He saw the Surfer move up, he caught the movement that meant he was jumping -

And Sam acted on instinct. He could say it was one of the first things he'd learned, when mastering his powers and getting used to fights that went at rocket speed, but honestly, it went even further back than that. He'd learned it from playing sports, and using it in fights had just made it that much more imperative that he master it.

If you want to keep up, don't aim for where they are. Aim for where they will be.

So as soon as the Surfer started his descent, Sam let loose the energy blast he'd been saving. Not into the air, where the board was floating.

To the ground, where the Surfer was going to land.