Advanced Wakesurfing Tricks
You've put in the work, you're comfortable behind the boat, and now you're ready to add some serious flair to your sessions. These advanced tricks are where wakesurfing gets really fun—spinning in the air, sliding sideways on the lip, and pulling off moves that'll have everyone on the boat losing their minds.
Fair warning: these tricks aren't going to come easy. You'll eat it. Probably a lot. But that's all part of the game, and honestly, some of the best stories come from the wipeouts. So get ready to push your limits, spend some quality time in the water, and come out the other side with a whole new bag of tricks that'll take your riding to the next level.
How to Ollie in the Flats
The ollie in the flats is super important—it's the basic movement you need to master before you can start doing airs. Think of it as your foundation for getting airborne. Once you've got this dialed in, bigger airs and more advanced aerial tricks become possible.
Why Start in the Flats:
Learning to ollie in the flat water beside the wake lets you focus purely on the mechanics without worrying about the wave's movement. It's a controlled environment where you can practice the motion repeatedly until it becomes second nature.
Start With the Rope:
In the beginning, keep the rope and go outside of the wake on the side with tension in the rope. This gives you stability as you practice those little jumps and build confidence with the ollie motion.
The Skateboard Connection:
The ollie is the same movement you'd do on a skateboard. If you've ever skateboarded, this will feel familiar. If not, don't worry—the concept is simple once you break it down.
The Ollie Technique:
Start with your weight on your front foot. This loads the front of the board and prepares you for the pop.
Transfer your weight to your back foot while pushing down hard. This is the "pop"—you're compressing the tail of the board into the water.
As you push down with your back foot, lift up your front foot. This brings the nose of the board up.
Immediately lift your back foot and bring your knees as high as you can. The higher you bring your knees, the higher your board will come off the water. Think of it as sucking your legs up toward your chest.
The Landing:
Land with both feet at the same time on the water. Keep your knees bent to absorb the impact and maintain balance. A simultaneous two-foot landing keeps you stable and in control.
Progress to the Wave:
Once you're able to do it with the rope consistently, it's time to take it to the wave. Go to the bottom of the wave and start doing some little ollies—those small pops in the flats. Practice this until the movement feels natural and effortless.
Building Your Skills:
The ollie in the flats might seem basic, but it's essential. Every air, every aerial trick, every bit of amplitude you get off the wake starts with this fundamental movement. Master it now, and you'll thank yourself later when you're boosting huge airs.
Mastering Airs: How to Launch Off the Wake
Generate Serious Speed:
Airs require momentum, so drop all the way to the back of the wave and start pumping hard. You need to build maximum speed before your approach. Don't be timid here—speed is what launches you, so commit to generating as much power as possible.
Pop Off the Lip:
Here's where the ollie technique you practiced in the flats pays off. When you hit the lip of the wave, drive down hard with your back foot while lifting your front foot. This explosive pop is what launches the board (and you) into the air. The motion should feel quick and powerful.
Airborne Adjustments:
Once you leave the water, push down slightly with your front foot while lifting your back foot. This levels out the board beneath you and keeps you stable in the air. Once you feel comfortable, you can rotate your shoulder slightly toward the boat to angle the board for style, but keep your movements controlled and compact.
Coming Back Down:
As gravity brings you back to the wave, bend your knees and prepare to absorb the impact. Flex through your legs as you land. This absorption is critical for maintaining balance and riding away clean instead of crashing.
What Kills Your Air:
Insufficient speed on the approach
Hesitating instead of committing to the pop
Failing to level the board while airborne
Landing with straight, locked legs instead of bent knees, ready to absorb
Leaning back too far on landing and sliding off the back of the wave
Level Up:
Once you're consistently getting air and landing clean, the real fun begins. You can start incorporating grabs, adding rotations, tweaking your body position for style, and making each air uniquely yours. But first, nail the fundamentals. Get that clean launch and smooth landing dialed in, and everything else will follow.
How to do a 180 (Surf Style Board)
The 180 is your gateway to rotational tricks in wakesurfing and often the first spinning trick most riders learn. If you're wondering how to do a 180 wakesurfing, you're in the right place. This wakesurfing 180 tutorial will help you master this essential rotation technique that opens the door to more advanced spins.
Start With the Rope on Top of the Wave:
When learning your first 180, start with the rope at the top of the wave. This gives you stability and confidence as you learn the motion. Position yourself near the crest of the wake where you have the most control.
Push, Don't Kick:
Here's the key wakesurfing rotation technique that most people miss—you want to push your board around through the rotation, not kick it. If you kick the board, you'll get stuck at the halfway point with your board sideways and nowhere to go. Think of it as a smooth, controlled push with your feet guiding the board through the full 180 degrees.
Adding a Little Pop:
Once you're comfortable with the basic motion, you can add a small pop to your 180. This lifts the board slightly off the water and makes the rotation smoother and more stylish—a key element in beginner wakesurfing spins that adds flair to your riding.
The Secret: Rotate Early at the Bottom:
Watch your body positioning—even at the bottom of the wave, you should already be rotating your front shoulder away from the wave so your hips can follow. This early rotation is crucial for clean 180 rotation tips. Don't wait until you're at the top to start turning; the movement begins down low and continues through to completion.
