfers willing to practice consistency and control.
Shuvit: Spinning Under Your Feet
The shuvit is a classic skateboarding maneuver that involves spinning the board 180 degrees beneath your feet without rotating your body. In wakesurfing, this trick requires you to slightly lift the nose of your board to create space for the spin, then use your hips and legs to initiate a smooth 180-degree rotation while keeping your upper body relatively stable. The trick demands good timing, light footwork, and solid control to land cleanly and maintain your balance afterward. As an intermediate-level move, the shuvit enhances your ability to execute quick directional changes on the wave, adding style and versatility to your riding. With consistent practice, you’ll develop the finesse needed to perform shuvits confidently and effortlessly.
180 Spin: Halfway to Flawless Rotation
The 180 spin is an essential intermediate trick borrowed directly from skateboarding, involving a 180-degree rotation of your body and board, either frontside or backside. The trick focuses on maintaining balance and generating enough momentum to complete the half turn smoothly. During the spin, shift your weight and pivot your hips to facilitate the rotation, ensuring your eyes stay focused on your landing spot to keep control. The 180 spin is an excellent stepping stone for those progressing towards more advanced tricks like the 360, as it helps build core rotational skills and confidence in mid-wave maneuvers. Its simplicity combined with visual impact makes it a popular and rewarding move for intermediate wakesurfers aiming to elevate their style.
360 Spin: Complete Rotation with Style
The 360 spin is a dynamic and exhilarating trick that involves a full rotation of your body and board, showcasing control and style on the wave. Initiated by a quick upper-body twist—often the head and shoulders—you guide the momentum with your legs and hips to complete a smooth 360-degree turn. Maintaining balance throughout the rotation is crucial, as is generating enough speed and using your core to stay centered. Executing a perfect 360 provides a sense of accomplishment, resembling the thrill of spinning in skateboarding but with the added challenge of staying connected to the moving wave. This trick is a staple for experienced surfers looking to impress and push their limits, emphasizing fluidity and precision.
Floater: Riding the Lip with Elegance
The floater is a stylish maneuver that involves riding along the crest or lip of the wave for a brief period before gracefully dropping back into the face. It requires excellent timing to position yourself on the steep part of the wave and maintain speed without losing balance. This trick mimics the skateboarding move where a skater rides along the edge of a ramp or bowl, translating perfectly into wakesurfing as riding along the lip. Achieving a clean floater enhances your control and adds a touch of elegance to your ride, allowing you to showcase your ability to stay on the wave’s edge while maintaining momentum and style.
Boardslide: Sliding with Panache
The boardslide is a daring trick that involves turning your wakesurf board sideways across the face of the wave, with the deck perpendicular to your direction of travel. To perform a boardslide, shift your weight onto your back foot and use your hips to pivot the board sideways, sliding across the wave’s surface. It requires precise control, balance, and intermediate to advanced skill levels, as maintaining the slide without losing grip or falling is challenging. The boardslide adds a bold visual element to your surfing, demonstrating your control and finesse as you traverse the wave’s face with style.
Air Grab: Achieving Mid-Air Style
The air grab is an impressive aerial trick inspired by skateboarding, where you launch off the wave and catch air, grabbing your board mid-flight. You can choose from various grabs, such as the “indy,” where you reach down with your back hand to grip the toe side edge of the board, or the “mute,” involving the front hand. To execute, generate enough speed and height by timing your pop off the wave’s lip, then reach down to grab your board before landing. This trick demands solid wave conditions, good jumping technique, and confidence, but it offers a spectacular visual and a boost of adrenaline. Mastering the air grab adds a new dimension to your wakesurfing skills and allows for more creative expression on the water.
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