How to Surf - The Beginner's Guide to Surfing

Whether you’re new to surfing or have tried it a few times, this guide will walk you through everything you need to learn how to surf. Below, you’ll find essential techniques, equipment guidance, safety tips and mindset advice. There’s a lot to know and learn, so we’ve added links to each section to dive deeper if you feel like it. Ready? Let’s get started!

Surfing Safety Basics

Below are the top safety tips you need to know when you start surfing.

Select the Right Surf Spot
Not all spots are beginner-friendly. Aim for mellow surf breaks with smaller waves, and always check the daily forecast to avoid potentially challenging conditions.

Enter the Water Safely
Hold your board by the nose and keep it beside you, perpendicular to the waves. Don’t place your surfboard in front of you; waves could push it back at you.

Mind Your Board
Thanks to the leash, your board’s always close to you, so be mindful of its position, especially during wipeouts.

Wipeout Tips
Wipeouts are normal! If you can, jump away, land feet first, and cover your head with your hands and arms. Never dive head first, especially when learning in small waves near the shore. Always check for your board as you come up to the surface. Pop your hand out of the water first so you don’t bang your head on your surfboard.

Avoid the Impact Zone
Try your best to avoid the area where most of the waves are breaking the hardest (where the lip initially crashes down, a place called the “impact zone”). When learning, you can either stay and learn in the whitewater or, if you’re starting to paddle out past the break, aim to paddle toward the whitewater or around breaking waves.

Stay Aware of Other Surfers
Give other surfers space to avoid collisions. Keep a safe distance and stay alert in the lineup.

Handle Rip Currents
A rip current is a strong water current that runs out of the beach perpendicular to the shore. NEVER try to fight a rip current; this is how many people drown. Rip currents are rarely wider than 10 meters (30 feet). This means you can stay on your surfboard and either paddle sideways, parallel to the beach, or let yourself float past the rip current before paddling back to the shore (see illustration).

Choose the Right Person to Teach You
Learning from someone experienced and knowledgeable can make a big difference. If you’re searching for a surfer or surf coach to teach you how to surf, look for:

Teaching Skills: A great coach knows how to breakdown techniques effectively.
Experience and Local Knowledge: Surf experience and spot knowledge are crucial.
Preparedness: CPR/First Aid certification.

Emergency Signal
Establish a signal for help—a raised arm works well for quick communication with your surf buddy or coach.

Check out our full Safety basics breakdown here.

Essential Surf Gear for Beginners

At the start, renting different surfboards can be the smartest approach. Trying a variety of boards lets you learn what feels right without committing to a board that may not work for you.

The Right Surfboard

For beginners, foamboards and longboards are ideal choices.

Foamboards: Big boards with soft foam provide stability and safety, helping beginners gain confidence while reducing injury risks.
Longboards: Ranging from 8 to 12 feet, longboards offer plenty of floatation and glide, making it easier to catch waves, even small ones.

Tip: Aim for a board with 60-100 litres of volume for better floatation, which helps you paddle and catch waves more effectively.

Understanding Volume and Rocker

Volume: Boards with higher volume (60-100 liters) give extra buoyancy, making paddling smoother and catching waves easier.
Rocker: Beginners benefit from a flatter rocker (less curve), which helps you paddle faster and feel more stable.

Wetsuits and Rash Guards

Wetsuits: A must in colder water. A 3/2mm suit is great for mild temperatures (above 13°C – 55°F). Thicker wetsuits are needed for colder conditions.
Rash Guards: Perfect for warmer waters, offering protection against skin irritation and UV rays.

Leash and Wax

Leash: Keeps your board close, typically 6-9 feet for beginners. Attach it around your ankle on your back foot so that the cord doesn’t get in your way while you surf.
Wax: Essential for grip, especially where your feet will land on the board and where you lay on it while paddling.

Extra Accessories

Reef-Safe Sunscreen: Protects both your skin and the ocean’s ecosystems.
Earplugs: Prevents “surfer’s ear” in colder water conditions.

For more information about surfboards, check out:
Different Surfboard Types: Longboards, Funboards (mid-lengths), Fishes and Shortboards
What is a Surfboard’s Volume?
Understand The Surfboard’s Rocker

Surf Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules of Surfing

Surfing can be quite intimidating for beginners. By learning these simple “unwritten” rules of surfing, you can give respect and gain respect in the water.

