The surfing cut back is performed to catch the power of the wave and for style.
The Surfing Cut Back on Real Waves
The surfing cutback
When I teach new Students to Surf in Oceanside Lessons USA, our first goal is going straight to the beach on foam waves. Once you start riding real waves, you want to stay in the pocket as long as possible or catch many sections.
The first goal on real waves is to get into the pocket and accelerate for speed. Accelerating is moving your front foot on the nose up and down the board; easier on a short board than long board. Accelerating increases speed for tricks and maneuvers.
But, then sometimes the wave runs out of power in the pocket and you have to return to the lip where the foam first forms on the wave to find more power. The cut back is reversing direction. You place a little pressure on your toes or heels in the direction of the reverse and rotate the upper body beginning with the eyes and head toward the reverse direction. Speed helps smoothness.
Once you are back to the lip, you can cut back again or perhaps pump toward shore to get the wave again when it reforms. While riding the pocket, professionals often want to do a short term cut back just for style. You rip the lip, then you cut back half a turn and then resume to ride the pocket. It gives style to a routine.
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