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How to Surf: Complete Beginner’s Guide To Get You Started

This complete beginner’s guide on how to surf gives you everything you need to know to enjoy the sport the next time you’re in the water.
Adrienne TaylorBy Adrienne TaylorApril 7, 202214 Mins Read
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Surfing
How to Surf: Complete Beginner’s Guide To Get You Started
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Do you dream of pulling into overhead barrels, arm in the face like you’re John John Florence stalling for the barrel at Backdoor? Yeah, sure, so do all of us. The reality is learning to surf as well as John John or the GOAT, Kelly Slater, takes a lifetime of practice and a special talent.

Before you give up on your dreams, there’s something you need to know. You don’t need to be a pro to have fun when the next swell arrives at your local beach break or reef.

Surfing is fun at any level. We guarantee you that when you catch your first three-foot open-face wave, you’ll have a smile from ear to ear. That’s the stoke for you. It doesn’t care if you’re riding three-foot or thirty-foot; you get the same feeling.

Learning to surf takes some time, but if you have the commitment and dedication, then it won’t be long until you’re pulling into your first four-foot barrel. This brief guide unpacks everything you need to know on how to surf.


Contents

  • Buying Your Gear
  • Choosing the Right Surfboard
    • The Types of Surfboards
      • Longboards
      • Mid-Sizes
      • Short Boards
      • Soft Tops
    • PU or EPS?
    • Waxing Your Board or Trac-Pads?
  • Surfing Gear Accessories
    • Fins
    • Leash
    • Wetsuit
  • Learning to Surf – A Complete Guide
    • Instructor or DIY?
    • Understanding the Beach, Wind, and the Water
      • Beach Breaks
      • Reef Breaks
      • How the Wind Works
      • Wave Size and Period
      • Reading Charts
    • Understanding Your Fitness and Limitations
      • Paddling
      • Breath Holds
  • Learn to Surf in Five Steps
    • Learning to Surf Phase 1 – Learning in the Foam
    • Learning to Surf Phase 2 – Mastering the Pop-Up
    • Learning to Surf Phase 3 – Getting to the Backline
    • Learning to Surf Phase 4 – Learning to Turn
    • Learning to Surf Phase 5 – Riding the Barrel
  • In Closing – Understanding Etiquette in the Lineup

Buying Your Gear

Surfing is a relatively affordable sport. All you need is a pair of boardshorts, a board, leash, and some wax, and you’re ready to go. Well, maybe a wetsuit if you’re in Atlantic waters or winter conditions. However, there’s a bit more to it than that. Let’s look at the gear you need to start surfing.

Choosing the Right Surfboard

The board is the heart of surfing. Listen to a pro WSL contest, and you’re likely to hear Strider “Raspberry” Wasilewski talking to the pros about their boards. The differences in design might not be apparent to the untrained eye, but they make a difference.

The Types of Surfboards

There are several different surfboards to suit water conditions, your experience level, and what you want to do on the wave.

When looking at surfboard design, four primary components define the board design. The length in feet, the width in inches, the thickness, and the shape. These elements define the board’s performance in the water.

However, the most critical aspect of choosing your surfboard is selecting the right volume for the board to match your body weight. The volume describes the amount of water the board displaces, equating to its buoyancy in the water.

Volume for beginner boards is usually above 40-Liters. Pros will use anything from 24L to 34L, depending on their height. South African Jordy Smith is 6’4″ and weighs 200-lbs. He rides a 34L board. However, you’re not Jordy, and as a beginner, you need a board with thicker rails, more volume, and more length and width.

These factors make it easier to get to your feet on the board as a beginner. It also helps you find your balance and learn to position yourself on the wave. Let’s look at the types of surfboards available.

