Turtle Roll Meaning in Surfing

The turtle roll helps surfers on longboards get past large breaking waves. This move involves flipping the board over so the surfer is underneath it. The rider holds the rails tightly while the wave passes over the bottom. This position uses the heavy board as a shield against the rushing water. Flipping back over quickly allows the surfer to continue moving toward the lineup. Small boards do not need this move because they can dive under waves. Longboards have too much buoyancy to push under the water with body weight. A surfer flips the board over before a wall of whitewater hits them. Gripping the edges firmly prevents the wave from ripping the board away. This maneuver keeps the surfer in place without losing progress toward the back.