Don't let the whitewash ruin your day. Get out the back quicker, catch more waves and have fun surfing thanks to a little technique called the "turtle roll".
As a beginner surfer, getting out the back and into the takeoff zone can be difficult with a bigger board.
With waves constantly breaking and pushing you towards the shore, it probably feels like Mother Nature isn't playing fair.
More advanced shortboarders can duck dive oncoming waves, but this isn't possible with a beginner's longboard or a soft-top.
Enter the turtle roll.
What is a turtle roll?
The turtle roll is a technique that longboarders and beginner surfers use to break through an oncoming wall of whitewash and reach the lineup.
We'll dive into the steps surrounding how to turtle roll below, but it's essentially the act of pushing your board underwater then rolling both yourself and the board over.
The turtle roll is the longboard or soft-top equivalent of the duck dive in the sense that the wave passes over both you and the board. You can then hop back on and continue paddling out the back.
Why is learning to turtle roll important?
Learning how to turtle roll is important because it'll help you get out the back faster.
Due to the buoyant nature of larger boards, it's also the safest and most effective way to get past the impact zone without ditching your board, which is a surf etiquette no-no.
If you want to take your surfing skills to the next level, learning how to turtle roll is essential.
Without the proper turtle roll technique, you'll find it hard to navigate most beachbreaks. The fact it gets you out the back faster also means you can catch more waves and have more fun surfing.
When should I turtle roll?
The turtle roll technique can be used in any situation in which you need to get past breaking waves in order to reach the lineup. As such, you should use it when an oncoming wave has broken in front of you.
One instance in which you shouldn't be turtle rolling is when the water is too shallow (waist level or lower). If you're in waters of this depth, you should still be able to walk your board and jump over oncoming waves.
Is there a difference between a turtle and eskimo roll?
No, there's no difference between a turtle and eskimo roll.
The only point of contrast is the name. You'll hear both terms used interchangeably during your learn to surf journey. It really comes down to a matter of personal preference.
8 steps to perform the perfect turtle roll
A quick search on Google will reveal heaps of articles on how to turtle roll. At the end of the day though, the turtle roll technique that we've outlined below is one that's been refined over literally thousands of lessons.
If you'd rather learn how to turtle roll firsthand, we suggest booking a lesson with our friendly and professional surf coaches. However, the following 8 steps will still help by providing clarity as to what's involved when turtle rolling.
Paddle hard towards an oncoming wave, making sure that you're facing it dead-on and that you're taking strong but controlled strokes
As the wave draws near (about 2-3 metres away), grab the rails at about chest to shoulder height and take a deep breath
Continue to grip the rails firmly and with elbows bent, roll yourself off the board and flip it upside down in one motion. This movement, when performed correctly, will result in you being completely underwater and the board upside down with you facing the deck
Pull your body close to the board whilst keeping your arms bent. This will ensure that the board isn't ripped from your hands by the wave
There will be turbulence as the wave passes over you. Once the turbulence subsides, you'll need to begin the process of righting yourself and the board so that you can continue paddling
To do this, straighten one arm, kick your legs and climb back onto the board right side up
Make the necessary adjustments so that you're ready to keep paddling towards the lineup. Note that this won't feel all that fluid the first few times you do it, but it'll get easier
Paddle towards the next wave and repeat if the wave has already broken
Common turtle roll mistakes
You're not facing the wave dead-on as it comes towards you: If you're side on when the wave hits you, the board will be ripped from your hands. Always remember to face the wave dead on.
You don't take a deep enough breath: Take a shallow breath and you'll be forced to roll back over too soon, which will result in both you and the board being cleaned up by the wave.
Remember to take gentle breaths as you paddle out the back and a big gulp of air just before you go under.
You flip too early or too late: Flip too early and you'll be required to wait an age until the wave finally passes over you.
Flip too late and you'll feel like you've been given the washing machine treatment. The perfect time to flip is about 2 metres before the wave hits.
You straighten your arms while underwater: Minimising the distance between your body and the board is key to ensuring that the board isn't taken from your hands as the wave arrives.
To do this, you'll need to pull the board close to your body while keeping your arms bent. Straightening your arms with a wave breaking over you makes it easier to lose your board in the turbulence.
You try to duck dive instead of rolling: Trying to duck dive a longboard or a soft-top is virtually impossible for beginners. This means that when there's a wave coming your way, you need to employ the turtle or eskimo roll technique.
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