Bestseller No. 1
Wavestorm-15th Anniversary Edition Soft Top Foam 8ft Surfboard | for Beginners and All Levels | Includes Accessories | Leash and Multiple Fin Options, Turquoise pinline
Wavestorm-15th Anniversary Edition Soft Top Foam 8ft Surfboard | for Beginners and All Levels | Includes Accessories | Leash and Multiple Fin Options, Turquoise pinline
  • the wavestorm 8ft surfboard dimensions are 96 l x 22.5" w x 3.25" thick - weight is 11.4lbs - volume at 86 liters - recommended weight capacity at 200lbs."
  • triple stringer system gives the foam core rigidity , strength, and integrity.
  • patented u.v. inhibiting soft graphic deck and high density slick bottom for rigidity.
  • tail pad for better back foot traction and leash.
  • multiple fin sets includes a triple performance 4.5 fin set up for more maneuverability and a single 7.5" fin with closure plugs which provides drawn out turns and speed."
$229.99
View on Amazon
Bestseller No. 2
WAVESTORM 8' Surfboard, Sunburst Graphic,Orange White,WS18-SRF001-SUN
WAVESTORM 8' Surfboard, Sunburst Graphic,Orange White,WS18-SRF001-SUN
  • oft Foam Construction Classic Surfboard, strong EPS core with 3 stringer system
  • The 8 ft. classic surfboard is one of the best-selling & performing learn-to-surf boards of all time and has fun built into it’s virtue being light, soft & easy to handle.
  • Years of extensive manufacturing experience create a perfect balance of material and performance all within one board.
  • Item Package Weight: 22.0 pounds
$235.97
View on Amazon
SaleBestseller No. 3
Wavestorm 8ft Surfboard // Foam Wax Free Soft Top Longboard for Adults and Kids of All Levels of Surfing, Multicolor
Wavestorm 8ft Surfboard // Foam Wax Free Soft Top Longboard for Adults and Kids of All Levels of Surfing, Multicolor
  • Soft foam construction Classic surfboard, strong EPS core with 3 Stringer System
  • Soft webs-IXL water Barrier skin crosslink top deck and rails high density HDPE polyethylene Slick bottom skin exclusive brushed color graphic art deck
  • Included removable bolt thru fins ankle leash traction pad and soft board sock cover for protection
  • Dimensions 8' x 22 1/2 x 3 1/4 Weight 11. 5 lbs
  • Volume 86 liters suggested weight capacity up to 200lbs
$219.35
View on Amazon

Longboards

Longboards are a niche by themselves. These boards are nine to ten feet long and built for one to four-foot conditions. They are slow to turn and challenging to control but fun to ride. They are suitable for beginners, and they are best for small wave conditions that are perfect for learning. The “log” gives you enough length and width for stability and plenty of foam for float.

Mid-Sizes

Mid-lengths and mini-mals are seven to eight feet long, and they have a more surfboard look than longboards, with thinner rails, pointed noses, pulled-in tails, and more rocker throughout the board. They suit a wide variety of conditions, from 3-foot mush to 10-foot barrels. The thinner width, thickness, and performance design compared to the longboard allow for better turning and optimal board positioning in the barrel.

Short Boards

Shortboards are where most surfers want to end up with their equipment. When the waves are four to six feet and decent, or 6-foot+ and pumping, you want to go to your favorite shortboard for the session. However, shortboards are harder to ride. They have lower volume than mid-sizes or longboards and thinner rails with less width and length.

As a result, you need to have a firm grasp of paddling and popping up to your feet before you can start riding a shortboard. Shortboards are available in a variety of designs. From the 5-foot fish for those flat, mushy days to the 6’4″ pintail blade for those overhead barreling conditions.

Shortboards don’t float on top of the water as much as longboards due to the lower volume. They also have more rocker in the nose and tail, making it easier to hug the wave face. Shortboards come in thruster (tri-fin) or quad (four-fin) setups.

The thruster is a good choice when turning on a wave. The quad is for riding barrels and straight-line speed. When you’re choosing a shortboard, the general rule is to buy a board that’s 2-inches shorter than your height. Your step-up for big waves should be an inch over your height.

Soft Tops

The soft top is another great choice for learners. These boards come in a range of lengths and shapes with a foam top. If the board hits you in the head, it’s not going to knock you unconscious like a glassed board. Some people complain that soft-tops don’t offer the same performance and shortboards. Those people need to watch Jamie O’Brien pull into a 10-foot Pipeline in Hawaii on his 9-foot soft-top log. Ben Gravy is another surfer who can surf any wave on a soft-top board.

PU or EPS?

