Reef Layer 2
Walk Chains
G rapevine
Layer 1 Parts
Reverse turn
Narrow stc
Back cross step
Non Google Sponsors
Grapevine walk
The grapevine is a series of steps in which the legs cross in front and behind. There are several ways to do this. You can take a normal cross step then follow it with a back cross step. In this chain I start with a backpedal step into a reverse stance, then go to a regular stance, then follow with a back cross. When I take the cross steps, I put weight on the rail which makes the board turn. So this chain involves some turning to the left while I'm walking up. It's not necessary to do the turns, it's a variation.
Heelside reverse drop knee turn
The grapevine starts with a heelside reverse turn. The reverse drop knee, or reverse turn for short, is a little more natural to do to heelside, because you don't have to stretch your leg behind so far.
I start in a narrow stance just forward of the tail. This is the setup for the backpedal step into a reverse drop knee turn
I cross my front leg, which is my left, back behind my right and place it on the heelside rail.
The technique is similar to the drop knee turn, but the body is twisted because the legs are crossed. Heelside reverses tend to be whippy because your legs are close together, so watch out.
The reverse turn wants to unwind into an uncross step up the board. Next the back foot is uncrossed and placed back in the side by side, close together position. I prepare for the back cross step by rotating my hips clockwise so my back begins to face the nose.
Back cross step
The back cross step is the critical part of the routine. I cross my foot behind the other and up the board. The front foot stays in its original position so both feet end up quite turned out. You can look over your shoulder where you're going. My toe hits the heelside rail, so it continues the left turn from the reverse turn.
It helps to concentrate on getting your shoulders around and facing them backwards. In this frame I am looking backwards to make it easier to square off my shoulders. I sacrifice seeing where I'm going for balance.
At this point I am about to uncross my feet and take a nose stance, or a nose perch.
The real trick of this routine is to get all the steps to flow slowly and smoothly one after the other, so they are all held about the same length of time. It takes control and will power to keep from rushing a step. The reward is a smooth pattern of steps and a continuous left turn while you walk the board in a pattern that's very different from what most other longboarders are doing.
This chain is taken from a longer routine in Waves.
