How to Complete a Rodeo Flip

For someone new to modern surfing, "rodeo flip" might refer to something you would see at the local rodeo but for a surfing aficionado, it is a term that induces near reverence. A rodeo flip is an acrobatic surfboard maneuver that must be seen about 6 times to be believed. Completing one is an act demonstrating incredible talent--as well as a huge dose of surfing bravado.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Research the rodeo flip. Watch videos of Jordy Smith and Dane Reynolds doing rodeo flips to get an idea of what the move looks like. It's basically a modification of the same maneuver done on a snowboard except a surfer must reverse direction to ascend a wave, gain height above the lip and then perform the move.

2. Begin by gaining as much speed as possible. Reverse and ascend the wave, gaining as much height as possible.

3. Drop your center of gravity and launch as though you were going to do a re-entry on the lip.

4. At your point of maximum elevation, grab both rails and lean back--as insane as that sounds. This is the transition that usually makes or breaks the flip.

5. Get a sense similar to doing a back flip from a diving board and follow through with the move. The goal is simply landing with enough of yourself centered to ride out the landing.

6. Hold tight to your board--that's easy to forget, and just a bit of separation makes sticking a landing very tough.

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