How do you hit the lip?

Question

It seems once I do my bottom turn and try to hit the lip; I either fall on my back, or eat S**t on my board.

Answer 1

Your bottom turn is essential as it sets you up for the rest of the wave. It must be smooth!

Can you trim? Because if you can't trim there isn't much reason for you to try and hit the lip.

If you can trim; build up some speed and when you reach the bottom of the wave pull back whichever shoulder is facing the wave, focusing you weight on your rear foot. Microseconds before you hit the lip and wish to turn back down the face, swing you shoulders back around to face whichever direction you want to go and switch you weight to your front foot.

Don't be overly aggressive with you manoeuvres as you'll kill your momentum or worse dig in a rail (sounds like you're doing that now). Try to flow with the wave, and at first simply try to be in the right position to perform the trick!

Good luck and keep practising.

Answer 2

the other people have already pretty much explained it but I'll give you one or two more tips make sure you have generated enough speed and wait a second before you pop up when taking off it gives you more control(but don't wait to long) also kinda crouch also remember shift you're shoulders in the direction you want to go.

Answer 3

you could be falling on your back because you arent finishing your turn of the lip. the more TURNS you do off the top/lip section, the more comfortable you will be with the continuous flow of hitting a lip. hitting the lip doesnt just "happen"--you have to "do" it.

if you're eating c**p on your board (i'd assume its getting jammed into you), you're hitting too late---no need to tell you whats happening there.

hmmmm is right, that bottom turn is the whole set up for hitting the lip.  

Answer 4

Hmmm is on the right track with his advice, but he makes it sound WAYYY more complicated then it really is. There are THREE things in surfing that are essential to understand, accept, and master. If you resist these three surfing lifelines, you are only wasting your time and will NEVER reach your untapped surfing ability. That I can promise you. Speed, weight distribution, and timing. These are inarguable and universal. Properly apply these when you are hitting the lip. Speed. You are going to generate ALL of your speed at the point of take off. The more speed you can generate from the take off point, the more momentum you will have to pull off moves at the end of your wave. Weight distribution. Crutial when hitting the lip. And timing that weight distribution is equally as important when hitting the lip. Teaching someone how to hit the lip is tricky. It's one of those things where you just kinda gotta do it. I know that doesn't sound all that helpful, but that's pretty much how we've all learned to hit the lip. Besides applying the three points I mentioned above, remember this. A lot of times when hitting the lip, it's almost uncalculated. You know, more of a bit of reaction then totally planned. Yes, you need to first invision and put yourself in position to hit the lip, but don't force it. As you practice more and more, you'll start to FEEL the wave more. Let it help you with your re-entry. It's kinda like hitting a baseball, you can really only hit what the pitcher throws you. Practice, practice, practice brah! You apply this advice, and I promise you eventually the door will open, and it'll click! I hope this helps a little. Good luck, and if you need anymore surfing help, please feel free to email me. Mahalo!