Drop wallet layback

Unleash power and style in the most theatrical way with a fully committed layback, hanging on by just your big toe!

The Layback is a powerful carve where you throw yourself backward, planting your back hand on the wave face in a near-horizontal position—so deep you’d lose everything in your pockets if you were dressed for the streets. This turn is a wild version of the snap, with the surfer unloading every ounce of energy into the top turn, almost wiping out—almost… but when they recover, the result is pure spectacle. And the spray? Massive!

Surfer: Mateia, GONG team rider, with a Chemical EPS.

1. Choose the right section: You want a wave with some punch—not too mushy, but not a super-hollow barrel either. The power will fuel your turn, letting you hit it hard, and it’ll also help you recover as you finish the maneuver.
2. Preparing for the top turn: Approach with speed after a solid bottom turn for total commitment. The entry is just like a standard turn—keep your front arm driving forward while your back arm drops toward the wave, using it as a pivot and anchor point.
3. The top turn: This is where you go all in, pressing hard on the fins, with your back hand “anchoring” into the wave face on one side and the other end of your body driving through the tail pad. Keep that front knee bent—it’s your pivot to finish the move. And at the end of that knee, your front foot is the anchor that’ll get you back over the board.
4. Recovery: A strong core helps you nail the exit, with a little assist from the wave. Instead of falling back, think about standing up the moment you’ve unloaded all the power into the turn. Get the timing right, and the core engagement is brief—your weight will naturally shift forward with the momentum.