The "Classic" Layback in professional surfing
Sep 14, 2017 20:32:34 #
While photographing the Trestles Hurley Pro surfing contest I captured The "Classic" Layback. All this action happens in about one second, so it's really nice having a camera that shoots multiple frames per second. Here is a blow by blow description of the action:
1. The surfer screams down the face of the wave making a bottom turn and creating enormous speed.
2. He carves back up to the top of the wave setting himself up for a sharp 90 degree turn off the lip (cutback).
3. Here the surfer does the "layback" and his back is on the wave skimming and bouncing along with only his left heel touching the deck of the board. It appears as if the surfer is going to wipe out.
4. The surfer is in complete control and starts slipping his feet under him on the deck as he bounces up from his back on the wave.
5. The surfer is back on his board and blasting through the spray of the wave ready to continue the next move in complete control the whole time.
Professional surfers make this look easy but it is NOT as easy as they make it out to be. It's the same way in any sport, the really excellent athletes make things appear easy. It takes years of practice to refine the maneuover.
Please download these for more detail
1. The surfer screams down the face of the wave making a bottom turn and creating enormous speed.
2. He carves back up to the top of the wave setting himself up for a sharp 90 degree turn off the lip (cutback).
3. Here the surfer does the "layback" and his back is on the wave skimming and bouncing along with only his left heel touching the deck of the board. It appears as if the surfer is going to wipe out.
4. The surfer is in complete control and starts slipping his feet under him on the deck as he bounces up from his back on the wave.
5. The surfer is back on his board and blasting through the spray of the wave ready to continue the next move in complete control the whole time.
Professional surfers make this look easy but it is NOT as easy as they make it out to be. It's the same way in any sport, the really excellent athletes make things appear easy. It takes years of practice to refine the maneuover.
Please download these for more detail
Sep 15, 2017 10:18:32 #
Sep 15, 2017 10:50:42 #
Great shots. Interesting that the surfers feet come off the board at one point & then he recovers. What lens & settings were you using for the series? 
Sep 15, 2017 11:18:51 #
dsmeltz wrote:
Did he get back up? Is there one more shot!!??
Yes, he got back up and continued on. The other shots are just normal looking surfing shots and you would never know that they are all linked up because the pro surfers are so smooth in their transitions.
Sep 15, 2017 11:45:29 #
BrentHarder wrote:
Yes, he got back up and continued on. The other shots are just normal looking surfing shots and you would never know that they are all linked up because the pro surfers are so smooth in their transitions.
Awesome!
Sep 15, 2017 21:29:41 #
LarryN wrote:
Great shots. Interesting that the surfers feet come off the board at one point & then he recovers. What lens & settings were you using for the series?
Larry the lens I usually use for shots like this is my Tamron 150-600mm. My settings are usually about 1/1000th of a sec, F8, ISO 400.
Sep 16, 2017 16:30:19 #
Sep 16, 2017 21:11:30 #
AzPicLady wrote:
Just amazing.
Thanks again AzPicLady for your input on this series!
Oct 20, 2017 10:56:40 #
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