Linking Wave Sections – 2025 GWA-Inspired Moves
Watching the GWA Wave Tour in Cape Verde, one thing is clear: the best riders do not just ride a wave; they dissect it. They link multiple sections together in a single fluid run.
"Linking" is the art of connecting a Bottom Turn, a Top Turn, and a Cutback without losing foil drive.
The Energy Map
To link sections, you must read the swell energy.
- The Power Source: The curling part of the wave (the pocket).
- The Flat: The shoulder. It has no lift.
- The Link: The pump.
You use the Power Source to gain speed. You use that speed to carve. When the wave flattens, you pump your foil to bridge the gap to the next Power Source.
The "Wave Link" Combo
Step 1: The Drop Take off deep. Flag the wing. Drop down the face to build maximum apparent wind (water speed).
Step 2: The Bottom Turn Carve hard at the bottom. Aim your nose back up at the breaking lip.
Step 3: The Snap Hit the lip. As you come down, do not just ride straight. Look down the line.
Step 4: The Connection Pump The wave often "sections" (breaks in front of you). Do not pull out. Pump the foil aggressively around the whitewater to find the open face again. This is the "Link".
The Air Drop Link
Advanced riders use air to link. If a section is closing out, they pop an "Air Drop." They launch off the lip, clear the whitewater section in the air, and land on the green face beyond it.
- Tip: Pop late. Spot your landing. Use a wing flare to soften the impact.
Backside Wave 360
The ultimate link move. Instead of a standard cutback, you do a full 360-degree spin on the wave face.
- How: Initiate a turn up the face. Twist your hips. Let the wave's energy spin the board. Land riding down the wave.
- Difficulty: Expert. This requires perfect timing with the wind direction and wave speed.
Summary
Linking is about efficiency. Never let the board stop. If the wave dies, pump. If the section closes, float or air over it. Connect the dots to turn a 5-second ride into a 30-second journey.