

Paddling may be the most overlooked and underappreciated aspect of surfing.
BEGINNER IN SURFER LINGO HOW TO
Learn How To Paddle & Navigate Wavy Water Give yourself some grace and know that every fall you take brings you one step closer to the mastery you’re looking for. Step Fourĭrop back down to your chest and do it again! Properly popping onto your feet on a board is the biggest barrier beginners face when learning to surf. Keep your center of gravity low and your vision forward, with your front foot in the center of the board. Step ThreeĪs you bring your knees forward, place your feet below your body.

Thrust upward and straighten your arms, and drag your knees beneath your body, all in one motion. Place your hands under your shoulders as if you’re doing a pushup. Lay face down on your board and situate yourself on the bottom two-thirds of the board. Place your board down on the ground without your fins attached to it. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown on how to start building that muscle memory. Even just a few minutes will pay off massively once you try standing on your board in the water. Practice On The Beach (Or At Home)Įxperienced surfers usually start with the same advice for everyone: practice popping up and mastering your stance on land before water. If you know a surfer or where to find them, chances are they’d be happy to point you toward beginner beaches (and answer specific questions about your area). Word-of-mouth in your area is always the best way to find out where to go. Just because a spot was firing one day doesn’t mean you can always rely on those same conditions. However, conditions will always be weather-dependent, so be sure to check up on the reports in your area. Breaks like these also let you get a feel for how a wave impacts and affects your board-there’s less danger of being held under after an inevitable wipeout, too. This will also keep you from getting pummeled and sent back to shore before you’ve even had a chance to try riding. Smaller waves like these make it easier to paddle out and read the water and lineup. Start on a shore with long, even sets of 1–3-foot waves. (And also felt how contagious the surf bug is.) While it’s easy to feel like you can jump straight into big wave barrels, it’s best to find a beginner-friendly beach until you feel confident on your board. If you’re anything like us, you’ve watched a few surf films and seen how effortless the pros make surfing look. And for more info on gear, you can visit our Surf Setup 101 article. Check out our post on how to choose one for a detailed drop on all your options. There are several different styles of wetsuits. Generally, thicker wetsuits offer more warmth, while thinner wetsuits are more suitable for warmer temps. WetsuitsĪs far as your wetsuit is concerned, the best options depend on the water temperature. Not sure what board is best for you? Our Gearheads can help you pick out everything you need for the waves. Tri-fins are easier to turn and offer a more high-performance style of longboarding. Single-fins are great for nose riding or hanging ten (a classic style of surfing). Longboards: Generally nine feet and up with either a single-fin setup or a tri-fin set up.They are shaped with slightly more volume to make it easy to paddle into smaller waves but remain more maneuverable than a longboard.

