Technique
Slash
An aggressive, spray-throwing turn off the top of the wave near the lip, redirecting the board sharply back down the face.
A slash is a hard, abrupt turn driven off the upper part of the wave or the lip, usually throwing a fan of spray. Where a cutback is a smooth arc, a slash is a sharper, more powerful redirection that showcases the rider attacking the top of the wave. It relies on speed built through pumping and on the board's rail and fins to bite and snap.
Slashes are a staple of stylish surf-style riding and are often linked between carves to keep the rider dynamic on the face.