Learning to surf on your own is not only not effective, but also dangerous. A surfing course often costs no more than hiring all the equipment.
This investment is definitely worth it, because in a surf school you learn step by step how to surf with the right technique and you learn the necessary safety measures.
Here you can find out what you should look out for when choosing your surf school.
If you follow tip 1, you won’t have to worry about some of the following tips, as the professionals will take care of that for you.
A suitable surf spot for beginners is usually characterised by a flat stretch of coastline with easy access to the water. The waves are usually small and break gently.
The best place to gain your first experience is in “white water”, which are the foam waves that form after a wave breaks. They provide an ideal basis for practising. Beachbreaks are particularly suitable for beginners, as falls on a sandy seabed are less dangerous than on rocky ground or a coral reef.
Another aspect that makes an ideal surf spot is a sheltered location, as strong onshore winds blowing from the sea onto the land make the waves more chaotic and difficult for beginners to surf. Ideally, a surf spot offers consistent waves that break gently at regular intervals. This makes it possible to practise the right timing for paddling and stand-up.
It is recommended that the surf spot has as little current (rip current) as possible so that you don’t have to constantly fight against the water and, in the worst case, have no strength left to paddle or stand up.
Surfing is an intensive full-body workout that works the large muscles in the upper and lower body as well as the small muscle groups that are responsible for stability.
A warm-up phase of 15 to 20 minutes, which includes a short cardio section at the beginning followed by stretching exercises, can help to prevent injuries and increase performance.
The warm-up increases the body temperature, which leads to improved blood flow to the muscles. This makes the muscles more resistant, more flexible and less susceptible to injury. A warm-up phase also stimulates the neuromuscular system and enables you to react in a more coordinated and faster way. This can be an advantage when surfing, where fast and precise movements are required. Furthermore, warming up offers the chance to mentally prepare for the upcoming challenge and find your focus.
Endurance
Get your circulation going and jog on the beach or jump in place.
Stretching exercises
Before you get into the water, repeat the paddling movement and the stand-up on the beach several times and keep checking your position on the board.
Sad but definitely true – we paddle more than we surf. Try to practise paddling as often as possible at the beginning.
For most people, paddling is the most unfamiliar movement. It is important to understand that paddling out into the line-up and paddling into a wave are different in technique.
Paddling out is about getting behind the breaking waves into the line-up as quickly and efficiently as possible. As a beginner, this is actually irrelevant for you, as you first gain experience in the foam waves before the line-up. I think it’s important to emphasise the different techniques now, because this is a crucial point.
When paddling out, the body lies flat on the board and the upper body is slightly raised, similar to the cobra position from yoga. This gives you more freedom of movement in your arms. You perform long, steady and calm paddle strokes in order to use as little energy as possible. It is helpful to tense your body, especially your bum, to maintain better balance on the board and to protect your lower back. Your legs are closed and your feet are at the tail.
Paddling into a wave: Now it’s time to build up speed in order to be carried along by the wave.
From the tip of the board, pull your arm through the water up to shoulder height, from shoulder height to knee height, push your arm through the water. The fingers of the hand are closed and the whole body is relaxed.
The arm must be pulled through the water as deep and as long as possible. When paddling into a wave, most people don’t pull their arm deep enough through the water. They end the paddle stroke at shoulder height. They often unconsciously want to bring their hand forwards again as quickly as possible. This may look fast, but it is not effective. Instead, perform the movement more slowly but in a controlled manner.
Whether you lift your upper body when paddling in as you would when paddling out or rather exert pressure on the board with your upper body depends on the wave. This is particularly important in green waves. You shouldn’t stress yourself at the beginning. Over time, you will feel whether the wave is taking you with it. If you feel that the wave is not taking you, then apply more pressure with your upper body. When the tip of the board, the nose, dips into the water, you need to pull your upper body up quickly to avoid a nose dive.
A shortboard naturally looks cooler and more professional, but at the beginning you should definitely look past the small, sleek shortboards.
Because one thing is clear: the right board is crucial to how quickly you make progress. The malibus are ideal for beginners, as they have a wider and rounder tip that provides more stability and float.
Don’t make it unnecessarily difficult for yourself and gain your first experience with a softboard. Only switch to a hardboard once you have successfully mastered turns on a softboard in the green waves and feel confident on it.
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