How to Combine Speed and Power in Your Surfing
Speed without control wastes energy. Power without flow stalls your ride. The best surfers know how to blend both – by tapping into a wave’s energy instead of fighting it.
Here’s how to read a wave’s power zones and link them together for speed, flow, and style.
1. Find the Power Zones
A wave’s energy is strongest at the base where the water is thickest and drawing upward. As it climbs, it slows until gravity takes over and throws it down from the lip.
- Use the bottom zone for lift – lean and engage your rail so the wave can pull you upward
- Use the top zone for acceleration – present the underside of your board and twist down with gravity to double your speed
2. Work Rail to Rail
Flat surfing means you’re asking the wave to lift your full weight – inefficient and slow. Instead:
- Lean through bottom turns to feel weightless and make it easier for the wave to pull you up
- Transition smoothly from one rail to the other to keep your board in the wave’s flow
3. Match the Wave’s Speed
If you surf faster than the wave, you’ll outrun the pocket. Too slow, and you’ll lose momentum.
- Read the section early – if it’s pitching, move faster; if it’s fattening, slow down and cut back
- Think like a dancer matching a song’s tempo – in sync, not rushing or dragging
4. Use the Right Line
Many surfers take a “long jump” approach, racing from point A to B in a straight line. Instead, take a “high jump” approach:
- Choose a steeper, more vertical path
- Compress and extend to connect the bottom and top power zones
- Repeat the figure-eight flow to stay in rhythm with the wave
How TRAX Helps You Link Speed and Power
TRAX tracks your turn angles, rail engagement, and where you’re connecting top and bottom power zones. You’ll see if you’re matching wave speed, holding flow, or stalling – and get targeted drills to fix it.
Related Reading:
→ Why you need to surf rail to rail — Tap into lift instead of fighting the wave
→ How to read waves better — Spot the sections before they form
→ Still surfing from your back foot? — Why this habit kills both speed and flow
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