How to Become a Short Board Surfer

Students often want to know how to become a short board surfer. It takes time and learning just as a person beginning to ski on a bunny hill might ask how do I ski from the top of the mountain.

Beginner surfers should start with high volume soft top surf boards in near shore foam waves. They learn the skills of catching foam waves, popping up, and riding to the beach.

The Progress to Short Board Surfer

Beginners master the soft top board and riding foam waves. Then they paddle out to bigger foam waves and begin riding small real waves. It is important to learn proper form in catching and riding waves because mistakes start to hurt more with bigger waves.

The intermediate surfer riding real waves learns the maneuvers of bottom turns, cut backs and accelerating. These can be learned riding an 8′ soft top surf board. Then surfers start riding bigger real waves up to four and five feet.

At this point most surfers will want a hard board. It is important not to decrease the volume too greatly. Surfers should move shorter 6 inches at a time while maintaining the width of 21+” and thickness of 2 3/4″.

Surfers can keep decreasing the length and maintaining the volume to maintain the fun. Lower volume boards are harder to paddle, require steeper waves, and are more difficult to ride. It is important not to lose the fun while trying to progress.

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