You’ve probably seen some videos of pro surfers traveling the world, catching wave after wave with ease. Maybe you’ve driven past a beach and seen a tribe of tanned wave riders loading up their boards with beaming faces and thought, “How hard is it to teach yourself to surf?” Let’s be real, surfing can be intimidating to pursue for beginners. There can be big waves, crowded spots and lots of other hazards to avoid. But with enough practice in the ocean, the right board and knowing when and where to surf, you can teach yourself to surf without hurting your body or your ego. It usually takes a couple of months, surfing three to four sessions a week to really start getting the hang of it on your own. It’s no wonder that during the COVID-19 pandemic, when lots of folks found more time on their hands, many took to the waves to learn the ancient Hawaiian sport of surfing. People around the world dedicate all of their free time and energy to pursuing their next great wave. In this post, we’ll talk about the fundamental elements of surfing and some tips on learning to surf.

To surf safely it is important to know the particulars of a surf spot before paddling out. Knowing where the sharp reefs and rocks are located, when the tide will drop (which will make the water more shallow and expose more hazards), how to handle your board in various scenarios to avoid injuring yourself and other surfers, and of course surf etiquette, are all extremely important in staying safe while surfing. If you have little or no experience in the ocean, you should spend some time swimming and bodysurfing in calm conditions to understand how the water moves.

Paddling a surfboard efficiently requires unique movements that most people do not perform in their daily lives. Various shoulder and back muscles take some time to develop before you can surf for long periods of time without exhaustion. Once you develop these surf-specific muscle groups, you will be able to paddle fast and efficiently enough to enjoy hours of surfing at a time. Swimming and shoulder exercises help surfers maintain and train for the next swell.

Another major component to surfing properly is reading waves. Experienced surfers are able to look at an oncoming set of swells and predict exactly how those waves will break, including their shape & size. Once you know which waves are worth paddling for, you will be able to position yourself and pace your paddling for the best results. This takes experience and time in the water to learn well. Start by sitting at the beach and watching waves as they roll in. In time, you will be able predict when the wave will start to crest and which direction the wave will break. Once you have a good idea of what will happen, you will be able to pick and choose which waves are worth your precious paddling energy.

If you’ve never done another board sport like skateboarding or snowboarding, fear not. Most people are able to balance on their first waves with some instruction on proper surf stance and technique. You can start slow, surfing smaller waves with little consequence. Take your time going from a prone position, to a kneel, to a full pop-up. Once you understand how the board will behave as you shift your weight, your muscle memory will kick in and balancing your board will come naturally. Soon, you’ll be able to turn your board, using small movements in your back foot and shifting your weight to carve.