Edit Steps
- 1Get a surfboard and wet suit if possible by buying or even renting it. There's nothing that can turn you off surfing quicker than icy cold water or losing your bikini while you're surfing. Your first board should be a foam board; fiber glass ones can hurt people if you lose control of them. Longboards, 8 feet or more, are a must when learning.Try to get the cheapest board possible. It doesn't matter if you got it at a garage sale or it's all scratched and dented. As long as it looks usable, then you should go for it and save your money for a better board later. Good deals are usually available on used boards.
- 2Go to a surf spot for beginners. Ask your local surf shop, or surfers at advanced surf breaks where beginners should surf. They will be happy to point you to an appropriate spot. As a beginner in an advanced or intermediate surf spot, you could be a danger to yourself and others.
- 3Practice lying on the board on the sand. Make sure you're not next to the waves or they'll wash you down.
- 4Lie belly-down on the board so that your body is lined up straight down the middle of the board. You should have a couple of inches between your feet and the back end of the board.
- 5Put your board down on the sand and practice the paddling motion and getting up before you head out on the water.
- 6To get up, you lie in the middle of the board, with your hands on either side of you near your chest. In one quick, explosive motion, push your body up with your arms and bring your feet to where your waist used to be. Depending on which foot comes naturally in front, you'll be either a "regular" or "goofyfoot." Regular means that your left foot is in front, goofyfoot means your right foot is.
- 7You can practice standing up in your basement, in your room, in your yard, on the beach, etc.
- 8When you're ready to go out in the waves, walk your board out until you're about waist- or chest-deep, then lie on your stomach on the board and paddle (using your arms the same way as when you swim freestyle) straight into the waves. Do not get going sideways even a little bit or the waves will knock you over. Stay perpendicular to the oncoming waves.
- 9Turn the board (and yourself) around by paddling hard on the side that you want to turn away from. So, if you want to turn to your right, paddle hard with your left hand on your left side. Remember to keep your body straight and far back on the board. (Depending on how well you balance you could also try sitting on the board. To do this, slide yourself up from the lying position to a lower part on the board, with your feet dangling over the sides of your board. Keep your hands in front of you, smack dab in the middle of the board to keep your balance. To turn yourself, paddle your ankles/feet/calves in circles to go either way).
- 10Now the waves are coming from behind you. Don't let them take you by surprise! That could be very dangerous. Turn your head and watch for them. Sitting up on your board will help you keep better track of the waves. When you see one about to break start paddling. You want to try to get the wave before it breaks, so you have time to get up on the board.
- 11When you get the feel for the speed of the wave and it begins to break, go through the motions that you practiced on the sand. Crouch slowly and stand quickly. You will probably slide off, but do not be deterred. You will eventually get it. Try standing on your knees for the first few tries to get the feel for it.
- 12Keep practicing. This could take anywhere from a few hours to a couple weeks to get the hang of. If you really can't get the hang of it, get some surf lessons or go to a surf camp. There's no shame in improvement or getting help.
- 13It will take some time to find your center of balance for paddling and sitting, but it will come eventually. Obviously, if you're too far forward on the board, the nose, or front tip, will sink. But, if you're too far back, you can't paddle as well. Make sure that before you're even thinking of surfing, that you are proficient in swimming.
Edit Tips
- Remember that this is a beginning guide. It teaches you to ride the whitewater straight forward to the beach. Most likely you've seen other surfers riding sideways with the wave, on the smooth part. That is what you should attempt once the steps in this guide are easy.
- When you are just beginning, just lay on the board and surf the wave in just like you would if you were body boarding. This will help you get used to the waves.
- NEVER DROP IN ON PEOPLE. This is one of the golden rules of surfing that many new surfers don't adhere to. When two people are paddling for a wave, the person closest to the breaking part of the wave has the right of way. If someone is already surfing farther down on a wave, don't paddle for that same wave! Dropping in on people is considered rude in the surfing community, not to mention it is extremely dangerous!
- Since it's your first time, bring a friend to help you, preferably a surfie friend. Besides it's less embarrassing with a friend when the wave dumps you. You can ask your friend to push you into a wave if you don't think you can paddle into it fast enough.
- Avoid riptides; they look like lots of sand at the top of the water. Water during a riptide might look brown or redder than usual. Riptides usually form near rock jetties, reefs, and piers. If you get caught in a riptide, swim PARALLEL TO SHORE. If you swim directly against it, you'll just lose energy and be carried out farther. If you can't swim parallel, tread water or float and yell for help. You should always have someone with you, even if they stay on land.
- To get in shape for surfing, do many sit-ups and push-ups, since getting up is 85% push-up muscles and 15% core. When you stand up, you are basically doing a push-up from flat on your stomach to a crouched position; You use your core in bringing your legs underneath you. You also need a strong core to balance once you're standing up on your board and have caught a wave. Pull-ups help strengthen your arms,as well, so do those, too, to improve your paddling strength.
- Follow safety signs and the advice of experienced surfers at the break.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help! Many advanced surfers have no problem helping new people as long as they do not ask rudely.
- Learn the "rules" of the break. After you've gotten off your wave, do not paddle up the middle where other surfers will be coming. Instead, paddle off to the side of the wave so as not to get into anyone's way.
- Also learn that the first one that catches the wave, has the right of way... just like driving. Try to communicate with the other surfers to find out which way they are going.
- Surfing will change your outlook on life and the environment.
- Surfing takes YEARS of experience and dedication to master. For the first few years, surf at spots that are for beginners. Novice surfers at intermediate and advanced breaks can be extremely hazardous.
- If you don't feel comfortable swimming at a surf spot without your surfboard, you shouldn't be surfing there.
- Know your limits, if it's too big, don't go out there. It's dangerous.
- Please always remember to respect the locals of the community at which you are surfing.
Edit Warnings
- Don't surf too close to the rocks.
- Don't surf alone if you're a beginner. (Or even if you are not a beginner. Anyone can get into trouble at any time!)
- Learn to surf in the white water, in front of a lifeguard, you have no idea how powerful the ocean can be.
- Listen to your instuctor if you have one.
- Watch for sharks.
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Article Info
Last edited:
August 8, 2011 by Maniac
Categories:
Surfing
Recent edits by: Meta Knight, Matt Sieberg, MsGameandWatch (see all)
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