How to Surf Guide

How to Surf for Beginners

surferdude — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:29:39 +0000

Surfing is a fun water sport and is easy to pick up if you are really keen on learning. You need a good quality surfboard that you can buy or rent. It is advisable to get a funboard as a beginner because it is the easiest board to learn with. The other available boards are the long and the short board. The long board might be too hard for you to maneuver because of the length. The short board might be too short and it is slower than the fun board which is about seven to eight inches in length. You will also need a good wetsuit and a leash that will tether you to your surfboard.

When you get to the beach, practice on the sand first before attempting to get into the water. This is so you can get used to the feel of your surfboard. The correct position is that you should lie on your stomach on the board. Your feet should touch the end of the board and the nose of your surfboard should be level with the sand. If it is pointing upwards then move towards the nose and if it is pointing downwards to the sand, move lower on your surfboard so that you are perfectly centered.

While you are lying down, your hands should be parallel with your shoulders on the rails of the surfboard. These are the edges of the board. To catch a wave, you will need to stand on your surfboard; this is known as pop up. When you want to stand on the board, position your arms as if you are about to do pushups while you are still lying down and make sure your toes are at the end of the board. Do a pushup and then put your feet beneath you quickly then put your lead foot at the center of your board in a crouched position. Practice these movements until you can do them naturally and fluidly.

Now enter the water and get on your surfboard in the pop up position. Center your body squarely in the middle of the board and paddle into the water using the crawl stroke with your arms. The nose of the board should be at least an inch above the water. If it goes under water, you can lift your upper body so that the nose is above the water. Keep doing this until you are comfortable and confident. If you are finding it hard to paddle, spread your legs a bit until you can find it easy to paddle. Now paddle straight into a wave, start with smaller waves then move to bigger ones once you have gotten the hang of it.

To catch a wave, your surfboard should be facing the shore and paddle, the wave will pick you up and push you forward. Once you have learnt this you should be able to move to the next stage which is learning how to stand on your board without falling while still on an unbroken wave.

A Shortcut to Longboarding

surferdude — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 03:50:31 +0000

Are you struggling to learn how to surf a longboard? Although the longboard is the beginning surfer’s board of choice in most cases, it can be difficult to learn at first. Rather than get frustrated on your first day at the beach, you should really take a look at Lee Ryan’s book, A Shortcut to Longboarding. This guide covers all the essentials to beginning with a longboard. It walks you through everything you need to know, including choosing a longboard, simple paddling techniques and of course how to get up on your feet and into the perfect stance. There’s also plenty of material to learn after you’ve got the basics down and Lee’s master class will teach you how to cross-step, noseride and perform drop knee cutbacks. You can even learn some very advanced moves like aerials and tube riding.

The author of the book, Lee Ryan, knows his stuff. Lee has been competing on the ASP World Longboard Tour for the past 10 years and has no fewer than nine British National titles to his name. He placed 9th in the Oxbow World Championships in Raglan in 2003 and went on to win the European Pro Division of the Biarritz Longboard Festival in France in 2004. Lee is a highly accredited professional surf coach and worked for the British Surfing Association as a Trainer/Assessor for the past 3 years before moving to New Zealand in October 2006 to continue his coaching career.

You can get A Shortcut to Longboarding here and it’s available as an instant download so you can be up and surfing in no time!

Learn how to surf from this guy.

Can A Beginner Start On A Shortboard?

surferdude — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:45:20 +0000

There are no rules that say you have to learn on a longboard. There are some surfers who begin with a shortboard and master it. However, most people start out with the longboard and learn faster that way because the thickness allows you to float more and gives you more stability. A shortboard is harder to paddle and you might have more problems catching waves because it is difficult to catch a wave early with a shortboard. A longboard will enable you to catch waves and stand up easier.

If you do start with the shortboard, try not to go with something too small or thin. You also want to make sure the board is wide enough to float you. There are some good intermediate length boards that you can learn on, such as fun shapes and other hybrids. But in order to turn with more quickness, you’ll want something that is not as wide.

Surfboard Shapes

surferdude — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 05:05:14 +0000

There are many different shapes and sizes of boards, but most of which can be boiled down into three main categories. The type of board you choose will dictate how you’re going to catch a wave, and therefore should be chosen based on your experience level and the size of the waves you’ll be riding.

For beginners, usually the first stop is the longboard (7 to 12 feet). One of the longboards commonly used by beginners is a soft-foam construction, as opposed to fiberglass or epoxy. This increases buoyancy and helps the surfer catch his or her first waves. Longboards are generally good for smaller waves and their volume allows surfers to ride these waves much longer.