Practice Riding Switch:
Work on keeping control of your board backwards (in switch stance) at the bottom of the wave. Get comfortable with switch riding in this opposite-foot-forward position. The more time you spend riding switch, the easier your 180s and other wakesurfing tricks will become.
Drop the Rope:
When you're feeling confident with all of the above, it's time to try it without the rope. The mechanics are exactly the same—push the board around, rotate early with your shoulders, and commit to the full rotation. This is when you truly learn wakesurfing tricks at an advanced level.
How to Do a Drifter 180 (Skim Style Board)
The Drifter 180, also known as a slower frontside 180, is a stylish variation that emphasizes control and flow over speed. If you've mastered the basic 180 and want to add more style to your wakesurfing trick repertoire, learning the Drifter 180 is your next step.
Start With the Board Reverse - Fins Up Front:
The key difference with the Drifter 180 starts before you even begin rotating. Position your board reverse with the fins pointing toward the front of the boat. This setup is crucial for executing this wakesurfing rotation technique properly.
Master the Tail Press:
Before attempting the full Drifter 180, you need to get comfortable with tail presses on the wave. A tail press means bringing your board to 90 degrees at the bottom of the wave while putting all your weight on your back foot. Practice this position until you can hold it comfortably and control the board with ease.
Execute the Full Rotation:
Once you're comfortable with the 90-degree tail press, it's time to complete the full rotation. Start with that 90-degree position, then slowly finish the rotation to a full 180. The emphasis here is on slowly—this isn't a quick snap spin. Let it drift, hence the name "Drifter."
Weight Distribution is Critical:
Super important: keep a lot of weight on your back foot, pressing against the wave throughout the entire rotation. This pressure is what controls your movement and keeps the drift smooth and controlled. Think of it as carving through the rotation rather than spinning through it.
The Switch Backside Landing:
Once you finish your full rotation, put a lot of weight on your heels to start riding switch backside. This heel pressure helps you maintain control as you transition into riding backward.
Enjoy the Drift:
The beauty of the Drifter 180 is in its style and flow. It's a slower, more controlled 180 variation that looks incredibly smooth when done right. Take your time, feel the wave, and enjoy the drift as you learn this advanced wakesurfing spin.
How to Do a Frontside Boardslide Wakesurfing
The frontside boardslide is more than just a cool-looking trick—it's actually a really valuable exercise for practicing your 360s. This wakesurfing slide trick teaches you board control at the top of the wave and helps you get comfortable with the 90-degree position that's crucial for more advanced rotations.
Understanding the Frontside Boardslide:
The frontside boardslide consists of bringing your front foot all the way to the top of the wave and turning your hips to bring your board 90 degrees to the boat. You'll be sliding sideways on the lip with your back facing the boat—it's a unique position that takes some getting used to.
Start With the Rope:
Like most advanced wakesurfing tricks, you can practice this one with the rope first. Slowly ride up to the top of the wave, stay there, and turn your board 90 degrees to the boat with your back facing the boat. Hold this position for a moment to feel the balance point, then bring your board back down the wave.
Going Ropeless:
Once you're able to do the frontside boardslide with the rope, it's time to try it without. This is where the real challenge begins, but also where it gets fun.
The Approach - Front Foot Forward:
Ride up the wave by bringing your front foot and the nose of your board over the lip of the wake. This forward weight transfer is key to getting into position properly.
Stabilize at 90 Degrees:
Put a little bit more weight on your front foot to stabilize the board once you're at 90 degrees. This is the critical moment—you're balancing sideways on the lip of the wave. Keep your knees bent and your core engaged to maintain this position.
The Exit:
After holding the slide for a moment, bring your weight back and rotate your board back down the wave. The exit should be smooth and controlled, setting you up to continue riding or link into your next trick.
Why It Matters:
Master the frontside boardslide and you'll find your 360s become much easier. The body positioning, weight distribution, and board control you develop here translate directly to more complex rotations. Plus, it just looks awesome when you can slide that lip with confidence.
How to Do a 360 Wakesurfing
The 360 is the holy grail for most wakesurfers—that full rotation spin that separates casual riders from serious shredders. If you've been working on your boardslides, you're already building the muscle memory and board control you need for this trick. Now it's time to put it all together and send that full spin.
Why Your Board Style Matters:
Before you start throwing 360s, understand that your board type dramatically changes your approach.
Surf Style Boards:
These boards have larger fins that give you tons of drive and stability, but they also create resistance during rotation. You'll need more power to break those fins loose and complete the spin. The upside? Once you get the technique down, surf style boards offer more control throughout the rotation.
Skim Style Boards:
Smaller fins mean less resistance and easier initiation of the spin. Sounds great, right? The catch is that skim boards are trickier to control and you can easily over-rotate if you're not careful. You need less power but way more precision.
Setting Up Your 360:
The setup is everything. Drop all the way back on the wave to build serious momentum and speed. From there, ride up toward the pocket—that sweet spot where the wave has the most push.
