Mastering Cutbacks: A Guide for Intermediate and Advanced Surfers

For surfers aiming to progress their skills, understanding and mastering manoeuvres like cutbacks is essential. Whether you are intermediate or advanced, the ultimate goal is to harness the wave’s energy and ride it to its fullest potential. Manoeuvres such as bottom turns, frontside top turns, back-hand top turns and cutbacks not only maximise wave power but are critical to the enjoyment of riding a wave.

The Difference Between Intermediate and Advanced Surfers

Advanced surfers stand in a functional stance, with their feet positioned optimally on the board. This allows for quick, efficient weight shifts between the front and back foot, as well as between the left and right rails. Such a stance enables better compression, extension, and hip movement.

Intermediate surfers, on the other hand, often struggle with turning because they are not in a functional stance. Typically their chest is facing towards the rail and not forwards. We have as a species evolved over thousands of years to move in the direction our body is facing. Not standing in a functional stance limits their flexibility and ability to shift weight effectively which means the board will not respond as required. They are also more likely to ride larger boards, as they have poor wave-catching technique and require more stability because they are not standing with their weight optimally balanced.

If you are an intermediate surfer, it is recommended to first read our blogs on how to stand in the functional stance and how to paddle like a pro which will make it easier to catch waves and do basic turns such as a cutback. We cover all of these topics in depth in our surf camp coaching program.

When to Perform a Cutback

The necessity of a cutback depends on wave conditions:

• Perfectly breaking waves: Focus on top turns and bottom turns, as a cutback is not needed. You should be aiming to ride to 12 O’clock and 6 O’clock. This is not easy, and only expert surfers achieve this, but remember they were at your level at one time and with practice and dedication, you will get better.
• Fast-breaking waves: Pump your board to outrun sections rather than executing a cutback.
• Slower-breaking sections: This is where cutbacks come into play. The time to do a cutback is when you are riding faster than the wave is breaking, and moving away from the power pocket.

A cutback is most effective when you are riding at maximum speed but find yourself outpacing the wave. A cutback is not about losing speed – it is a change in direction towards the breaking wave.

The Fundamentals of a Cutback

Performing a cutback involves:

1. Shifting weight onto the back foot for greater leverage of the board.
2. Compressing your body to maintain balance and control.
3. Rotating your hips to change direction.
4. Turning towards the breaking wave without sacrificing speed.

• On softer waves (e.g., Toro Toro), riding into the whitewater can be beneficial. It provides a unique enjoyable sensation, the board turns easily and no possibility of digging a rail.
• On more powerful waves (e.g., Uluwatu), only get in minor contact with the whitewater on the smallest waves otherwise you will lose control.

Tip: Put your back foot to the edge of the tail pad where there is a raised section to apply more leverage during the turn.

Roundhouse cutbacks

Before attempting roundhouse cutbacks, intermediate surfers should first master standard cutbacks—being able to turn back into the wave’s power source without losing speed. The key is proper weight distribution and rail engagement:

Maintain Speed: After initiating the rotation, shift your weight evenly over both feet. Avoid keeping too much weight on the back foot, as relying solely on the fins will cause you to lose speed.

Engage the Rail: A proper cutback relies on rail engagement rather than pivoting on the fins. This allows for a smoother, more controlled turn.

Transition to a Roundhouse Cutback: Once comfortable with rail engagement, extend your cutback into a full 180-degree arc, aiming to hit the whitewater with speed.

Finishing Smoothly: Stay loose, centred over your board, and allow the wave’s energy to guide your turn.

Executing the Roundhouse:

Hold your trailing arm high and look toward the whitewater to extend the arc and keep the rail engaged. Hold the rail in the water. Expert surfers will touch the water with their leading arm.

As you ride back toward the whitewater, shift your weight back to lift the nose over the foam.

Absorb the impact and let the whitewater push your board back around and toward the open face.

Backhand vs. Frontside Cutbacks

Backhand Cutbacks

Cutbacks are often easier on your backhand because your body turns to face the wave. Using your trailing hand as a pivot point helps maintain balance and control. This manoeuvre aligns well with the natural bending of your knees, allowing for precise pressure application to the inside rail.

Frontside Cutbacks

Frontside cutbacks are more challenging due to the body’s biomechanics. If you are not flexible enough to pivot around your leading arm, simply use your leading arm to point where you want to go. Point your leading arm towards the whitewater and your body and surfboard will follow. While flexibility and core strength (enhanced by practices like yoga) can improve this manoeuvre using your leading arm as the pivot, for everyone below expert/pro surfer the leading arm is used to point and aim where to go.

Maintaining Speed

The key to a successful cutback is preserving speed. It is not about slowing down; it is about redirecting momentum. Remember, the only time to reduce speed intentionally is when positioning for a barrel or avoiding obstacles like other surfers.

Adapting to Each Wave

No two waves are the same, and your approach to a cutback should reflect the wave’s unique characteristics. Factors to consider include:

• Wave speed and power: Adjust the timing and power of your turn accordingly.
• Proximity to the whitewater: On slower waves, engage the whitewater more directly. On faster waves, maintain a controlled distance.

With consistent practice, you will develop an instinct for when and how to execute cutbacks effectively.

Common mistakes when performing a cutback

If you find your cutback is not smooth and fluid, try working on these 3 common mistakes:

• Foot positioning: Not moving the back foot far enough to the edge of the tail pad.
• Knees: Not bending low enough
• Look and point: Not looking and pointing at where you want to go

Taking Your Surfing to the Next Level

Cutbacks are more than just a manoeuvre—they are a way to enhance your connection with the wave. By refining your technique and building a strong foundation of balance, timing, and control, you will unlock new levels of surfing performance.

Commit to practice, and enjoy the journey of making every wave your canvas.

If you are an intermediate or advanced surfer, and you want to improve your cutbacks, we invite you to join our surf school at Uluwatu’s top surf camp where we will also teach you how to paddle the surfboard, how to stand on the board correctly, and how to steer and turn the surfboard.

Check out our surf tutorials for intermediate and advanced surfers.