More Speed, Less Wasted Effort
Generating speed isn’t just about “pumping harder.” Most surfers misunderstand the mechanics – or mistime the key moments – and end up stuck in slow sections.
Here are 5 principles experienced surfers rely on to accelerate down the line.
1. Use the Full Face – Not Just the Flats
Good surfers move through the top two-thirds of the wave, not the bottom. Riding low drains momentum fast – instead, stay close to the power source.
2. Stay Near the Pocket
The wave is steepest – and most powerful – near the curl. If you’re pumping far out on the shoulder, you’re doing a lot of work for very little return.
3. Extend at the Right Time
Speed comes from timing your body mechanics. You extend as you rise up the wave – this brings your center of mass closer to the axis of rotation, increasing angular velocity (yes, really).
4. Compress Into the Drop
Think of skating a ramp: you bend as you drop to let gravity pull you down and accelerate. Surfing is no different. Chest down, knees bent – then spring back up.
5. Don’t Just Wiggle
Small mid-face wiggles won’t create real speed. You need committed rail engagement and full-body motion – even slight hesitation can stall your line.
How TRAX Helps You Learn This Faster
Speed generation is all about subtle shifts in timing, weight, and line choice – things that are hard to feel in the moment.
TRAX shows you how your movement affects momentum across your session: where you lost speed, whether your extensions were timed right, and how your turns set you up for acceleration.
With TRAX, your progression is no longer guesswork – it’s feedback you can act on.
Related Reading:
→ 5 Reasons Your Surfing Isn’t Progressing – From weight shifts to technique traps, here’s what to fix.
→ Does Surf Skating Help Your Surfing? – What translates, and what doesn’t, from land to water.