In this episode of WSL Surf 101, we're going to look at a foundational move for every surfer, the floater. This is a means of negotiating a section, surfing over the top of a breaking wave as it crashes down in front of you. The key to a floater is to lighten up your body as you glide across the falling section of water. Then, at the critical time, you compress and prepare to ride out of the turbulent white water to safety.
Judges are looking for size and progression when it comes to floaters. Is the section you float over critical? Is there style or an aggressive angle to the floater? Can you ride away clean from the free fall? And, of course, floaters can have consequences, too. Boards and bones can easily be broken in the impact zone.