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A beginner's guide to learning to surf
The usual order for learning to surf, from a first lesson and whitewater practice to paddling, standing up and reading the water, with safety habits from the first session.
Learning to Surf
The first steps in surfing: what to expect from a first lesson, how to paddle and stand up, and the common mistakes beginners make in their early sessions.
A beginner's guide to learning to surf
The usual order for learning to surf, from a first lesson and whitewater practice to paddling, standing up and reading the water, with safety habits from the first session.Common mistakes new surfers make in their first sessions
The most common errors in a beginner's first surf sessions, including poor positioning, late pop-ups, fighting the board and staying out too long, with a fix for each.How surfing skills usually develop for beginners
The usual order of surfing skills for beginners, from whitewater and the pop-up to unbroken waves, trimming and turns, with a readiness check for each stage.Ocean Safety
Staying safe in the surf: recognizing rip currents, understanding lifeguard flags, spotting hazards near rocks and piers, and deciding when a session has run its course.
A safety checklist to run before paddling out
Run through conditions, your own readiness, the board and leash, and a plan for telling someone on shore before you enter the water for a surf session.Hazards to know near rocks, piers and river mouths
Rocks, piers, jetties and river outflows change currents and wave shape. Learn what each hazard looks like and what to check before paddling out near one.How to recognize a rip current and get out of it
How to spot a rip current before you enter, why fighting it wears you out, the steps lifeguards recommend for escaping one, and how to help someone else caught in it.Reading Waves and Conditions
How swell, wind and tide shape the surf, how to read a forecast and a break from the shore, and how to choose a spot that suits your current level.
Choosing a surf spot that suits your ability
How to judge a surf spot's bottom, wave size and shape, crowd and access before paddling out, so you pick a break that matches your current skill level.How swell, wind and tide shape surf conditions
See how swell, wind and tide each change a wave, when they work together and when they work against each other, and why the same beach can break differently from day to day.How to read a wave before you paddle out
Learn to identify a wave's peak and shoulder, watch several sets from the beach and choose a line that suits your ability before you paddle out.Boards and Gear
Choosing and caring for surfboards and their parts: how volume, length and shape change the ride, what to check on a used board, and how fins affect turning.