360?

[Matt Garcia]

Anyone know how to do a 360? I can get the full rotation but cant seem to keep up with the wave. I am on a Liquid Force Skim Skate 54 so breaking loose is not a problem.

If anyone has any tips please share.

Thanks

[David]

I haven't completed one either (not even close, especially on my Landlock) but It looks like when people do it that they start in front of the curl and on the downside of it and by the time they get around they are at the back, top of the curl, just enough to glide back down. I'm not to sure of 360s on a surf but I would think that if you can get around fine and all then just start it a little bit close to the boat or maybe just whipping it around and spinning faster would do it.?

[Surfdad]

I know this is a really old thread, but just in case anyone is still trying to land a 3. This sequence is on a more surfstyle board, the fins are 3.5" a more skimstyle board is easy to do the rotations on.

The first step is to bury the rail and start a cut up into the wake. Notice the board is above the transition on the face of the wake. Notice the position of the nose of the board relative to the spine, you'll want to try and place the cutting edge ontop of the spine. Also notice that James is dragging his trailing hand to aid the rotation.

[Surfdad]

The second part is to break the fins loose. If you find that you are consistently going out the back, this is no doubt your problem. What it should feel like, is the board basically spinning in place, not carving a large circle. It's a little hard to see, but in this picture James has shifted his weight forward to get the fins to break loose.

[Surfdad]

The last thing to watch for is burying the nose upon re-entry. You'll want to try and shift your weight back, just a little, or alternatively to start a pump just before the nose burys into the flats. Throwing the pump also will give you some additional speed to stay in the pocket. If you properly broke the fins loose, the board should almost slide down and then catch the fins, just about where you started from. Hope that helps.

[NICKYPOO]

That dude is a ripper! Nice photos.

[Surfdad]

Thanks NICKY that's my son James, he just turned 14. I wish I could ride like that!

[NICKYPOO]

14! He's making us old guys look bad. What kind of board is riding? Why the surf style?

[Surfdad]

I think after 16, it's all downhill. The board that James is riding is produced by Mike Walker (no relation) out of San Diego. His web site and also a pic of James from...2 years ago, I think:

http://www.thewalkerproject.com/wakesurf/

The board is very short, 4'6", so not much different than a skim style. James and I created the original shape in the garage and then asked Mike to do a professional version of it. The surf style boards are much more stable and, IMHO, easier to learn on. In typical teenage behavior, James wants to be Kelly Slater. So he works on those tricks. He's working on a pop shuvit and does this wild 180 over the spine into the flats. I think one day he will be able to do a backroll, back into the transition.

So...his tricks are different than with a skimboard. He concentrates on things that require drive and like all kids his age, he LOVES catching air.

[NICKYPOO]

Those are some nice lookin' sticks. That is awsome your boy is on the team. You must be pretty proud. Is that a picture of you on the web site?

[Surfdad]

I am indeed proud of my son, in fact some folks say that it shows! I had to go look at Mike's website. No, that isn't me, that's James BEFORE he turned into a teenager. He used to get his hair cut back in the day.