Do you ‘tic tac’ or surf rail to rail

Generating speed is crucial for connecting sections and maximizing every wave. Whether you ride a shortboard, mid-length, or longboard, the technique you choose can significantly impact your flow and efficiency by engaging with the energy of the wave.

The Gold Standard - Rail-To-Rail Surfing

Rail-to-rail surfing involves shifting your weight smoothly from one edge of the board to the other, engaging the wave’s power. This technique drives energy down the board to the fins, creating natural speed and maintaining a seamless connection with the wave.

By utilizing the wave’s energy, rail-to-rail surfing is a very efficient way of generating speed while maintaining flow. 

When the wave gets really weak - The Tic-Tac

The ‘Tic-tac’ approach, similar to the Huntington Hop, involves lifting and dropping the board’s nose to create momentum. This can be useful for surfers on shortboards in weaker waves to make sections, however, it is preferably to use it in those situations as it comes at the expense of style and flow.

The Verdict:

Focus on rail-to-rail surfing to improve your flow and style, and stay in sync with the wave's energy, saving the tic-tac as a backup for less-than-ideal conditions.

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