Hard edging means digging into the water with real pressure and speed. This generates the tension and pop you need for bigger kicker hits and more dynamic riding. It comes after you can already ride switch corners and full rounds cleanly. Practice hard heelside and toeside edges in both regular and switch stances.
The thing that separates a hard edge from a lazy one is the line of your body. A hard edge looks like a line from your shoulders to the inside edge of the board, with the knees soft underneath. If you bend at the waist instead of leaning from the ankles, the cable takes over and pulls you back upright. Trust the line tension to hold you out there.
Key tips
- Drive from your hips and legs, not your arms
- Lean into the edge. Your body should be at an angle to the water
- Maintain handle position at your hip during the edge
- Build up progressively. Don't go full power until the technique is solid
- Practice hard edging into corners to maintain speed
- If the edge feels unstable, your back foot is probably doing too much work. Weight the front foot a touch more