Surf 101: How to Tail Slide
Learning how to tail slide will earn you some serious respect in the water. It'sa flashy, progressive, and fun manoeuvre that adds a ton of flair to yoursurfing, and here we will provide you with tips and advice on how to get itdone.
What is a Tail Slide?
A tail slide surfing is essentially an extension of a carve/top turn. As thesurfer attacks the top of the lip, they will continue the execution of the turnuntil the fins free themselves from the wave, the tail of their surfboardsliding around, up to 180 degrees, as it glides down the face. The surfer willthen pivot on their tail, transitioning their surfboard back in the givendirection to continue the ride.
Step by Step: How to Tail Slide
A tail slide is a turn reserved for intermediate to advanced surfers. If you canconsistently hit the lip and are comfortable with top turns, carves, and snaps,then this is the ideal manoeuvre to begin working towards next. Here's a step bystep rundown on how to tail slide while surfing:
- Know the Section
Tail slides are aggressive manoeuvres, and with this, they require ahigh-performance shortboard and the right wave/section. Generally, tail slidesare best performed on slightly larger, steeper waves. Think at least chest highand a semi-crumbly to steep section. Mushy waves make it far more difficult topush the tail around, as the wave's power helps to propel the fins out of theface.
When riding down the line, eyeball an open section ahead of you with asoon-to-break lip, and prepare to initiate your attack. A tail slide may beperformed just before the lip breaks or on a small portion of foam just afterthe initial break.
- Gain Speed
In an effort to ensure you have the power needed to fully slide the tail, you'llneed plenty of speed. As the ideal section ahead begins to appear, do your bestto get a few final pumps in. Before setting up your bottom turn on your finalpump, trim from the top of the wave towards the bottom, placing more weight onyour front foot to give your board a final speed boost.
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- A Deep, Steep Bottom Turn
Learning how to tail slide will require a solid, aggressive, and deep bottomturn to direct your board vertically towards the top of the lip with plenty ofspeed. As you reach the trough, really dig into that inside rail while keepingyour eyes targeted on the lip. Compress your body, keeping it compact with kneesbent as you begin the transition from the bottom towards the top. Angle yourboard at least 75 degrees (up to 90 degrees) as you come out of the trough.
For advice on a solid bottom turn, check out our guide on “
- Initiate your Top Turn
As you ride towards the top of the wave, keep your weight on your toeside railfor a front-side tail slide and heelside rail for a back-side tail slide. Beginto transition this weight onto the opposite rail to initiate the top turn oncepast the halfway mark of the face.
Lean into the tail of your board as you twist your body aggressively into yourturn. Direct and lead this top turn with your front shoulder, twisting your headso that your eyes are looking towards the direction of your turn while wrappingyour back arm around. Do this quickly and powerfully with the intention of fullyexecuting the turn on the top of the lip, engaging in the turn when the nose ofyour board reaches past the lip.
Take this standard top turn and exaggerate its movement so that you may continuethis turning motion as your fins begin to briefly exit the water.
- Continue Your Top Turn into a Tail Slide
Upon engaging your rotation at the top of the lip, you need to continue thistwisting motion further to free the fins so they may slide into your tail slide.Keep some pressure on your tail, and extend your back leg as you work towardspushing the tail around while your chest opens. Again, use your body to controlthis movement, and don't let your board get away from you. Go from a heavy backfoot to a light one once the board has switched direction to avoid spinning intoa full rotation and catching a rail.
Once you've slid around, your back leg should remain extended as your foot restson the traction pad with your front leg centred and bent.
Once here, begin to look down the wave face to eye your transition back onto aforward direction with your surfboard.
- Transition Back Onto the Open Face
The completion of your turn is the keystone element in learning how to tailslide. Drop that back shoulder, so it sits above your back leg, and stay low asyour fins slide freely. Your goal here is to now follow your board's nose withyour front shoulder as your fins catch the water to pivot your board backaround.
As you press your back foot onto the tail pad to engage your fins, be ready tonow twist your body back around with your surfboard. You'll feel the finsengaging at the tail of your board, and allow them and the power of the wave tospin you back around. Eye your target and move your front shoulder/head with thenose of the board, keeping your weight centred along the stringer during thispivot.
When the board has fully come around, begin pumping down the line to avoid thewhitewash and to set yourself up for the following section.
How to Tail Slide: The Summary
Do know that a tail slide isn't easy, and it will take some time truly masteringthis rad and stylish manoeuvre. Don't let yourself become frustrated at anyfailures, and instead, try your best to learn from your mistakes. If you havetrouble bringing the board around to free the fins, be more aggressive with thatback foot and your body rotation while attempting to execute this turn in onefluid motion, and make sure you initiate this turn on the top of the lip.
This, and if you're used to riding larger fins, utilising smaller fins may helppromote a looser feel to your board that helps you whip it around.
Steeper waves will make this turn easier once you've got it down, but for thesake of practice, you can also attempt to subtly slide the fins on a softershoulder with more of an extended carve versus an aggressive top turn.
The key is to remain above your board as soon as you rotate past the initialturn and to both lead the motion with your body while also learning to let theboard do some of the work, following it back around without leaning too far intoone rail.
Have fun with it, and remember to always keep the stoke alive. Reach out to usif you have any questions about a tail slide, another manoeuvre, or anythingsurfboard-related. We're always here to help.