7 Surfing Tips for Beginners

Now that you have made a conscious decision to learn surfing, one of the first things you will do is know more about surfing. There are benefits in taking surfing lessons as they provide many tips, tricks, or even hacks that help you in your surfing journey but do not necessarily guarantee success. 

Just like any sport, as a newbie, you need to spend hours practicing your skills and focus on becoming a better surfer. While it may look intimidating, it is never late to start learning this fun and exciting sport with the proper guides, no matter your age. If you are over 40 and want to learn to surf, click here to read this article on Ombe that will give you some insight into the process. 

That being said, surfing is not just something you pick up, but it offers many health benefits as it allows you to relax and work out simultaneously. Even though many surfers look cool as they ride their waves, it requires hard work. 

Now before you catch your dream wave or even have your first wave experience, here are some essential tips that will help every beginner surfer:

Soft Board 

The most vital part of your surfing journey as a beginner is getting the right surfboard. There are several elements that you need to consider when getting your surfboard, such as height, weight, buoyancy, and so on. As a newbie, it is better that you use a soft board when learning to surf as they are thick and sturdy, which will enhance your surfing experience. 

Don't Learn By Yourself.

Surfing is a fun and popular sport, but learning to surf by yourself will increase the chance of injuring yourself or even putting your life in danger. Joining a surf school or program is important as it will provide the right tricks and techniques that will protect you while you are surfing. 

Location is Key 

One of the critical steps before you start surfing is to learn to identify surfing spots. Your choice of the beach will ensure that you have a pleasant surfing experience; the easiest way to do so is by learning to surf with fewer people alone. Because there will be less crowd in these places, you will be able to surf more waves, eventually improving your surfing skills.  

Practice Your Pop-Up

When learning to surf, you need to get into various yoga-like positions. But to do that, you need first to master the prone position, which is getting your feet on the board just before the wave break. The pop-up is quite similar to a quick push-up where you can ride your wave well. The best way to perfect this skill is by practicing it on land first and then improving your technique when you are in the water. 

Perfect Your Paddle 

Another important technique that you need to understand when surfing is paddling. Sometimes surfers paddle deep into the ocean to ride a wave. Even though you are still a beginner, paddling will help you navigate through waves or even out of the way of your fellow surfer. However, it is important that you need to stay fit and in good shape so that you can paddle your way efficiently. 

Understand Your Waves 

As newbies, we all have a dream wave that we desire, but we are often not aware of the different waves out there. Waves form at different heights, sizes, powers, and even shapes, anywhere from beginner-friendly breaks to advanced breaks. As a beginner, beach breaks are your companion as it is smooth, long-peeling, and predictable. So before jumping into any session, make sure that you read the waters and make a conscious decision depending on your surf ability. 

Gear-Up!

People often do not care about gearing up before they head into the water to surf. However, many experienced or advanced surfers encourage newbies to have all the necessary surf essentials. A wetsuit is an essential piece of gear that keeps your body warm when in icy cold waters. No matter how professional you may become, a leash is every surfer's best friend as it ensures you don't lose your board. Lastly, surf wax helps all surfers get a better balance and last longer while you surf the wave. 

Final Thoughts 

By following these essential tips, you will have fun water surfing. Even though it might sound intimidating, make sure that you have fun. There are plenty of places out there where you can spend time riding the most beautiful waves. So plan an excellent surf vacation and have one of the most exciting experiences. If you are in and around San Diego, here are some cool surf spots that you should consider. 

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