Beginner's Guide to Surfing

Below is a beginner’s guide to surfing, made up of tips and tricks to help new surfers get started.

Enlist the Help of an Experienced Teacher

To avoid injuring yourself and others, reach out to a friend or teacher with strong surfing experience. This helps you learn the fundamentals correctly, avoid bad habits, and progress faster.

Land It (Practice on Shore)

Before entering the water, observe the environment, wave conditions, and other surfers. Practice your stance on the beach, especially transitioning from lying down to standing.

Stand perpendicular to the board in either:

  • Goofy stance: Right foot forward
  • Regular stance: Left foot forward

Your ideal position is slightly behind the center of the board.

Invest in a Soft Top Surfboard

Beginners often spend more time sitting than standing. Soft-top (foam) surfboards are a safer and easier option because they are:

  • More buoyant and stable
  • Easier to paddle and catch waves
  • Safer when falling
  • More affordable

They also reduce injury risk compared to fiberglass boards with hard edges and fins.

Opt for Small Waves

Start with small waves in beginner-friendly conditions. Ideal conditions include:

  • Sand bottom
  • Lower or incoming tide
  • Small waves (under waist height)
  • Light crowds
  • Glassy conditions (light offshore winds)

Early mornings usually offer the best conditions.

Practice and Be Patient

Falling is part of learning. You will wipe out many times, and that’s normal. Keep practicing and improving step by step.

Enjoy the Ride

Surfing should be fun. Once you learn to ride straight, try going “down the line.”

  • Face your body toward the wave (frontside)
  • Use the board’s rail to guide movement
  • Keep your weight centered
  • Keep the nose of the board above water

Then move on to practicing backside riding and keep improving while enjoying the experience.

Get Started

Hopefully, this guide has given you useful tips to start surfing. Now it’s time to get out there and practice.

We work with many surf camps. Feel free to contact us for referrals in your area.