Learning to surf: the beginner's guide
We welcome you to the Part 2 of the Ultimate Guide to Learning to Surf, designed especially for beginner surfers who want to improve their technique and enjoy every session in the water to the fullest.
If you've come this far, you probably want to discover where to surf, what is the best time to jump into the water, and what surfing equipment you need to get started. In addition, we will give you keys to Learn to surf safely and excitingly.
Get ready, because in this article we will answer the most common questions that arise when you start surfing. Learning to surf has never been so easy, safe and fast.
Is it difficult to learn to surf?
The short answer is no, but like everything, it is full of nuances. The more you practice, the faster you will learn and, if you think it will be too difficult for you, we advise you to take classes at a surf school to get into the water in a safer way.
in what kind of planShould I learn to surf?
To make learning to surf easier, we recommend choosing a well-known beach with sandy bottoms that gradually become deeper. In addition, it is always better to surf with someone else to ensure your safety and enjoy the experience more.
The best times to surf are usually early in the morning or late in the afternoon. During these times, the temperature difference between the sea and the land generates a flow of air from warmer areas to cooler ones, causing wind on the coast that can influence wave conditions.
This is especially true when the temperature difference between the sea and land is the widest, usually between 11:00 and 17:00, when the sun is at its highest. During these hours, the wind tends to be stronger, which can negatively affect the quality of the waves. For this reason, early morning and late afternoon are often the favourite times to surf, as they offer better conditions.
How to know when there are good waves?
A fundamental point so that it is not so difficult Learn to surf It is knowing when there are the best conditions for your level. For very beginner surfers, the ideal is to ask an experienced friend, or a school in the area. Later, it is important that you learn to read the wave report. To do this, check out our article how to read a wave forecast to learn to forecast waves.
What dangers exist in water?
The main risks when surfing include currents, waves bigger than you can handle, and rocky bottoms, which you should avoid especially in the early stages of learning. As you can see, learning to surf is not that difficult, but it depends a lot on where you practice and the sea conditions at the time. With proper preparation and taking precautions, you will enjoy this activity safely.
Now, how to learn to surf?
Knowing how to learn to surf is the first step. To improve your technique, the key is consistency. If your goal is to become really good at catching waves, you must accept that the process will be slow and sometimes frustrating. Be patient and enjoy the progress, even if it is small.
What should I do the first times I go surfing?
Don't expect to surf big waves in the first month of practice. During the first few days on the beach, it is recommended that you stay in the foam zone, where the waves are softer and safer for beginners.
Grab your board and position yourself right in front of where the wave is breaking (make sure the waves are small, no more than 1 metre high). Wait next to your board, lie down on it, start paddling and wait for the wave to push you with its energy.
Feel the force of push, row if necessary to accelerate and when you feel that you are going fast almost without effort, jump up!
What skills do I need to train in my sessions when I start surfing?
- Acquire good balance when rowing while lying on the board.
- Train your paddling strength.
- Learn to sit on the board waiting for waves.
- Spin your board while sitting on it without touching the bottom with your feet.
Once you know and train these skills you will be able to paddle and eventually catch small walls of waves of up to 1 meter.
Other tips on how to learn to surf
- Recognize which days are good for surfing and which are “bad”.
- Understanding which waves to paddle and which to let pass, for this unfortunately there are no magic formulas or explanations, it is just observation of the sea for hours, days and months, until one day without realizing it you are reading it like a book and you can anticipate your movements to be where you need to be at the right time.
- Try to recognize which waves are going to the right or to the left and what type of waves are the ones that run and which ones burst and close violently at a time.
What happens when demotivation appears?
In life, as in surfing, there are times when you feel like you're not making progress, and that can lead to deep demotivation. It's important to remember that progress in surfing, as in any other aspect, is not always linear. There will be difficult days, but also moments of great satisfaction. The key is to remain patient, learn from mistakes, and enjoy the process. Every attempt, even the failed ones, brings you a little closer to your goal.
Keep calm, it's just another stage in your surfing progression, which usually passes after a couple of weeks.
The solution in moments of stagnation:
- Analyze your movements, even using photos or videos, to see if you're doing something wrong.
- Ask for advice according to your level.
- Write down the tips on a sticky tape on your board so you have them in mind when you're there.
How to learn to surf fast?
As we have discussed before, the process of how to learn to surf quickly is not realistic. Surfing is a sport that requires a lot of practice, as the sea makes it very unpredictable. Conditions are constantly changing, and each wave is a unique learning opportunity. Don't get frustrated if you don't see immediate results; each day in the water is a lesson in itself. Patience and perseverance are key to improving and enjoying surfing.
However, we want to give you some last tips so that you take them into account when trying to learn to surf fast.
How to learn to surf fast?
- make your own surfboard.
- uses a neoprene suit to be comfortable in the water.
- Buy a Poncho to be able to change during your surf sessions.
- Use sunscreen.
- Don't forget to drink water before and after, as well as adapt your diet to have enough energy in the water.
- Train your rowing and the muscles of your back, shoulders and glutes, train your speed/agility when getting up, the position of your hands and feet, the control of your body and your head when standing. Concentrate on bending your knees with your body weight on your heels, on staying down with your center of gravity close to the board.
- He watches a lot of professional surfers and the sea.
- Know the rules of the surfer, in this case they are more surfing rules etiquette or social behavior, where the rights of other surfers are respected for catching a certain wave.
Don't complicate yourself by trying to learn to surf quickly, the important thing is to do it well. Enjoy, and above all, be patient, surfing is the path and not the destination. Dare to have your own surfboard, take a look at our table catalog Flysurfing.