When you’re buying a traditional shortboard, you have the option of purchasing it from the shaper in PU or EPS foam. The PU foam is a conventional material. EPS is the next-generation of surfboard material. It’s lighter and has better buoyancy, but it costs more.

Some surfers complain that EPS doesn’t feel right, providing too much chatter on the face. However, some surfers love them. It’s all about personal preference.

Waxing Your Board or Trac-Pads?

Surfers stick to the board using a rear traction pad positioned over the fin box. Some might use the same trackpad for the front foot as well.

However, trackpads can be uncomfortable if you’re surfing without a shirt. So, most surfers choose the configuration of a trackpad on the rear and wax on the front.

Bestseller No. 1
Sticky Bumps Cool/Cold Water Surfboard Wax (2 Bars)
Sticky Bumps Cool/Cold Water Surfboard Wax (2 Bars)
$6.99
View on Amazon

Surfing Gear Accessories

Fins

Along with your board, you’re going to need some fins. The fins slot into fin boxes on the rear underside of the board.

As mentioned, you get them in thruster and quad configurations, with most boards allowing for a thruster or quad setup.

The rake and lead on the fin are the most important factors. The steeper the rage and shallower the lead, the better the find performs in hollow waves.

Leash

The leash is essential for beginners. It keeps you attached to the board. You secure the leash to the tail plug in the board and around your foot using a Velcro strap.

The leash should be 1-foot longer than the board to prevent it from snapping the board back at you after you come off a wave and land in the water.

Wetsuit

If you’re surfing in cold waters around the Atlantic or southern Pacific, you’re going to need a wetsuit. Northern Californian winters require you to wear a 3/2mm full suit.

New Jersey winters get even colder, and you’ll need a 5/4mm wetsuit to keep you warm. When it’s really cold, you’ll need booties for your feet and a hoodie to protect your ears.

Windsurfing
How To Windsurf: Complete Beginner’s Guide to Get You Started

Learning to Surf – A Complete Guide

Ok, it’s time to unpack the process of learning to surf. IT takes some time to get used to the board and how it moves in the ocean.

The learning curve is different for everyone, and you can’t expect miracles if you have no board riding experience. However, like the kid behind the counter in the surf store in the movie “Point Break” said, “Surfing’s the source, stick with it, it’ll change your life.”

Instructor or DIY?

When you’re learning to surf, you have the choice of teaching yourself or learning from an instructor. If you can handle the embarrassment of someone teaching you on the beach, then it’s a great way to build your skills faster than trying to learn them yourself.

However, it’s not impossible to learn yourself. There are plenty of tutorials available for learning to surf on YouTube. Watch the videos from the top creators and put what you learn into practice in the water; you don’t need someone showing you how.

The only reason why an instructor benefits you, and the reason why you’ll get into waves faster than DIY, is that they show you your mistakes and teach you how to correct them. Doing it yourself will take you longer to figure out what you’re doing wrong.

Surfing
Surfing

Understanding the Beach, Wind, and the Water

One thing that makes surfing so great is its deep connection with nature. Going surfing isn’t as simple as throwing your board on the rook racks and heading to the beach like it was the gym. The reality is you can’t surf every day. The weather, water, and wind control whether you get to surf or not.

So, the first place to start is with understanding conditions.

Beach Breaks

A beach break has a sand bottom. You usually get a shorter ride than a reef break or a reef point break. However, like Supertubos in Portugal, many beach breaks produce meaty, throaty barrels that drain to the shore.

Reef Breaks

Reef breaks, like Pipeline in Hawaii and Uluwatu in Bali, have rock or coral bottoms. As a result, they have a more consistent wave than a sand bottom that’s constantly shifting throughout the season. However, hitting your head on the reef could result in a serious injury.

How the Wind Works

The wind is the most important factor in surfing. If you have a six-foot swell breaking in the right direction, the difference between big barrels and blow-out slop is t hind. An onshore wind washes everything out, while an offshore wind cleans up the wave face and opens the barrel.

Wave Size and Period

Every break works with a different swell direction. For example, Pipeline works best when it has an NW swell direction. This swell line opens the barrel. The further west the swell gets, the better the wave. The farther north it goes, the more it clamps the end of the barrel, leaving you eating the reef.

