How to ride a body board

Where can I find Learn to Surf Books & DVDs?

Forum - questions and answers on learning to surf

Learning to Surf Instructions- The Art of Surf Boarding

Sister Surfer : A Woman's Guide to Surfing with Bliss and Courage “SISTER SURFER does a great job of both explaining how to surf board and breaking down the barriers that prevent women from experiencing the sport. A great read that will surely empower and motivate surfers of every level and ability.”

Goofy or Natural Foot?

Before you get on your surfboard, or put on your surf leash you need to know whether you are Goofy or Natural foot. This means which foot you put at the front of your surfboard.

Simply put
Goofy footed- right foot at the front
Natural footed- left foot at the front

Here are some tests:

The linoleum slide test -- wear socks and run and slide across the kitchen floor. Which foot is first? Plant it front on your board.

The push test -- have someone push you (gently) from behind. Which foot goes forward. That is your front foot.

The stair test -- which foot leads on stairs, down? Front foot.

Bike test -- When you ride a bike and coast, which foot leads on fast downhills? Front foot on board.

The best way to figure this out is to try riding a skateboard; your back leg while skateboarding is the same as while surfing

Where to learn to surf

Ask around for good beginner surf breaks when you're shopping around for your surfing equipment mentioned above. Most shop proprietors will be happy to assist, especially if you're making a purchase.

You could also look for surf schools giving surfing lessons. Where they are teaching others is probably a place that has good beginner waves.

To find the right break for you to learn on. Phuket has become known as a place with gentle and easy waves, which are ideal for learning to surf. The Surfing Phuket beaches pages on this web site have detailed information on the surf conditions in Phuket. For other locations go to surfing in Thailand.

Websites like Global surfers also have plenty of information for surfing destinations all over the world. You could also check out some of the beach cams in your area to see if the waves are suitable for surfing beginners.

The right waves for learning to surf

In general, a surf boarding beginner wants to find a break with waves that look crumbly and slow. Try to find small waves and a sandy beach; you'll be walking around a lot. Don't paddle into a crowded break; you'll likely be a hazard.

Don't surf alone either; there will be nobody to help if you're in trouble. Surf where there are people present but not right on top of them where you'll be in the way.

Here are some tips on reading the surf and rip currents

Pre-Surf Preparation

It's always a bad idea to just paddle out into the waves without first getting a good idea of what the conditions are like.

In December, 1978, a young surfer did just that at The Farm in Australia, paddling out into what he thought was head-high surf when it was twice that size and getting bigger, an hour of being thrashed around paddling aimlessly into oncoming walls of whitewater the surfer was exhausted and lay on the beach for another hour just getting his breath back.

Oh yeah....that young surfer was me.......I quickly learnt my lesson though, and these days I always sit watching the surf, channels and rips to work out where the best spot is to surf and paddle out.

Watch the waves for at least twice as many minutes as the waves are high on the face in feet. On a waist high day, that means watching for about 5 or 6 minutes. On a double-overhead day, that means watching for about 20 minutes.

Get a feel for where everyone is sitting in the water, where the waves are breaking, and where they're not breaking. Look for rip currents, rocks and hazards. Watch a few larger set waves roll through. Think about where you can paddle out into the surf, and where you can swim in if you get into trouble.

Also, take some time while watching the waves to stretch. Focus on your neck, shoulders, triceps, back, and legs. Swing your arms and get your pulse going. Get into a calm state of mind.

Put some sunscreen on your face and some wax on your board.

Here are some tips on Stretching exercises before you go surfing

Paddling and Laying on Your Surfboard

Paddling a surfboard is one of the most essential skills for surfing. It is what you will be doing most of the time in the water. It is what gives you your fitness and what makes you tired. Paddling correctly will help you catch waves and progress in surfing better, quicker.

Read more about how to paddle on a surfboard

How to Duck Dive

correctly is an essential techniquie for surfing. Duck diving allows you to get through the waves with the least amount of energy and also gets you out the back of the waves quickly.

Your First Surf Boarding Waves

By now you have found a good place to learn to surf and have gotten used to paddling around on the board without falling off.

Grab your board, and head out into the water until it's up to your chest or so. Hopefully you'll still be where the whitewater is rolling in and not outside the breaker line.

Let some whitewater roll by, getting a feel for the rhythm of the waves.

Wait for what looks like a pretty solid chunk of whitewater, and turn around, facing the shoreline. Get on your board and start to paddle in.

When the whitewater reaches you, it will surge you forward. Stay in control of the board!

As you feel yourself surge forward, stop paddling and grab the rails of the surfboard with your hands.

Do a push-up and quickly 'pop' your feet underneath you. Do not kneel; go straight to your feet. Both feet need to be under you at the same time, one in front of the other, with the toes pointing perpendicular to the centerline of the board.

Click here for our forum with more tips on how to stand up on your surfboard

At about this point you'll really know whether you want to be a regular-foot or a goofy-foot.

Immediately afterwards, let go of the rails and stand in a stable crouch.

It's right about at this point that you will begin to fall. Try not to land on anyone and anything, particularly your board. Fall shallow so you don't hit the bottom.

Hey, you're surfing! Smile, and go do it again.

Naturally, most surf boarders do not surf in the whitewater. They like to turn and do maneuvers on the open face. You'll get out there too, once you can stand up in the whitewater reliably. This helps you practice standing up on a fast-moving surfboard without having to worry about where the wave is breaking, other surfers, pearling, going over the falls, or any other hazards.

It's how I learned! And 99.99% of all surfers learnt this way too!!