1. Choose the Right Spot
“If in doubt, don’t paddle out.” Stick to beginner-friendly surf spots with smaller, less powerful waves. Avoid advanced spots with powerful surf that can be challenging and dangerous.

2. Don’t Drop In
The “drop-in” rule keeps order: the surfer closest to the peak has the right of way. Always check for surfers before paddling for a wave. Generally, the surfer with the longest potential ride has priority. If someone’s already riding, let them enjoy it.

3. Paddle Wide
Avoid paddling through the path of incoming waves and surfers. Instead, paddle through channels where waves don’t break or aim for the whitewater to stay clear of surfers’ lines.

4. Take Turns
In spots with clear takeoff zones, surfers wait their turn. After catching a wave, move to the back of the line. Avoid taking every wave just because you have a larger board that catches waves sooner.

5. Hold On to Your Board
Avoid letting go of your board in crowded waters. Techniques like the push-through or turtle roll help you keep control, reducing risks to others. If a big wave is coming your way and you absolutely can’t stay in control of your board, move as far away from other surfers so that your board doesn’t hit them.

6. Apologize if Needed
Mistakes happen; if you accidentally break a rule, a quick apology often smooths things over.

7. Stay Positive and Respectful
Show kindness: share waves, help others, and keep the area clean.

Respecting these unwritten rules creates a safer, more enjoyable experience and helps you gain respect in the lineup. For a full breakdown, read: Surf Etiquette: 10 Rules a Beginner needs to know

Paddling

When surfing, you spend less than 10% of your time riding waves and spend 90%+ of your time paddling and waiting for waves. You need a solid paddling technique. To help students understand how to paddle more efficiently, we break paddling into 2 things that work together: minimizing resistance and maximizing propulsion.

Minimizing Resistance (Drag)

Reducing drag lets you glide smoothly on the water. Here’s what to aim for:

Find Your Sweet Spot: Lie with the board’s nose slightly out of the water. Keep your head up (imagine a soccer ball under your chin), feet together, and back arched. This avoids drag and keeps you balanced.
Check Positioning: Ensure you’re neither too far forward (surfboard’s nose underwater) nor too far back (nose lifted out of the water by more than 5cm/2in.). Center your body on the board and use a gentle hand entry with fingertips first to minimize splash.

Maximizing Propulsion

Propel yourself forward by using efficient strokes:

Hand Entry: Enter the water fingertips first in front of your shoulder.
The Catch: Begin with fingertips entering the water and elbow high, creating an Early Vertical Forearm position.
The Pull: This main phase generates power. Make sure that your hand and forearm stay aligned and perpendicular to the bottom during your stroke and that your elbow stays high.
The Recovery: After the paddle stroke, the elbow exits the water first. You want to lift your elbow up and forward, just as if a string was pulling it.

Quick Tips:

Head Still: By keeping your head up and still, you reduce potential drag from your board rocking from side to side, and you increase your visibility of your surroundings.
High Elbows: Ensure your elbows are high during your hand entry for effective paddle strokes.
Smooth Strokes: Quiet, smooth strokes conserve energy and keep you balanced.

For a full Paddling breakdown, check out: How To Perfect Your Paddle Technique

Take Off Technique

Mastering the Take Off is essential for getting up on the wave with balance and control. Based on your mobility, strength, surf experience, and goals, there are different techniques you can use.

Choosing the Right Take Off Technique

Your take off technique will depend on factors like your mobility, strength, and experience level:

Mobility and Strength: Generally speaking, a faster and more advanced technique like the standard pop up will require more strength and mobility, therefore it isn’t for everyone.
Surf Experience: Faster techniques like the standard pop up also require more speed and coordination, which is typically easier for surfers with more experience. Beginners often find methods like the chicken wing technique or push up technique helpful for starting off while maintaining balance and control.
Personal Goals: If your goal is a consistent take off with a proper stance, you might prioritize the push-up or chicken wing technique. For surfers looking to catch steeper waves or progress in more challenging conditions and who plan on transitioning to shortboarding, the standard pop up is a valuable skill to develop.

3 Common Take Off Techniques

Push-Up Technique

Start by doing a push-up to lift your upper body off the board, then bring your back foot forward, followed by your front foot. This technique is ideal on bigger boards (foamboards and Longboards) where you can plant your toes on the tail as a stable point of contact.