The next style is a fun shape, or often called a fun board or a fun stick (7 to 9 feet). This board combines the stability of a larger long board with the maneuverability of a smaller shape, and is often used by beginner to intermediate surfers on all types of waves.

Short boards (5 to 7 feet) are the most maneuverable of all board types, but are also the hardest to ride and therefore are usually reserved for intermediate to expert surfers. They’re faster, less stable and offer surfers more control over how they want to move in the wave.

How Young is Too Young for Surfing

surferdude — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 04:52:05 +0000

A common question parents ask is how old does a child need to be to start surfing. The surprising answer is that age doesn’t really matter, to a point. All that really matters is swimming ability. There’s no set answer on age. Kids as young as 5 or 6 can probably learn to surf in calm waters, as long as they’re good swimmers and have constant adult supervision.

Practice Before Surfing Lessons

surferdude — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 04:31:42 +0000

Nervous about your first surfing lesson? You can practice at home before you even get out on the beach. Here are some practical quick tips for starting to surf before you hit the waves.

Practice on a board in your garage. It might feel silly, but you can work on position and stance. Lay down flat on your belly and stay near the middle or back of the board.
Pretend to paddle and then practice lifting yourself up. It’s kind of like doing a pushup.
When you get up, try to do it in one motion. This is the key part and practicing it now will make it easier once you’re in the water. Don’t get on your knees first. Lift yourself with your arms with knees bent into a standing position.
Get into a standing position towards the back of the board. Remember that being further back on the board means you’ll have more control.
The great part about practicing at home is that you won’t fall and you won’t get wet!

What Are Surfing Lessons Like?

surferdude — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:39:13 +0000

Curious about surfing lessons? Here are a few things you can expect in your first lesson. First, you’ll learn how to paddle and stand up while you’re still on the beach. It seems a little silly at first, but this is a great way to learn the basic mechanics before you get into the water. Then you’ll learn about how waves break and how you can position yourself to catch it. After you’ve learned the basics, most surfing instructors will put you in the water and guide you on catching your first wave.

It’s going to take a lot of tries before you are standing up on the board and catching waves. So don’t get discouraged because it’s a tough process for all beginners. You need to practice a lot of times on the board before you’ll be completely comfortable.

Most lessons are group lessons, so the instructors will probably leave you alone to practice if it seems like you’re getting the hang of it and they’ll spend more time with you if not. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask questions, and most of all, try to have fun!

Oh and wear sunscreen!

Getting Started: The Basics

surferdude — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:43:26 +0000

1. Wetsuit or rash guard – Depending on where you’re surfing, you’re going to need to stay warm, or cover yourself against rubbing against the rough surface of your board, which may cause rashes. This can include a full or short wetsuit, booties, a hoodie, even gloves, or a simple shirt depending on the temperature.

2. Sunblock – No matter what the weather, you have to protect your skin. Even if it’s cloudy and overcast, UV rays can penetrate the cloud cover and make for a miserable evening. The reflection of the sun off the water will also intensify its effects. There’s lots of different types of sunblock, but make sure it’s waterproof and has a high enough SPF. One we recommend is: [blah]

For high exposure areas such as lips, nose and cheeks, you can use a zinc oxide which will give you extra protection.

3. Surfboard – If you’re starting at a beginner’s beach with smaller waves, chances are you’re going to want a longer board, which is more stable and buoyant, and easier to ride. If you’re renting, maybe beginners start with what’s called a soft-top board. It’s made of foam and if it hits you in the head, it won’t hurt as much. Make sure your board also has a leash. This is very important so your board doesn’t run away from you and potentially hurt other surfers. And you won’t be caught swimming by yourself in the middle of the ocean!

4. Friends – If it’s your first time, you may want to hire an instructor who can help you in the water and give you good tips for getting started. If not, make sure you have a buddy with you who can help guide you, so you can be safe and be riding the waves even sooner.

5. Surfing Etiquette – As a beginner, you want to respect the power of the ocean and your fellow surfers. Make sure to start in an area that is appropriate for your skill level. If another surfer has caught a wave, don’t drop in on them, or try to catch the same wave further down. Be aware of where the other surfers are in the water. When sets come in, positions can change fast. If you wipe out, try to hold onto your board so it doesn’t hit anyone else.

Learn How to Surf

surferdude — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:00:31 +0000

Want to learn how to surf? These guides will definitely help. We’ve got tips, tricks, complete guides and of course, great surfing videos. Nothing beats learning while doing, but if you’re stuck behind the keyboard in the office instead of out at the beach, you might as well pick up some pointers. Are you a total beginner? Fear not! Just check out our beginners section for some really great quick tips and advice for getting up on the board as quickly as possible. And even if you know how to surf like a pro, we’ve got a few tricks that you can learn to impress your buddies.