The size of the wave face is not as important as the wave period. A 5-foot swell on a 9-second period (the period is the gap in seconds between waves) will produce a small weak wave that doesn’t barrel. The same five-foot swell with 19 seconds would produce 6-foot barrels.

Reading Charts

Fortunately, you can stay ahead of the weather and know the conditions days ahead with charting software. Surfline and Windy have excellent charting software that shows you the wind speed and direction, swell direction, size, and period up to a week out.

Understanding Your Fitness and Limitations

Your success with learning to surf depends on your physical fitness and mental limitations. If you’re unfit, paddling out in solid six-foot surf is a bad idea, especially as a beginner. You need peak fitness and plenty of skill to manage these conditions.

As a beginner, you’re going to look to start in foamies and work your way up to three to four-foot conditions. Taking a slow and gentle approach is better than throwing yourself in the deep end and ending up in a potential drowning event.

Paddling

Paddling is the core of surfing. You’re always paddling. Whether it’s out to the peak, fighting the current, or stroking into a wave, you’re always paddling. So, the more you paddle, the fitter you get. According to ex world-number-one John John Florence, all the exercise and training he ever got as a youth was paddling. Paddle, paddle, paddle.

Breath Holds

When you come off a wave with some power and size, it’s easy to start to panic. However, panicking is the worst thing you can do.

It eats up your breath, making you feel like you’re going to drown. When you come off a wave, remain calm, and don’t fight it, your board will bring you back to the surface.

Surfing
Surfing

Learn to Surf in Five Steps

Learning to Surf Phase 1 – Learning in the Foam

When you start surfing, you’ll learn in the foam. These whitewater waves let you practice getting you to your feet while learning how to manage the power and movement of the wave.

Learning to Surf Phase 2 – Mastering the Pop-Up

Mastering the pop-up is the key to improving your surfing. The faster you can get to your feet, the more time you have to adjust before pulling into the barrel or completing your bottom turn.

Learning in the water isn’t good enough. You won’t get enough opportunities with waves to learn to get to your feet; it’s going to take months with this strategy.

Instead, look for a tutorial on YouTube, and practice your pop-up on the floor at home. Practice twenty pop-ups in the morning and twenty at night and watch how fast your pop-up technique improves.

Learning to Surf Phase 3 – Getting to the Backline

After you have the pop-up down and you’re comfortable with getting up in the foamies, it’s time to chase the green water of the backline. However, you’ve got to get there first.

You’ll have to practice the “duck diving” technique to get to the back past the big waves in the impact zone. Once again, look for a tutorial on YouTube and practice your duck diving in a swimming pool if you have access to one.

Learning to Surf Phase 4 – Learning to Turn

Once you’re out the back and you drop into your first green wave, it’s time to learn to turn. You get heel side and toe side turns and frontside and backside riding.

Turning involves digging the board’s rail into the water and shifting your weight through your shoulders, hips, and feet to complete maneuvers. There are also plenty of YouTube tutorials on how to complete carves, cutbacks, and snaps.

Learning to Surf Phase 5 – Riding the Barrel

Riding the barrel is what surfing is all about. Whether you’re taking on 15-foot Pipeline or Teahupoo or your four-foot beach break, the thrill of being in the tube is a feeling only surfers can describe. IT’s where we all want to be, all the time.

When riding in the barrel, the wave wants to push you into the lip. You’ll need to learn to “pump” and move your feet to trim in the barrel and stay up high, away from the lip at the bottom of the wave. You know you’re doing it right when the barrel spits you out in a violent rush of spray.

In Closing – Understanding Etiquette in the Lineup

When you paddle out to the lineup, you can’t pass everyone and head for the peak. You’ll probably find someone waiting for you in the parking lot when you get back to your car.

The lineup works like a conveyor belt; the person sitting deepest at the peak gets the next wave. As the person at the front catches their wave, the next person in line gets their turn. Respect the lineup. Wait your turn and enjoy the ride.

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Adrienne Taylor
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Adrienne is a traveler and full-time writer with many years experience of the outdoor life. An adrenaline junkie at heart she loves to try different water sports and activities all year round. With a degree in journalism she combines her love of the marine life with writing at BoatingBeast and BeActiveOutdoors

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