FOREHAND TRIMMING

There is a big difference between trimming on your forehand vs trimming on your backhand - with most people finding things a little easier riding forehand.

So let's start with the trimming on your forehand to get things started.

WHY IS TRIMMING FOREHAND EASIER?

Trimming on your forehand is made easier for a couple of reasons:

With your chest facing the wave it's easier to look where you're going.
The ability to use your toes and the balls of your feet for balance allows for greater stability and more forgiveness.

HOW TO TRIM ON YOUR FOREHAND

A lot of the work when it comes to trimming across a wave is all done in the set-up.

It comes from:

Good wave selection.
Strong paddling to catch the wave early.
A quick pop-up.

Execute these three things well, and setting your line to trim across the wave will be a breeze. However get any of the above wrong, it'll be almost impossible to achieve.

Lets break the whole process down in detail below:

Spot a wave with a nice tapered shape that's going to break down the line slowly.
Position yourself effectively so that you're able to catch the wave early, and paddle hard to catch the wave.
Once you have confirmation that you are on the wave, pop quickly to your feet. Important: You should be on your feet whilst still at the top of the wave.
As soon as you are on your feet, immediately start putting weight onto the balls of your feet and your toes. This will in-turn begin to turn the surfboard.
Keep your eyes looking to where you want your surfboard to go.
Once your line is set, maintain balance and you're away!

QUICK TIP: SET YOUR LINE EARLY!

Alright, so trimming across a wave is made so much easier when you're able to set your line early, which involves popping up quickly, and getting your line set straight away.

This is important for a few reasons:

- Getting to your feet early is the safest way to ride down a green wave (if you're riding down a wave on your belly there's a high chance you'll nosedive).

- Setting your line early cuts off the steepness of the wave in the same way that a road goes around a mountain - rather than straight up - which helps to avoid nosediving.

- Setting your line early within the curve of the wave is much easier to do than trying to set your line in the flats.

WRAPPING IT UP

Just like painting a wall is 90% preparation: removing grease, filling holes, sanding, masking taping, laying dust-sheets, cutting in, etc.

And only the final 10% is where the glory happens, and you finally get to actually paint the wall itself.

The same holds true with trimming on a wave.

90% of the work is in the set-up.

Get all of that right, and you'll be crushing it.

FOREHAND TRIMMING

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INTRODUCTION

PUSH UP & STANCE/STYLE

THE ANGLED TAKE OFF

THE SET UP

CROSS STEPPING

NOSE RIDING