Shortboard Mastery

Shortboard Mastery

In this video series our team of expert female shortboard surfers and shapers drop all the knowledge about shortboard technique and equipment! Whether you want to improve your cutback, pull into your first barrel, or dial in your equipment, this is your one stop shop to learn it all.

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Shortboard Mastery
  • How to Generate Speed by Pumping

    Learn how to generate your own speed, so you aren’t at the mercy of the wave’s quality. Learn how to find that speed, even in soft, mushy waves! This sets you up for starting bigger, better turns. Holly shows you how to pump your surfboard – whether shortboard, mid-length, or longboard. Let’s go!

  • What Do I Do With My Arms? Shortboard Edition

    Holly reveals essential techniques for optimizing your arm movements while shortboarding. Discover techniques for backside turns, frontside turns, getting barreled, and avoiding common mistakes.

  • Mindful Movement: Twisting Turns

    In order to do a maneuver that you've always wanted to do, you have to be able to imagine yourself doing it! This exercise will help you improve your mind-body connection to perfect your frontside cutbacks or backside bottom turns.

  • Where Should Your Back Foot Be on a Shortboard?

    Foot placement is key on all surfboards, but the shorter the board, the more crucial. Holly explains where you should have your back foot for maximum control when doing turns on a shortboard.

  • How To Ride Out of Shortboard Turns

    Looking to ride out more turns? Holly shares her top advice for shortboarders on landing turns smoothly and effectively.

  • Troubleshoot Your Top Turn

    Struggling with top turns? Holly shares troubleshooting tips for completing the crucial second half of a top turn on any board type—shortboard, fish, mid-length, or longboard.

  • Improve Your Bottom Turn

    Unlock the secrets to a perfect bottom turn! This video covers everything you need to know about shifting your balance to enhance your ride.

  • What is a Step-Up Surfboard?

    Holly breaks down the differences between step-up, standard shortboards, and step-down boards. Learn when and why each type might be the best choice for your surf session.

  • Shortboards: Exploring Their Differences

    Holly and shaper Christy Carr compare three different shortboards, exploring how subtle design adjustments impact your surfing experience. Learn how each board’s features can change your ride.

  • How to Insert and Remove Shortboard Fins

    Learn how to insert and remove removable fins on your shortboard with this quick guide.

  • High Performance Shortboard : Why Should You Use a Traction Pad?

    Explore the basics of why traction pads are essential for high-performance shortboards. Discover how they enhance grip and control for your best rides yet.

  • How to Pop Up in Hollow Waves

    Tube riding is probably one of the most sought after goals in surfing. It's not easy but it's oh-so-worth-it. Holly (with special guest Charlie) shares insights from an advanced tube retreat in Nicaragua. She highlights how to pop up in hollow waves and offers tips on how to train at home for suc...

  • How to Take Off Frontside for Steep Hollow Waves

    Getting tubed requires you to take off steep and deep. This video talks you through the techniques you'll need to achieve that, plus troubleshooting tips to refine your skills.

  • 3 Tips for Making it Out of the Barrel

    SWA Surf Coach Chloe shares her story of learning how to make the drop, pull in, and eventually make it out of the barrel. She shares 3 tips that helped her achieve her barrel-riding goals along the way- how to visualize it, how to lean on your community, and what to do with your arms to help gui...

  • How to "Pig Dog"

    Learn how to get barreled backside with Holly in this quick video. Discover the techniques to master the “pig dog" and get barreled like a pro!

  • Why Finless Surfing Is Good for You

    Ready for a challenge? Holly introduces her finless quiver, explains the differences between boards, and shows why learning to surf a finless board will improve your full rail turns and cutbacks.

  • Secrets of Sumatra

    Holly, Chloe, and Louise, fueled by wanderlust and the promise of the season's first swells, embarked on a frothy surf adventure in southwest Sumatra! Trading cars for scooters and navigating palm-lined roads, they chased down beach break barrels and waves along the gorgeous coastline.

  • Barrels for Breakfast

    Big wipeouts. Big drops. Even bigger smiles. Amigas leveled-up their shortboard tube-riding skills at one of the best barreling beach breaks in Nicaragua.