How
to do a regular roll.
There are many different types of rolls you can
do on a body board. You can do a barrel roll, a through
the lip roll, a roll take off, a reverse roll and even a
double roll. Each is different and useÍs different techniques.
So this is the first in a five part series on rolls. This
month I am going to walk you through how to do a normal
roll. This maneuver is the building block for many moves
so it is important to master. You need to catch a wave with
that has a wall on it; this will allow you to find a section
where a lip is going to throw. The bigger the wave the bigger
the roll you are going to be able to do. Once you see the
lip you are going to hit, you need to turn up to it in way
so you can get to the lip before it has landed on the wave.
Time it so you get to the lip as it its throwing out, as
you get to the lip release your rail and arch your head
to look back where you are going to land, at the same time
you pull the board and your body over with the direction
of the wave. Make sure the lip pushes you over so you land
on the board slick skin down first. Once you land you need
to bottom turn back on to the wave to your next maneuver.
Once you have the motion down you can try and hit bigger
lips on bigger waves or on bowler sections that will throw
you out more and give you more air. Keep practicing till
you get very comfortable so you can do this move in any
wave condition. Hint (it will help get you through some
contest heats, as rolls are scored higher than most spins).
Next month I will go over how to do a barrel roll.
How
to do a barrel roll.
Last month we covered the regular roll, so this month we are
going to go over how to do a roll while in the barrel.
This move is more complex yet functional and exciting at the
same time.
First you have to have a wave that is barreling.
Once you have engaged your rail and set your line in the barrel
or pocket you need to be looking for a spot on the lip to
start your roll.
To do this you disengage your rail and point the nose of your
board to wards the lip and let your board get sucked up over
the roof of the barrel.
As you come down try to get free of the lip and free fall,
so you do not land in the trench of the barrel, which will
cause you to eat it, instead try and land where it is flat
so you can try and pump back up the wave to get speed.
Hope fully you picked a spot on the wave where the barrel
slowed down or stopped so you will be able to land and then
ride out of the tube or in to the next barrel section.
You can also do this move as you exit the barrel for a more
dramatic appearance,
You do the same move but go for the roll as you come out of
the barrel, as your forward momentum will push you up and
out, you should land back on the wave where you can engage
your rail.
This can be taken another step and you can do a take off roll,
as it requires the same technique you just need to paddle
towards a barreling wave and let it suck you up the face and
then you start your roll as it pitches. This can be a great
for late take offs. You can even do take off ARS’s if
you want to play around on longer drops.
Good luck and try and practice on sand bars before you go
do this on shallow reefs.