A surfing maneuver where the rider turns back toward the breaking part of the wave to stay in the power source, drawing a figure-eight on the wave face.
The cutback is one of surfing's most essential and elegant maneuvers. When you're riding along the wave face and have outrun the breaking section, you lose the power source that propels you. A cutback lets you turn 180 degrees back toward the curl (the breaking, powerful part of the wave), re-connect with the whitewater, and then turn back again to continue riding along the face.
A well-executed cutback is a full, round arc — not a jerky snap. The best cutbacks redirect the board completely, throwing spray off the tail as the fins release and re-engage. Roundhouse cutbacks include a rebound off the whitewater at the end, making it a complete figure-eight.
Cutbacks are a staple of competitive and recreational surfing because they demonstrate wave reading, board control, and style.
Example usage
"Hit a clean roundhouse cutback in the pocket and rebounded off the foam — probably the best turn I've ever done."
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