For a full breakdown visit: How to do a “Take Off” – The Push Up Technique for Beginners

The Chicken Wing:

Slide your back foot up onto the tail in a “chicken wing” position, then push up and bring your front foot forward before standing. This method works on all board types, allowing for a controlled, gradual take off.

For a full breakdown visit: How to Pop Up with the Chicken Wing Technique

Standard Pop-Up

For the fastest take off, place your hands flat, lift your body and swing both feet onto the board in one fluid motion, using only your thighs/knees and hands as points of contact with the board. This technique requires coordination and flexibility, making it the “go-to” technique with experienced surfers who need to quickly take off on steeper waves. For a full breakdown visit: The Standard Pop Up

Choosing the right technique and practicing it consistently will make your takeoffs smoother and help you confidently get to your feet.

To learn more about how to find the right technique for you check out: What take off technique is right for you?

Stance

A proper surf stance is key for balance and control, letting you shift weight to accelerate, slow down, and turn effectively.

Balance and Control

A stance with bent knees and a low center of gravity provides stability and allows for smooth weight shifts and better control.

Feet Position

Goofy or Regular: You’ll have to decide which foot to put backward and which one to put forward. Typically, surfers have their stronger foot (the one they’d kick a soccer ball with) at the back of their surfboard.
Centered feet and Distance: Keep your feet centered on the width of the board.
Distance between feet: The distance between your feet should be slightly wider than your shoulder width.

Knees and Hips

Knees as Shock Absorbers: Bent knees absorb movement on the water, keeping you balanced.
Hips for Control: Shifting hips forward adds speed; shifting back engages the tail for control.

Chest and Head Position

Chest Forward: Keep your chest facing where you want to go.
Head as Steering: Look where you want to go—your body will follow.

For our full stance article check out: The Proper Surfing Stance

How to Pass the Break

Typically beginners learn to surf in whitewater waves (waves that have already crashed). However, if the waves aren’t too big for you, and you’re already comfortable with your take offs in the whitewater, you might want to paddle out past the break to catch unbroken waves.

Below are a few techniques you can use to help you get past the break (past the point where most waves are breaking).

Board management
Hold your surfboard next to you by the nose, perpendicular to waves as you walk out. Wait for bigger waves to pass.

Push Through

Ideal for: Small to Medium Waves, Unbroken Waves, Whitewater

The Push Through technique is great for using your board’s floatation to glide through waves.

Step 1: Hold your surfboard by the nose and keep it perpendicular to waves as you walk out; wait for bigger waves to pass before you start paddling out.
Step 2: Paddle hard and straight toward the wave.
Step 3: About a surfboard’s distance before the wave, grab your rails, push up, and arch your back.
Step 4: Keep your board straight and perpendicular to the wave.
Step 5: Hold the rails and kick one leg up for added front weight, helping you push through.

This approach minimizes transition time, letting you start paddling quickly once you’re past the wave.

Turtle Roll

Ideal for: Bigger, More Powerful Waves

The Turtle Roll lets you go under larger waves.

Step 1: Paddle with your board perpendicular to the wave.
Step 2: About a board’s length from the wave, grab the rails and flip underwater.
Step 3: Keep a slight distance between your body and the board, ensuring the nose is submerged.
Step 4: Maintain a perpendicular position to avoid losing control.
Step 5: Use a frog kick to help flip back onto the board when the wave passes.

Tips for All Techniques

Limit Transition Time: Quickly return to paddling after either technique.
Find the Sweet Spot: Center yourself on the board for maximum glide.
Use Channels: Paddle out through channels (if there are any) to save energy.
Time Sets: Wait for bigger waves to pass before paddling out.
Paddle in Stages: Pause between waves if needed to save energy.

For a full breakdown of these techniques and more check out: How To Pass The Break On A Longboard

How to Catch Waves

As a beginner, you’ll probably start by catching whitewater waves—broken waves rolling toward the shore that are easier to catch without much paddling. As you gain confidence, you’ll progress to unbroken “green waves.” These waves let you ride along their face, and that’s when many people truly fall in love with the sport. This transition is challenging but rewarding. Positioning, timing, knowledge and technique can speed up your progress.

A good first step is to understand the 4 stages of a wave

Stage A: A lump, is not ready to catch.
Stage B: Perfect for catching; has enough power and steepness.
Stage C: Starts breaking; harder to catch for beginners.
Stage D: Fully broken, now white water.

