Beginners can learn how to carve on a surfboard while riding foam waves. In Oceanside Surf Lessons I start students on the beginning move. From foam the same move can be taken to real waves.
Beginning Carves
While riding balanced toward the beach on a soft top board and foam wave, the surfer rotates his upper torso beginning with the eyes in the direction he wants to turn. The eyes shoulders and arms move together. If regular footed and carving right, he puts a little pressure on this toes.
If the surfer is regular footed (left foot in front) and wants to carve left (backside) he rotates his upper torso to the left and places pressure on his heels. Care is required to do it gently because of the slow speed and big rails the rails will catch an edge.
Advanced Carves
Once progressing to real waves, the first carve off a face is the bottom turn. The same motion used above is used to get into the pocket. An additional maneuver for short board is added called acceleration.
Accelerating is for speed and make carves easier. The surfer pushes the nose of the board up and down the pocket with his front foot. Usually two or three before a maneuver.
Ripping the Lip
Ripping the lip begins with a bottom turn at the bottom of the wave and then at the top a total reversal. At the top of the wave, the surfer is looking back toward the bottom. The surfer could also use this carve to go over the back in case the wave was closing out.
This reversal while running down the pocket would be a cut back where you change directions. The surfer rotates his body toward the beach and places pressure on the rails on the beach side and reverses direction. Cut backs are used to get back to the power of the wave and for style.
These are beginning carves but seen in all competitions.
For Oceanside Surf Lessons, see the Home Page
For Surfing Carves video