Matt ‘Mave’ Davies shows you the smoothest way to spin in style
El Salvador’s playful walls are the perfect canvas for refining one of drop knee’s most satisfying tricks – the forward 360. Fresh from two surfs in the tropics, instructor Matt ‘Mave’ Davies explains exactly how to nail it.
Top Tips
- Get into drop knee position early
- Choose a flat, peeling section
- Keep the board flat after your bottom turn or pump
- Look over the inside shoulder – never lose sight of the rotation
- Use a hand in the water for extra pivot power
- Practise on small waves before stepping up
- Back‑hand spins release more easily than front‑side
Step‑by‑step tutorial
- Pop to drop knee early
The sooner you get into the drop knee stance, the flatter the board will feel and the easier the spin becomes. Aim to be up before the wave steepens. - Find a flat section
Start the move just after a gentle bottom turn or small pump when the board is running flat. Flatter waves peel more slowly – ideal for first attempts. - Lead with your eyes
Where you look, the board follows. Turn your head over your inside shoulder and keep your gaze travelling until you have completed the full rotation. - Swing the body – use a hand if needed
Throw your shoulders and torso the same way your eyes are going. Dropping a hand in the water acts like a pivot and can sling‑shot you through the spin. - Mind your fins
Front‑side spins can feel stickier because more fin is buried in the face. Back‑hand attempts release more easily as less fin engages – try both. - Practise in the small stuff first
Follow Fred Booth’s wisdom: master the move in mellow waves, then scale up. Confidence in knee‑high runners will translate to head‑high walls. - Level up to lip launches
Off‑the‑lip forward spins (think Paul Roach) follow the same cues – wait until the board’s nose leaves the water, then look, throw and spin.
Ready to try it somewhere warm? Check out our bodyboarding trips to El Salvador for glassy, user‑friendly waves, or polish your technique closer to home on our UK drop knee coaching weekends.
