Learn to Surf Faster with these 3 Quick Tips
We’ve helped a lot of people learn how to surf. While many people flourish and have the time of their lives, many people flounder and struggle to even enjoy their time out in the water. From our experience, there are a few key things that make the difference in every new surfer’s experience. If you want to learn to surf faster and get the most out of your surf sessions, make sure you are doing the following 3 things:
1. Use the right equipment
Learning to surf in the perfect conditions is hard enough on its own. We often see first timers trying to learn how to surf with equipment that is suited for beginners or is just plain bad. The most important piece of equipment is the surfboard. When choosing a surfboard as a beginner, the bigger the better. The ideal board to learn to surf is 9 feet or longer and is wide and thick to give it plenty of float and to easily support the person riding. A nice big board like this provides lots of stability, making it easier for the rider to stand up and to balance.
Many people learn to surf riding Wavestorm surfboards, which are an appealing option because they are cheap and easy to come by. These are 8 ft soft top boards that can usually be found at Costco or Sam’s Club for roughly $100. While these boards are a great deal and can be a lot of fun, we’ve found that because they are a bit smaller many beginners struggle to pop up or struggle to stay balanced once they do. Learning on the right board can make the difference between ridding an epic wave and floundering around out in the waves.
2. Practice on land
We all know the saying “Practice makes perfect” and like anything, the more you surf the better you get. The hard part is that unlike other sports where you have a gym or a field where you can practice the same moves over and over again, the ocean can wildly unpredictable. You’ll never get the exact same wave twice. Sometimes you’re lucky if there are any waves at all. This is why is so important to practice on land, especially when you’re first learning.
In every beginner surf lesson we teach, we always start on the beach. Spending some time in a controlled environment allows us to get some meaningful discussion and practice before we actually get in the ocean. Often the hardest skill for new surfers is going from their belly to their feet while riding the wave (known as a popup). While on the beach, we can spend as long as we need practicing this technique till we’re confident each student feels comfortable and confident. You can do the same as you learn to surf. Take some time before you go out to do popups with your board in the sand. Practice in the middle of your living room floor as you watch tv. The more you do it, the easier will be when there is a wave beneath your feet.
If you are serious about improving your surfing ability you need to be practicing constantly. Take any chance you get to practice and you’ll be cruising down the line in no time.
3. Surf in the right conditions
The right conditions are critical when first learning how to surf. Not only can the wrong conditions be dangerous, it can ruin your whole surfing experience. Always take time to observe the conditions before going out for a surf. How big are the waves? How frequently are they coming in? Is the lineup filled with mostly experienced surfers, or are there more beginners like you?
Most of the time, when learning to surf it’s good to have small, knee to waist high waves. Generally, you want to learn on a sandy beach, away from rocks and coral if possible. If possible, it’s good to learn to surf where there are other surfers around your skill level so that you’re not getting in the way of more advanced surfers. All these things can contribute to your safety and the safety of those around you when you surf. Going out in the right conditions will help you get more meaningful practice as you learn to surf, and you will improve much quicker.
Having trouble learning how to surf? We’d love to help!
Sign up for surf lessons today at https://www.foreverstokedsurfschool.com/lessons/
See you out there!
