Catching Real Waves on the Soft Top Surfboard

Catching real waves on the soft top surfboard is where beginners start. Soft tops are great on small real waves and make it easier for beginners making this advance. 

After practicing on foam waves near the shore, surfers can paddle out to bigger foam waves and smaller real waves. The surfer at this point should be able to catch a foam wave with a good pop up and ride straight to the beach without falling off.

Timing Real Waves

Foam waves break in a straight line and give surfers a long time to get in position. A real wave peaks and gives surfers much less time. The surfer has to be in the right spot. The real wave should come under the surf board and peak over the surfers head.

On small waves when the wave peaks, the surfer should then be paddling hard down the face. Many beginners make the mistake of letting the wave pass them and then trying to paddle over the top. It takes more courage to let it come under the board and poor time will result in crashes. But start with small waves.

Getting into the Pocket

The point of riding real waves is riding in the pocket and not straight to the beach like with foam waves. Off the face of the wave, the surfer makes a bottom turn into the pocket. A second method is to point the board toward the pocket before the pop up.

A third method when the waves are bigger or two steep at the apex (where the foam comes over the top first) is to paddle further down the line and catch a corner. At the corner, the wave is not as steep nor moving as fast.

Watching the Line Up

If you are in the line up with other surfers waiting for waves, there are rules of etiquette so no one gets hurt. The first surfer on the wave close to the apex has the right of way on the wave and other surfers cannot ride it.

Some lineups are aggressive and some allow everyone to have a turn. If you wait your turn and then start paddling when you see a wave, other surfers might let you have it. If you miss it or fall off, they won’t be so generous next time.

If the line up is aggressive or all advanced surfers, you might try to move to another section or move closer to shore on sand bar bottom beaches where waves reform. This is why you should master the techniques of soft tops on foam waves before you venture to real waves and line ups.

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