Top 3 Beginner Surf Techniques

The top 3 beginner surf techniques are learning to balance paddling, catching waves, and popping to a standing posture. I assign counts that students say out loud to get the timing for executing each technique.

Beginner surf students ride foam waves. They break on the outside and roll to the beach. New students should be in about waist deep and close enough to where the real wave broke to have enough power to push the surf board.

Getting On the Surf Board

I have students hold the board with the top side close to their chest and then roll over on the board 20 feet before the wave arrives. When you roll over, your feet have to be at the back and your body right in the middle on the center line stringer.

Before the wave arrives, the student starts paddling easy for momentum and then looks over his shoulder to see where the wave is. When it is 5 feet away, the student paddles hard. The strokes should not be long swim strokes but real short strokes along the rails to keep the board going straight.

How to Paddle

As you paddle you want your chin and hopefully your chest up off the board to keep pressure off the nose to prevent pearling (nose going under water). Paddle hard (3 to 5 complete strokes with each hand) and you should be in front of the foam wave.

When the board is level and going straight, put your hands under your chest in a man’s push up position. I have students count “one” when paddling and “two” when they put their hands on the board.

Popping Up on the Surf Board

One three, the student puts their back foot on the board under their butt so they can stand up strong on it. As they stand up they raise their hands in front of the body and bring the front foot to the front and center of the board.

This standing up posture is count “four”. In this posture, the hands are in front of the body and the hips and shoulders are square to the beach. The knees are slightly bent. In this posture the board should go straight with very little work necessary by the student.

You can practice the pop up on dry land. Below is a video of my dry land and in water demo.

For Surf Lessons in Oceanside, see the Home Page

Dry land and in water demo video

A video on how to catch real waves