Get Better at Surfing: 10 Tips to Help You Get Started
Looking to enhance your surfing and ride like a pro? Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to up your surfing game, I’ve got you covered. In this article, I’ll share 10 proven tips to help you get started and improve your surfing skills.
Surfing is not only a great way to stay active and enjoy nature, but it also provides an exhilarating experience like no other. However, mastering the art of surfing takes time and practice, and having the right techniques in your arsenal can make all the difference.
Choosing the right equipment, understanding the ocean, and perfecting your paddling and pop-up techniques, all are important components to improve your surfing. Luckily for you, I dive deep into the fundamentals of surfing on this website, find everything here. In this article I’ll explore tips for improving your balance, reading the waves, and executing turns like a pro.
So, whether you’re dreaming of catching your first wave or already have some experience under your belt, these 10 proven tips will help you take your surfing skills to the next level. Get ready to ride the waves and embrace the stoke!
1- understand ocean patterns
Understanding ocean patterns is essential for surfers seeking the best waves. By studying ocean currents, wind patterns, and wave behavior, you can anticipate optimal surfing conditions and plan your sessions accordingly. Knowledge of ocean patterns allows you to identify the best spots for catching waves and to stay safe by avoiding hazardous conditions.
Additionally, understanding how ocean patterns affect wave formation and movement enables you to improve your skills and make the most of your time in the water. Ultimately, a deeper understanding of ocean patterns can enhance the surfing experience and contribute to a safer and more enjoyable time on the waves. Here are some important terms to get familiar with-
Rip Current-
As a surfer, it’s crucial to understand what a rip current is and how to recognize and deal with it. A rip current is a strong, narrow flow of water that moves from the shore out to sea.
To identify a rip current, look for a gap or a break in the line of breaking waves, a channel of churning, choppy water, a line of foam, or debris moving seaward. If you find yourself caught in a rip current, try to remain calm and avoid expending energy by swimming against the current. Instead, paddle parallel to the shore to escape the rip current’s pull before heading back to the beach. Refer to the picture for further understanding.
Swell patterns-
Swell patterns refer to the movement of waves across the ocean’s surface. These patterns are influenced by a variety of factors, including wind speed, wind duration, and the distance over which the wind blows (referred to as “fetch”). Swell patterns can be observed and predicted to anticipate the size, direction, and frequency of waves at a particular surfing spot. Understanding swell patterns is essential for surfers as it allows us to choose the best times and locations for surfing based on the prevailing wave conditions. Check Surfline.com for the best wave charts out there.
Tides
Tides refer to the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun. For surfers, understanding tides is crucial because they directly impact the quality and shape of waves. The changing tide influences the size, power, and shape of the waves, affecting the overall surfing conditions.
Surfers need to be aware of how the incoming and outgoing tides affect the waves at their chosen surfing spot. For example, an incoming tide can create larger and more powerful waves, while an outgoing tide may result in shallower and faster-breaking waves. By understanding the relationship between tides and wave conditions, you can plan your surfing sessions effectively, ensuring you are in the water when the waves are at their best.
2- Choose the right surfboard
Before you hit the water ask yourself, is this the right surfboard for me? See having a surfboard that is too big or especially too small will affect your progress in the water. Think about when you had your first bicycle ride. You probably had the small wheels to assist you and then gradually took them out when you felt ready.
In surfing, you start with bigger surfboards and gradually move to smaller ones. That being said, if you’re more of a longboard kind of surfer, you’ll replace the bigger surfboard with a narrower one and more performance-driven. Here is the full guide on how to choose the right surfboard.
In a rush? no worries. Here are key elements to look for when choosing the right surfboard:
Size- In general you want to have a surfboard that is at least 1-2 ft taller than you (sometimes more). This will make sure you have enough space on your surfboard to practice your pop-up technique. Also, make sure to have a wide center rather than a narrow one.
Shape- while there are many shapes when starting is better to go with the classic shape. Usually consists of a square tail, rounded nose, and thick middle part.
Material- Surfboards are typically made from fiberglass, epoxy, or foam. Fiberglass boards offer the best performance but are more prone to damage. Epoxy boards are more durable and lightweight, making them ideal for beginners. Foam boards are soft and safe, PERFECT for beginners and children.
Volume- The volume of the board is determined by its length, width, and thickness. As a beginner, you should opt for a board with higher volume, as it provides more stability and buoyancy.
3- improve your pop-up
Mastering the pop-up technique is crucial for getting to your feet quickly and effectively. Practice the pop-up on land first, focusing on the fluid motion of pushing up with your arms while swinging your legs underneath you.
When I first started surfing, I used to practice my pop-up every day before to sleep, kind of like doing Abs. Just put a yoga mat on the floor and do 10 pop-ups, 3 sets. Or any combination that works for you.
Please make sure you’re doing the right technique, having a mirror can help. Pay attention to the following while practicing you’re pop-up: Keep your back arched when performing the pop-up, place your palms under your chest, and opt to do it in one motion.
4- WORK ON YOUR BALANCE
Finding the right stance and maintaining balance on the board is key to staying upright and maneuvering on the wave. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, with your front foot slightly angled towards the front of the board. A balance board is a handy tool for this purpose. Keep in mind, if you’re new to the balance board, do it while holding on to something solid or a friend to prevent yourself from falling and getting heart.
How do you know what is your front foot? well, there is no easy answer to that. It’s not always the stronger foot in front, it might be the case for you but don’t rush to a conclusion just yet. As a surf instructor, I always tell people to FEEL what is right for them. Usually, it’s the foot you send forward the first couple of times you do pop-up. It’s just instinctive. Otherwise, if you ever skied or been riding a skateboard then it will be the same foot forward.