Here's a critical mistake people make: don't attempt your 360 too close to the boat. If you do a bottom turn that close, you risk carrying yourself right over the wave and into the flats. Instead, wait until you reach the pocket and feel that forward momentum building. That's your window.
Starting the Rotation:
Lead with your front arm and head, rotating toward the back. This is non-negotiable—where your head goes, your body follows. Point your head in the direction of the spin and commit.
For surf style boards especially, you need to break your fins loose with a solid bottom turn. Without this, you'll just drag through the rotation and likely fall.
Stay super low by bending at your knees, not your waist. Keep your back straight and your center of gravity low to the board. This low position gives you stability and control throughout the entire 360.
The Middle of the Spin:
Keep your upper body and head up—eyes open, spotting the back of the boat as you rotate. This visual reference point is crucial for knowing where you are in the rotation.
Stay low the entire time. If you feel yourself standing up mid-spin, drop back down immediately. Standing up is one of the fastest ways to lose control and eat it.
Sticking the Landing:
As you come around to complete the rotation, keep your shoulders open to the boat to control and stop your spin. Look over your shoulder to manage your momentum.
Land with bent knees ready to absorb any impact and maintain your balance. Then ride away clean and enjoy the moment—you just landed a 360!
Technique Tweaks by Board Type:
Surf Style Tips:
Build faster forward momentum before initiating the spin—this helps break those fins loose. Really focus on a powerful bottom turn to get the fins to release. Use the lip of the wave to help push you back into the pocket as you complete the rotation.
Skim Style Tips:
Don't ride too high on the wave or you'll slide out into the flats and lose all your momentum. Use your hand in the water to help pull yourself around during the bottom turn.
To prevent over-rotation (a common skim board issue), look over your shoulder and place your hand in the water where you started the rotation. This lets you over-rotate slightly, then swing back to the correct position.
If you're burying your toe-side edge as you finish the spin, shift more weight to your heels. Remember: easy, slow, controlled rotations beat aggressive, rushed spins every time on a skim board.
What Not to Do:
Standing up during the rotation instead of staying compressed
Bending at your waist instead of your knees
Attempting the spin too close to the boat
Hesitating instead of committing right when you hit the pocket
Forgetting to break the fins loose on surf style boards
Over-rotating on skim boards because you're spinning too aggressively
Looking down at your board instead of spotting where you're going
The Bottom Line: The 360 is all about staying low and looking where you want to go. Your head leads, your body follows. Smooth and controlled always beats fast and sloppy. Once you land your first clean 360, you'll understand why everyone's obsessed with this trick. Now get out there and send it!
How to Do an Air Reverse
The air reverse is one of those tricks that looks absolutely incredible when done right—launching off the lip, spinning 180 degrees in the air, and landing back on the wave riding switch. There are actually two different techniques you can use to throw this trick, and we'll cover both so you can find what works best for your style.
Technique #1: The 180 Pull-Through
The first method involves doing a 180 rotation, then pulling your board through at the bottom of the wave. This technique emphasizes the pull-through motion after the initial rotation.
Practice With the Rope:
Start by practicing this with the rope for stability and confidence. As you approach the lip, initiate your 180 rotation.
Weight on Your Front Foot:
Here's the critical element: you need all of your weight on your front foot to be able to pull that board through. This forward weight is what allows you to complete the rotation and control the board.
Execute the Rotation:
Do your 180 right down to the bottom of the wave, then transfer your weight. Watch as your head follows all the way around back toward the boat. Remember, where your head goes, your body follows—so keep your eyes tracking back to the boat throughout the entire motion.
Technique #2: The Surface Reverse on Top
The second way is more of a surface reverse rotation, and it happens all on top of the wave rather than pulling through at the bottom. This version keeps you higher on the wave face.
The Top-of-Wave Spin:
Watch how the rotation happens at the crest—you spin and then catch sight of the boat again. It's a quicker, snappier movement that stays in the power zone of the wave.
Going Ropeless:
When you're ready to try the air reverse without the rope, here's the key mental trick: think of over-rotating your 180. Yes, you read that right—over-rotate intentionally.
Use your head to find the boat again as you come around. This over-rotation concept helps ensure you complete the full 180 degrees in the air rather than coming up short and landing sideways.
Which Technique Should You Use?
Both methods work, and many riders naturally gravitate toward one over the other based on their riding style and board type. The pull-through method (Technique #1) often feels more controlled and gives you more time to complete the rotation. The surface reverse (Technique #2) is faster and keeps you in the pocket longer.
Building Progression:
Start with the rope using whichever technique feels more natural. Get comfortable with the rotation, the weight transfer, and the head movement. Once you're landing it consistently with the rope, progress to ropeless attempts.
Remember: commitment is everything with air reverses. Hesitation in the air leads to incomplete rotations and hard falls. Commit to the spin, trust your technique, and use your head to spot your landing.
Pro Tip:
The "over-rotate and find the boat" mental cue is incredibly helpful when learning this trick. It prevents under-rotation, which is the most common mistake. You can always check a spin that's going too far, but you can't add rotation once you've left the lip.
Master the air reverse and you've officially entered advanced wakesurfing territory. This trick opens the door to more complex aerial maneuvers and rotations.