As with all sports, the key to performance is technique. The better you understand the mechanics of motion, the more moves you will be able to do. This is definitely true in the sport of paddle craft surfing. Since the craft you are paddling determines the parameters of possible moves, I will suggest some top end maneuvers geared towards the design limitations of the three major paddle craft categories. The K-1, High Performance Boats and Wave Skis.
The K-1 river boat is the most used craft in ocean surfing in this country. This is true because more people own this type of boat. Although great for the river, the displacement hull, extreme rocker and rounded chines of these boats limit their surfing capabilities. The K-1's design is best for the following top end maneuvers.
Back surfing: First obtain the wave by back paddling on to the face of the peak. Point the stern of the boat about 45 degrees toward the direction the wave is peeling. Lean forward and use a bow rudder to control the direction of surfing. Tip. The power face of the paddle should point at the bow with a vertical orientation and a 30 degree angle off the shaft that opens up towards the front of the boat. Cutbacks are performed by holding this stroke and leaning the boat (with your hips) into the direction you are turning.
Soup-aided 180's and 360's: Since displacement-hull boats will not flat spin, you need the power of the collapsing wave to help turn the boat around. First obtain the wave and turn the direction the wave is peeling. Stall the boat by using a stern rudder until the soup crashes on the stern. Perform a stern sweep till the boat is perpendicular to the beach, then change your hip lean into the bow sweep on the other side of the boat. This 180 can then be turned into a 360 (with the help of the soup) by following through with the bow sweep till the boat is pointed towards the beach, then change back to a stern sweep to push the tail around. Tip. The use of your hip lean should be a smooth transition from a hard lean at the start of the turn flowing into a flat boat when perpendicular to the beach then flow back to a hard lean to complete the boat's rotation.
High performance boats usually are less than 10 feet long and incorporate some sort of planing hull. This short length and planing ability allows the boat to do many top end maneuvers. I will describe a few of the more technical moves.
Cutback with spray: After obtaining the wave, run the boat in the direction of the peel to build up speed. Then initiate a rudder to turn back towards the collapsing peak, by loading up the twist in your body's rotation you slide the boat around and increase your hip lean to kick out spray at the end of the turn. Tip. This body motion has the same feel as slamming on the back brakes of your bike and hipping the rear tire into a slide.
Floater followed by a soup hop: This move needs some speed on a green face with a collapsing wave down the line. While speeding down a peeling wave you see that it is starting to collapse in front of you. The tricky part is to time your bottom turn so you reach the top of the wave as it's folding under the bottom of your boat. The more speed you have at the top of the wave the longer you can ride the floater. Now it's time to point your boat about 45 degrees toward shore and free fall with the collapsing wave. This will accelerate you in front of the soup pile. Now do a bottom turn back towards the soup and get ready to lean towards the shore so when you hit the soup you can climb to the top of the pile. Tip. This shoreward lean is done with your hips, you time this move so the bottom of your boat (not the side, you will just get rejected) can slide up the soup pile.
The Wave Ski is the ultimate surf craft for paddlers. These boats are short, light weight and highly maneuverable. The down side is they are the hardest craft to paddle out. Just like snow skiing it takes some tenacity to get use to the balance point. They can do all the previous moves and many more. Here are two examples.
Vertical tail slash: This move incorporates the timing of a floater and the body control of the spraying cutback. Time your bottom turn just like the floater, but at the top of the wave kick the tail around in the air by loading up on your rudder and pushing down while you perform the spraying cutback body rotation. This can turn into a spinning vertical tail slash by twisting your body around the boat while the tail flies through the air. Tip. These moves are best performed by experienced river paddlers. Squirt boating and rodeo tricks condition the paddler to be able to do instantaneous moves with a high level of recovery techniques.
Technique is the key to performance, practice is the key to technique and education can make the journey a smoother ride. So whether you are just starting or an experienced paddler, I hope these tips will let you push the limits of both your boat and yourself.