The One Surfing Skill You’re Probably Overlooking

One of the biggest technical problems I see in surfing—at all levels—is compression and extension. It’s something I struggle with. It’s something pro surfers still work on. And for most beginners, it’s the main reason their turns fall flat or their pumps don’t create speed.

Even someone like Ethan Ewing has said that one of his main focus points is making sure he’s really compressing through his turns. He’s hard on himself and always reviewing footage to see if he’s getting low enough and coming out of turns with full extension.

What Most Surfers Think They're Doing (But Aren’t)

Here’s the common mistake:

• Most people think they’re compressing and extending
  
• In reality, they’re just shifting their hips slightly—maybe moving an inch or two
  
• There’s no real drop in body height, no real push upward through the legs
  

If you want to actually do this well, you need:

• Deep compression: bend fully at the knees and lower your center of gravity
  
• Full extension: straighten through the legs and push upward with control
  

Why This Is So Important

Think about doing a high jump. If you don’t crouch all the way down and extend all the way up, you won’t get any height. Surfing is the same. Every movement—bottom turn, top turn, pump—relies on this pattern.

• Pumping = compress and extend to generate speed
  
• Bottom Turn = compress at the base, extend into the lip
  
• Top Turn = compress into the section, extend on the release
  

This movement pattern is everywhere. If you’re not doing it well, your surfing will feel flat.

How to Know If You’re Doing It Right

You don’t need perfect surf clips or coaching to figure this out. Start on land.

Try this:

• Stand in front of a mirror
  
• Fully compress by bending your knees until you feel tension
  
• Fully extend by straightening your legs and reaching up
  
• Memorize how each position feels
  

This creates a body map you can carry into the water. When you surf, check in: am I feeling that full range of motion, or am I barely moving?

Use Feedback

• Ask a friend to watch you surf and give you honest feedback
  
• Are you compressing enough before each turn?
  
• Are you extending out of your maneuvers with control and power?
  

You can do the same for them. You don’t need to be a coach to give helpful observations—just honest eyes in the lineup.

Final Thought

Compression and extension aren’t advanced skills—they’re foundational. But most surfers don’t realize how little they’re actually doing. If your surfing feels stiff or stuck, this is the first thing to look at.

Start on land. Bring that awareness into the water. And ask for feedback. Simple steps—but they’ll shift the way you move on a wave. 

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