How to Surf? – Important Surfing Tips for Beginners

Riding the beautiful waves on a surfboard seems like a fascinating task, but is it equally easy? The answer is No. Surfing is one of the fascinating water sports in which a surfer rides on the moving water waves using a surfboard. If you are new to the world of surfing, you are at the right place. Here is all you need to know about how to surf and tips on surfing for beginners.

How to Surf?

Surfing and kitesurfing are one of the best water sports, which allows you to enjoy the waves of water while riding them. But this one is not easy. Surfing is not at all like traditional sports. The learning curve of this sport is slow, but it is also fun. Surfing for beginners seems like an almost impossible task, but with the right learning process, you can be a pro in this sport.

Surfing is practiced and learned in an unpredictable environment. The learning remarkably depends on the geographical conditions and climate. To succinctly describe, learning how to surf is different from learning other sports.

Understand the Environment

One of the most important things when learning how to surf is understanding the environment. You need to find the right spot. If you are a beginner, make sure to go with someone experienced as they will give you the right advice. Make sure to keep your guide by your side during the session.

In order to learn to surf, you need to find the waves of the right size for you. Make sure to choose the right beginner wave. If you choose the wrong wave, there is always the risk of ending up in the water and losing your surfboard. Moreover, before going into the ocean, observe and analyze the environment properly. It will allow you to understand who the locals are, find the right spot, and understand the dangers.

Manage a Good Physical Shape

Surfing for beginners is a really tough sport. It can help you to lose weight, burn calories, and build muscles. It is a highly demanding sport that requires you to be in good shape so that you can swim properly in the open sea when the waves are high and get back on the surfboard when being hardly pushed by the waves. Moreover, you also need a good physical shape so that you can stay balanced on the surfboard in harsh conditions.

Exercise and Meditate

The important muscles you would need to train yourself in surfing include abs, biceps and triceps, dorsals, shoulders, pectorals, and legs. Therefore, it is essential to opt for the right exercises to stay fit and strong for surfing.

One of the best exercises is cardio. It will allow you to manage the toned body that your body needs when fencing the sea, the waves, and the currents. Swim every day in order to get used to it. Swimming against the waves and then swimming fast to catch the waves is really tiring.

Swimming and mindfulness go together. So, make sure to practice yoga. It can play an essential role in training and can help you in managing a good focus and balance. It is almost impossible to become fit in a single day. So, you should start training as soon as possible and focus on sports nutrition. It will allow you to become fit and surf properly. A decent physical shape is a must to do good in surfing.

Learn to Paddle

Learning to paddle is one of the important steps in learning how to surf. In order to paddle, first, you need to lay down in the middle of the surfboard. You need a lot of practice to do it right. Make sure no to lie too much on the bottom part of the board as it can lead to dragging the surfboard. You need to experiment a lot to find the right way to distribute your body weight.

Once you lay down properly on the surfboard, follow the below-mentioned steps.

After lying down on the surfboard, move downwards slightly to lift the tip of the board.
Keep the chest properly elevated to avoid touching it on the board.
With your elbows, create a 90-degree angle. It will help you to paddle adequately and dig deeper.
Keep your feet and legs together while you are on the board.
Stay centered on the surfboard to maintain equilibrium. Make sure to balance your weight on the board properly.
Paddle using one arm at a time. Finish each paddle properly as far behind as much you can. Avoid half paddles. It is one of the important tips to consider while you learn to surf.

Learn to Stand on a Surfboard

The next step in how to surf is learning to stand on the board. It is the desire of every beginner. Below mentioned are the steps to follow for standing on the surfboard.

Line up your arms next to the rib cage. Keep your palms flat on the board’s deck.
Keep your back foot above the fin or the trackpad.
Push your body upwards using your arms and the back foot to bring your front leg as far as possible between your hands.
When you are trying to stand up, keep your knees bent so that you can stay stable on the board.

Learn to Catch a Wave

How to catch a wave? It is one of the most important things when learning how to surf. When it comes to surfing for beginners, you should aim for smaller waves. Make sure to stay closer to the seashores as larger waves can be really dangerous. Follow the below-mentioned steps on how to catch a wave.

Turn your surf in the direction in which the wave is breaking.
Before breaking, visualize where the wave you are planning to catch is jacking.
Make sure no one else is paddling for the same wave.
Take a quick look at which point you will drop the wave to ensure no other person is in your way.
Paddle with around a 15-degrees angle towards the direction of the wave, not straight to the shore.
Paddle with your back properly arched up.
Manage to keep looking back at the wave to ensure that you are in the right spot.
Leek right and left to ensure that no one else is dropping the same wave.
The moment you feel that the wave is about to touch your board or feet, shift your bodyweight forward. Bring your chin closer to the board. It will allow the board to click with the wave and help you catch the wave.

Pro Tip – Make sure to have a longboard. It will help you to float, maintain stability, and properly catch a wave.

Pass The Break

When you see a large wave coming towards you, start paddling fastener to the wave. Take a big breath and keep the board perpendicular to the wave. Grab the rails of the board and ensure to keep it close to your body. Take a big deep breath and flip your surfboard underwater. Remain three until the wave comes on the top of the board. Once the wave passes, you come on the top and get back on the surfboard.

Pro Tip – Do not wrap your legs around the surfboard. Make sure to keep the grip tight using your arms and hands.

Learn Surfing Etiquette

If you are new to the world of surfing, then you might have no idea about surfing etiquettes. It is a set of rules that you need to follow while surfing. Always remember that surfing is a dangerous sport, and it is practiced in the open sea on dangerous tides and in difficult conditions. If you are interested in water sports and desperate about learning how to sail or how to surf then it is essential to understand the basic rules.

Never take off a wave on which someone else is riding. If you catch such waves, their surfboard could hurt you.

In case you are paddling, and someone else is already riding the wave in front of you, then paddle towards the whitewater. It will shield and keep their board from hitting you.

Never snake. It is wave stealing. In case you are snaking, it can make the other surfer annoyed. It is disrespectful, and you should avoid doing this.

When entering the water, ensure to hold the board on your side. Holding the board in front is risky.
When falling, keep in mind to protect your head using your arms. Moreover, stay underwater for some time.
Never surf immediately after having a meal. Wait for around half an hour.
Always help when you see surfers in danger.
Respect the beach, the locals, and the environment.

Final Words

Learning to surf means embracing a specific lifestyle that combines exercising and healthy habits. The primary ingredients of surfing include patience, respect for others, and good mental and physical balance. Make sure not to be hard on yourself while learning how to surf. It is a bit of a lengthy process but once you learn surfing, trust me you’re gonna love it. Tell us about your first surfing experience by dropping a comment.

How to Surf? – Important Surfing Tips for Beginners