air reverse

A good air reverse will maximise the amount of air that you can get out of a bowl as the rotation launches you up and out into orbit. It’s also a great way to snatch vital points in a heat.

The catch is, learning them isn’t easy! You need to first learn tailslides, then reverses, then standard airs, then put all those things together to nail an air reverse.

The best kind of wave to learn on is a medium-sized (no bigger than three-foot) wedge, rip bowl or any regular section that offers a consistent launch ramp. You need to practise it parrot fashion, over and over, until you get the timing right, so your local wedge will probably be the best option. Sand bottom waves are good as you will fall off (quite often backwards) while you’re learning them.
The wave must offer speed from the takeoff, and if it allows you a couple of pumps to set up your approach to the lip then that’s a bonus. The wind will preferably be blowing cross-shore or slightly onshore as this helps to keep the board stuck to your feet. It’s not a problem if the section you’re going to hit is crumbly, in fact some times that’s best, as pitching lips that throw out a long way are harder to time.

1. I’ve already gained plenty of speed, kept a high line on the wave (look at my foam trail) then angled up towards the lip so that my board is launching off it as it pitches. The timing here is really important, so as soon as you’ve taken off you should keep your eyes focussed on nothing but the oncoming lip. My back leg is slightly bent to apply pressure to the tail, while my front leg is beginning to bend, ready to unweight as I go in to the boost. I’ve lifted my arms up high quickly to create upward lift and prepare my upper torso to go into the rotation.

2. Now I’ve twisted my head and shoulders to begin the rotation. I’ve widened my stance quite considerably and my front foot has actually come away from the board, in the same way that your front foot goes forward and slightly off the deck when you ollie a skateboard. I’m throwing all my weight over my left shoulder and my left arm is leading my body through the rotation. I’m eyeing up my landing spot and beginning to twist my head through the spin.

3. My right hand has grabbed my inside rail to really pull me through the spin and hold the board under my feet. The nose of my board is pointing back in the direction that I’ve come.

4. Always try to land on the whitewater cushion after it’s broken and not in the ‘V’ as the lip hits the trough. It’s important to have your tail pointing straight towards the beach, then you are less likely to catch an edge or dig a rail. Now complete the spin on landing by keeping a wide stance and a low centre of gravity for balance. As quickly as possible, rotate your shoulders through the last degrees of the turn and use your arms and hips to keep your weight over the board.

5. Get your weight over your front foot, flatten your board out and keep your arms wide to keep your balance. Don’t fall off now – you’ve done the hard bit! Try to get out of the whitewater as quickly as possible, keep the nose of the board pointed towards the shore until you have your balance and then get your weight back on your rail edge, and, if the wave allows, carry on to the next section.

Russ’s mini-tips:
Inspiration
• Guys who do good air reverses are Reubyn Ash in the UK and Taj Burrow internationally. They both have excellent technique.

Troubleshooting
• This move won’t come quickly – you need to practise, practise, practise. Break the move down into parts and achieve it bit by bit. Get dialled into a local wave with a puntable section, and make sure that you’re there every time it breaks. In doing so you will improve lots of aspects of your surfing: fin wafts, airs, general reverses and becoming comfortable with spinning moves and riding fakie (backwards).
• It’s easier to keep your tail high and the nose pointing down than to do a flat spin. This will keep your chest facing the beach and make it more likely that you’ll make it. Plus, with the board on an angle you’ll benefit from any cross or onshore wind blowing the board against your feet, rather than blowing the board away from your feet if you are in a flat spin.
• Keep grabbing the board all the way through the turn for safety. As your confidence improves, try to let the grab go earlier and earlier until you can manage without it.
• When you land with your tail pointing towards the shore, apply just a little bit of pressure to your toes to make the fins catch and spin you out of the rotation.
See Bulletin om page 26 for details of the special coaching weekends Russ will be running this year.

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