Do you know these surfing terms?
Regular- refers to a surfer who rides with his right foot forward.
Goofy- refers to a surfer who rides with his left foot forward.
5- practice paddling
Surfing is 90% paddling, 5% duck diving (passing the waves) and 5% surfing. Ok, I exaggerated here I know. But the point is that paddling is a BIG part of surfing. You paddle to get out to the waves, you paddle to position yourself, you paddle to catch the wave, and you get the point, right?
By dedicating time to practice paddling, surfers can build upper body strength, improve endurance, and refine their technique, leading to better wave-catching abilities and maneuvering on the board. The ocean is flat in your area? great take a surfboard and go out for a paddle. You can set a time limit or assign a spot you want to reach in the ocean (like a bouy) or parallel to the beach.
Additionally, improving paddling skills can increase your confidence in the water, allowing you to navigate through different wave conditions with ease.
6- improve your position and timing
Ok, now it’s time to catch a wave. Once you pass the breaking waves, positioning is a key element to a successful ride. Position yourself in a way that you’re close to the wave’s breaking energy but not so close that it’s too strong to handle.
In the picture, we can 3 surfers on the same wave. The one in the middle took off too deep in the wave (closer to the breaking point), therefore he missed the wave. The other surfers however took off in a good position where the wave started to break.
Position yourself correctly in the lineup, as close as possible to the wave’s breaking point. Paddle hard and match the speed of the wave to catch it at the right moment. Remember to keep your weight centered and slightly forward. And look at the direction you want to go!
7- keep your eyes on the wave
This one is straightforward, keep your eyes on the wave or the beach assuming you’re still practicing the pop-up. Even when you do the pop-up try not to look at your feet and hands, rather just look at the beach or wave and go for it. Think about it this way, you want the pop-up to be an instinctive thing, like waving your hand or going up the stairs. Unless you look at your hand when you wave or at your feet when walking, in that case, surfing is not the only thing you need to improve. Lol.
WHERE YOU LOOK IS WHERE YOU GO! If you look down then guess what? you’ll fall. Understand this and you’ll be better at surfing in no time!
8- bend your knees
If you have never surfed before then you probably need this tip. As an instinct when we stand up from a lying down position (on land) we tend to stand straight. In the ocean though, Bend your knees slightly to absorb the momentum and use your arms for stability and control. Also, try to keep your back slightly arched.
9- Know your limits
By being aware of your skill level and physical capabilities, you can make informed decisions about the waves you choose to ride, ensuring that they align with your abilities. Knowing your limits also plays a key role in staying safe in the water, as it helps prevent you from taking unnecessary risks or attempting maneuvers beyond your current level of expertise.
Additionally, acknowledging your boundaries allows for a more enjoyable and fulfilling surfing experience, as you can focus on honing your skills within a comfortable and sustainable range, ultimately contributing to long-term progress and enjoyment in the sport.
10- Respect the lineup
While surfing is an individual sport, you’ll still be sharing the lineup with other surfers. learn surf etiquette and go by the unwritten rules of surfing. Well actually some beaches have written them to emphasize the importance of the matter. Here are some of the rules you should follow
Priority- A priority is given to whoever is closer the the breaking point, some times is a bit trickier to determine but most of the time it’s easy. In case you’re surfing in a point-break, then it goes by turn, still, the person closest to the breaking point takes the wave but there should be a “line” of surfers waiting for their turn to take the wave. I say “should” because rules are not always followed in real life.
Paddling out– when paddling back out don’t paddle into unbroken waves if a surfer is riding this wave. Doing that will either cause a collision or interrupt the surfer from riding his wave all the way. Instead, pass the wave by going over (or under) the whitewash. Yes, it’s harder but hey you wouldn’t want to get interrupted on a wave as well, right?
Don’t let go of your board– If you’re in a situation where a wave is about to wash you over and you can’t pass with your surfboard, letting go of the surfboard might result in hearting any surfer behind you or even losing the surfboard to the power of the ocean. Yes, you have the leash connected to your leg but in some cases, you might lose the leash as well. The best thing to do is to get off your surfboard and hold it as tight as possible in brace for it. You will get swept by the wave but at least you still have your surfboard and you didn’t hurt anyone in the process.
conclusion
In this blog post “Get Better at Surfing: 10 Tips to Help You Get Started” I highlighted key elements essential for improving surfing skills. I emphasize the importance of understanding ocean patterns to effectively navigate and anticipate waves.
Choosing the right surfboard is crucial for optimal performance while improving the pop-up technique and working on balance are essential for mastering the art of riding waves. The post also underscores the significance of practicing paddling, refining position and timing and maintaining focus on the wave.
Additionally, bending the knees is highlighted as a fundamental aspect of the surfing technique. Knowing and respecting personal limits, as well as respecting the lineup, are emphasized as vital for safety and etiquette in the surfing community. Overall, these key elements collectively contribute to a comprehensive approach to enhancing surfing abilities.
Remember, becoming a good surfer requires dedication and practice. Never miss an opportunity to improve and get better at surfing. Every step counts. Happy surfing!
get better at surfing Faq
Why is choosing the right surfboard important for beginners?
Choosing the right surfboard is crucial for beginners as it can significantly impact their ability to learn and progress in the sport.
How can I improve my pop-up technique?
Improving your pop-up technique involves practicing the motion and focusing on fluidity and speed to efficiently transition from lying down to standing on the surfboard.
How does practicing paddling contribute to becoming a better surfer?
Practicing paddling helps build strength and endurance, essential for catching waves and maneuvering in the water effectively.
What is the significance of knowing your limits in surfing?
Knowing your limits is important for safety, allowing you to make informed decisions about the waves you choose to ride and prevent unnecessary risks.
