When talking about how to turn a surfboard, you always hear me say things like:

Front hand palm up, Back hand across the chest,  Shoulder and Waist twisting, Look ahead, etc. 

 

"But everyone's style is different" you might say.  And you are correct, but ONE thing is the same. 

 

This turn is kind of text book.  Back hand coming across the chest.  Front arm is leading ( you can't see it, because it's so far around his back ) 

 

Back hand coming across the chest, hand gesturing the angle he wants the board on. 

( but the front arm is not leading ) 

 

Front arm is leading.  It is way far out in front. 

( but the back hand is not coming across the chest ) 

 

Here is my friend Maui Zack,  back arm coming around and front arm leading. 

( but his palm is facing down/back not up ) 

 

Back around pointing down, I think to create a pivot point.  Front arm way up in the air.  

 

Very powerful cutback, but his front arm is not leading and his back arm is back, not coming across the chest.  

 

Closeout Off The Lip.  Front arm opening up.  Is he going to make it ?  I bet he did.  

 

Nice back arm coming around and across the chest.  But front arm is pointed down not leading the turn.  

 

So YES, you are right,  everyone turns their board differently.  Everyone is built differently.  Their board and fin(s) are different.  Some longboarders are more Classic in their approach,  some are more radical progressive.  

 

What I teach my readers is a basic form of turning.  After you learn the basics, THEN you can change it up to suit your style, board, wave.  

 

But now go back and look at all the photos.  Although each surfer style is different and executed a proper turn on a longboard, ONE thing is the same.  

 

Their back foot is over the fin at the back of the board.  That is the right way to turn a longboard ( or any surfboard ) 

 

Please check out Eason's surf photography, Matsunosuke Kugenuma, Surfer's Nation and Hope Cheng photo of FB and http://starb.on.coocan.jp/daily/daily0.html to see more.