| The Layback Snap // Technique 16 September 2009 By: Andrew Cassidy Location: Gold Coast 01 - Flat This turn is ultimately a cutback so you first need to get yourself out onto the face and parallel to the wave. If you hit the lip too vertically or too close to the pocket, you won't have enough room to lay back on the face. Notice Billy's bottom turn wasn't too critical which has set him up to be near the top of the wave but away from the pocket. He has kept his board fairly horizontal, not vertical.  02 - Speed You need to be going pretty fast to make this turn look good. You can do slower ones but you often end up sitting on your board instead of laying back on the paddle. The speed creates momentum and g-force through the turn which bolts your feet to the board and allows your paddle to hold you up out of the water. Billy's got heaps of speed here - check out the wash from his board.  03 - Rail This manoeuvre can be performed flat off the fins (which may or may not release) but if the wave has enough power it's always better to bury the rail at this point and throw a bit of spray. Billy is really utilising his rail in this shot to drive his board around which will allow him to maintain his speed as he starts to lay back. Note how Billy is focussing on where he wants to be heading.  04 - Paddle Billy's paddle is deep in the top of the wave. This has helped him get to this point by steering his board around like a rudder. You need to really pull on the paddle with your bottom hand and direct it into the correct position with your top hand. The paddle blade should now be behind you, ready to take your full weight. Billy is still in the upright position as he is focussing on maintaining speed.  05 - Lean This is where you start laying back. Compress your legs and drop your butt. The resistance of the paddle through the water will be strong enough to hold you up. Your whole upper body should be starting to tense up and be locked in position around the paddle. Billy is still bringing the board around with his legs but his torso is focussing on keeping that paddle deep in the water.  06 - Abs Billy has brought his board right around now and it's pointing in the opposite direction to the first shot. At this point, you'll want to have good abs and shoulder muscles. It's a bit like doing a backwards, contorted push-up as the board starts to slow down. The board can be much less on a rail now and you may even want to think about drifting the tail a bit by pushing out with your back foot.  07 - Lay This is where Billy really starts to lay it down. With his bottom hand extended out behind him, he is now able to get even lower to the water. It's easy to damage your shoulder muscles at this point. His legs are fully compressed and he is just starting to reel his body back in, over the top of his board. Make sure you don't scrape your fins over an unsuspecting shortboarder's back.  08 - Forward drive Push yourself back up with the paddle while you bring the board under your centre of gravity. If you are close enough to it, use the whitewater to help turn your board back around and then lean forward to stay with the wave. It's common to not get back up quickly enough or not swing the board around enough at the end and the wave just passes you by. Billy rides out of this one perfectly.  | |