To catch a wave at Stage B, you need to predict where the wave is going to break and adjust your position accordingly. With a solid paddling technique and proper positioning, you can match its speed and take off before it breaks.

Second, it’s good to understand the forces that make it possible to catch waves:

‍A whitewater wave pushes you forward, making it easy to catch even without great paddling.

When catching unbroken waves, there is no “push forward.” The force that lets you into the wave is gravity. It’s as if you were paddling down a “hill” that’s moving forward.

In short, to catch unbroken waves, you need to “tap” into the acceleration you gain thanks to gravity (aka the “slope” of a “Stage B” wave). Stage A waves won’t provide enough slope to match the wave’s speed, and Stage C will crash too fast. Stage B will provide just enough acceleration for you to catch it.

Your paddling speed and proper positioning on “Stage B” will determine your success in catching unbroken waves. The quick and easy way to paddle faster is to use bigger surfboards.

There’s no quick and easy way to become great at identifying and positioning yourself into “Stage B” waves. This will take some time and practice, but make sure to continually take glances over your shoulder as you position yourself for unbroken waves so that you remember which types of wave steepness work and which do not.

For a full breakdown of how to catch waves check out: How to Find & Catch Unbroken Waves

Understand Surf Conditions

Learning to read surf conditions helps you predict if waves on a particular day will be fun and safe for you. Here’s how swells, wind, tides, and the sea floor affect waves:

Four Key Elements That Shape Waves

Swells

Formed by distant winds and storms, swells vary in power depending on their height and their period (seconds between waves read by buoys out in the ocean). The taller the waves and the more seconds between them, the more powerful the waves get.

6 seconds or less: Small, weak waves.
10-12 seconds: Moderate, surfable waves.
15 seconds or more: Strong, solid waves.

Wind

Onshore wind (from the ocean to the shore) makes waves choppy and harder to read.
Offshore wind (from the shore to the ocean) creates smooth, “glassy” waves.

Tides

Tides impact wave shape and speed.
High Tide: Usually slower, mushier waves.
Low Tide: Usually faster, more powerful waves.
Check tide charts to find the best time for surfing.

Bottom Contour (Sea Floor)

The sea floor affects how waves break:
Beach Breaks (sand): Waves break in varied spots due to shifting sandbanks.
Reef and Point Breaks (rock/coral): Offer more consistent wave breaks in set directions.

Sea Floor Impact on Waves

Peeling Speed: Steep bottoms create faster-breaking waves; gentle slopes lead to slower, beginner-friendly waves.
Waves breaking from deep to shallow water can be powerful, so beginners will prefer gentler slopes.

This is just a quick introduction. More elements will affect how waves break, such as swell direction and the orientation of each specific surf spot. You might want to check out How To Read Waves for Surfing for more details.

Mindset and Progression Tips

With a growth mindset, awareness of technique basics, the right equipment, and quality feedback, you maximize your chances of having fun and progressing faster. Here are some tips to stay motivated and improve faster.

Review Your Equipment

The right board can mean the difference between catching 20 waves or none. As you progress, understanding board design becomes crucial—learn which boards work best for various conditions.
Keep exploring how board features affect your surfing, making adjustments as needed.

Take Lessons

For Beginners: In-water lessons can boost confidence and help with fundamentals like the take off and stance.
For Intermediates: An in-water coach can guide your positioning and help you read waves. Video analysis with a coach provides a valuable learning experience, bridging the gap between what you think you’re doing and what you’re actually doing on the waves. .

Seek Feedback

Film Yourself: Have someone record you to identify improvements and get feedback from friends or coaches.
Ask Experienced Surfers: Get tips from seasoned surfers to tweak your technique, timing, or positioning.
Use Tutorials: Watch your surf videos and compare them to online tutorials, using slow-motion or split-screen to spot differences and refine techniques.

Conclusion

This article should give you a good understanding of the basics you need when learning to surf. When surfers are aware of the technical basics, understand surf etiquette and conditions, and use the right equipment, they usually enjoy the sport more and are progress more efficiently.

Remember, surfing is a journey. Each wave you catch (or miss) is an opportunity for you to learn and progress.

If you’re ready to take your surfing to the next level, you might want to join our Online Coaching Platform. Here, you’ll find structured tutorials, access personalized feedback from professional coaches, and a supportive community to help you improve faster. Sign up for our free trial and discover how we can help you reach your surfing goals. We can’t wait to see you out there!