Surfing Manoeuvre: The Floater
Posted: 11 March 2026
A floater is an advanced level manoeuvre. It is when you turn up on top of the broken lip or foam and ride along on top of it then back down on to the open face again.
The floater is used when you need to get past a closing out section.
It can also be used as a last manoeuvre on the last closing out part of the wave.
Ideal waves to do floaters are on medium waves with sections that crumble and break ahead of you.
To do a good floater you will need to have good speed to tun up and stay on top of the broken lip. You can only stay there for a few seconds or you will slow down and the board will drop into the foam.
Performing a floater
Step 1
Do a bottom turn at speed riding up to the top of the peeling lip.
Step 2
Continue to go up the wave and ride on top of the tip as it peels over.
Step 3
As you feel yourself dropping back down the wave, turn the front of your board back down the wave.
Step 4
As you start to drop down the wave extend your legs and lift your arms, to maintain your downward pressure and centre of balance on the board.
Step 5
You are now down on the smooth water in front of the wave again crouched and ready to do a bottom turn to drive you towards the open face of the wave.
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