How to turn around on a surfboard: Sit and spin

Surfing for beginner's guide
Lesson 21
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Introduction

When you sit on your surfboard in the lineup, you need to be facing the incoming waves to be aware of when good and rideable waves are coming as well as when waves are coming that you need to handle to avoid them breaking on top of you. That means you are not positioned in the right direction when a good and rideable wave comes to be able to catch it and ride it. 

What you must do is to quickly turn around so that you are instead facing the shore and thereby can catch the wave. That’s exactly what I’ll go through in this lesson- how to turn around on a surfboard by quickly doing the sit and spin technique (aka swivel technique). In essence, what you need to do is simple: Sit far back on the board, put your hand a bit further up on the rail and paddle with your other hand in the water- this should have your board rotating in no time.

Sit and spin on surfboard
When you sit in the lineup waiting for waves you need to be able to quickly turn your surfboard around when a good an rideable wave appears that you want to ride

How to turn around on a surfboard: sit and spin

For me personally, turning the surfboard to the left comes most naturally since I am right-handed; the reason being that the right hand is used to paddle in the water when turning the surfboard using the sit and spin (aka swivel) technique. Therefore, I almost always turn left unless a right-turn will be shorter and quicker depending on how I am positioned and/or how the wave will break.

If you like me are right-handed, then learning how to turn around on a surfboard to the left might come most naturally to you as well- but of course this comes down to personal preference.

How to turn around on a surfboard to the left

Step 1: Sit far back on the board and let the tip rise out of the water

Glide back and sit quite far back on the board, so that the tip rises out of the water. The further back you have your weight on the board, the quicker you will be able to turn it around.

Step 2: Put your left hand on the board's rail and paddle with your right hand

Put your left hand a bit further up on the board, grabbing the rail. Then paddle with your right hand, and drag the board a bit with your left hand. This movement should now have started the rotation of the board to the left.

Step 3: Keep your legs and feet moving in the water

If you’re new to surfing, it might be a bit tricky to stay balanced at the start. You can keep your legs and feet moving a bit in the water as if you were swimming, to keep your balance.

How to turn around on a surfboard to the right

Step 1: Sit far back on the board and let the tip rise out of the water

Glide back and sit quite far back on the board, so that the tip rises out of the water. The further back you have your weight on the board, the quicker you will be able to turn it around.

Step 2: Put your right hand on the board's rail and paddle with your left hand

Put your right hand a bit further up on the board, grabbing the rail. Then paddle with your left hand, and drag the board a bit with your right hand. This movement should now have started the rotation of the board to the right.

Step 3: Keep your legs and feet moving in the water

If you’re new to surfing, it might be a bit tricky to stay balanced at the start. You can keep your legs and feet moving a bit in the water as if you were swimming, to keep your balance.

Surf girl turning a surfboard around
Quickly turn your surfboard around by sitting far back on the board, put your hand quite far up on the rail and paddle with your other hand in the water

Lesson quiz: test your knowledge

1. 
What technique is used to quickly turn a surfboard when a rideable wave approaches?

2. 
How should you position yourself on the surfboard to initiate the turn using the sit and spin (swivel) technique?

3. 
If you want to rotate to the right using the sit and spin (swivel) technique, which hand should you use to paddle?

Comments

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this post! Whether you have suggestions for improvement, want to share what you liked, or have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below. Your feedback helps me create better content for all aspiring surfers!

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