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TRIM TURN
this is especially effective with flatwater boards . This only needs to be six inches or so , and you will find a sweet spot for your board where it almost starts to skim over the bumps rather than bash into them . As the bumps get bigger , standing a little further back still or even adopting a split stance with one foot slightly further back than the other will help you trim the board as it moves up and down .
Catching waves or bumps downwind Once you ’ re comfortable in chop , catching bumps becomes a breeze . As you can see , you stand a little further back initially to stop the board ’ s nose catching , and this works especially well when the bumps or waves are steep . If they are flatter and you want to catch them sooner , then you can move forwards slightly using the split stance , perhaps even opening it up a little , allowing you to push the board down into the bump or wave .
Buoy turns If you have ever tried doing a step back turn and found them wobbly , a simple trick with trimming the board could be all you need . All too often , you ’ re told to adopt a full surf stance to do a step back turn where each foot is placed right down the board ’ s centreline . Whilst this makes moving back and forwards easy when you try to turn , your weight will typically be either on one side or the other , with the result usually being a big wobble or even a swim .
Instead , just before you make your turn , place your feet slightly wider off the centreline , with your front foot being towards its heel and the back towards its toes . This way , you spread your weight to both sides of the board , allowing you to trim and control its balance .
Steering your board Whilst you might be familiar with foot steering to help you turn your board without moving back on your board , the same techniques can be used to control your board when coming into a pontoon or avoiding objects . Using the paddle and adding pressure to one foot or the other will tilt the board to that side , making it turn that way . It ’ s an effective way to bring your board to a controlled stop and works a treat when doing cross-bow turns around buoys .
How to practice your trimming techniques The best way to learn about trimming is to head out on your board and play . Move your feet about , change what you ’ re doing with the paddle and see what happens . If you want to try something specific like moving on your board , practice the routine on land first so when you get out on the water , it ’ s already familiar .
Another great way is to jump out on the biggest board you can find . Using an oversized board should give you loads of confidence to try new skills out , and anything you learn on this big board will translate to your regular board .
Finally , don ’ t forget the power of vision . If you spend time watching good paddlers across various disciplines , you will see similar techniques in use . If you ’ re watching videos online , try muting the audio and focus on all the small details , where the paddler is placing their feet , what the paddle is doing , what ’ s their body position and so on . An even bigger insight can be gained by watching videos beck in slow motion of yourself and good paddlers doing similar skills .
Trimming your board – a vital and very underrated skill