The Revelatory Moment

The video begins with the narrator expressing his journey towards improving his carving turns, a journey marked by trial and error until he stumbles upon an "aha moment." This revelatory insight came unexpectedly while scrolling through Instagram, where he witnessed professional surfer CJ Nelson's distinctive approach to turns. The key takeaway was Nelson’s technique of dropping his shoulder low towards the water during turns, a movement that the narrator had not previously identified or assimilated into his own surfing.

Technique Breakdown

The video then delves into a detailed analysis of the shoulder drop technique and its application. The narrator clarifies that although CJ Nelson is executing drop knee turns, the shoulder drop is not exclusive to this type of turn. The viewers are guided on how to replicate the shoulder-opening effect, even without a full drop knee, by placing the back foot parallel to the board. This stance facilitates both shoulder opening and the intended shoulder drop. Additionally, the video emphasizes the importance of weight distribution, noting that putting more weight on the back foot is critical for achieving the desired turn posture, which should be nearly perpendicular to the board.

Practice and Commitment

In the concluding section, the narrator reflects on his practice sessions and recognizes areas for improvement, such as committing more weight to the back foot and avoiding timid turns. He encourages full confidence and the willingness to take risks to truly experience and learn the technique. The video concludes with advice for beginners to learn the basics of turning on a longboard before attempting more advanced techniques and recommends viewers to watch the full video featuring CJ Nelson for further insight and inspiration.