5 Underrated Tips for Faster Surf Level Progression
Want to become the best surfer you can be in the shortest amount of time possible? Join the club. If you’re like most of our clients and guests, you came to surfing later in life.
This means on top of wanting to master a new skill, you’ll most likely have work, study or family commitments you also need to juggle. For people in this situation, the question then becomes: How can I progress faster and make the most out of my limited time in the water?
Since 2020, we’ve coached thousands of surfers, run myriad surf camps and developed a revolutionary coaching methodology. Through all of this, we’ve learned a thing or two about taking you from green waves to head high barrels.
Here are our top 5 tips for faster progression through our surf levels.
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Tip 1: Hire a (professional) surf coach to develop goals
A good surf coach is worth their weight in gold. Not only will they provide insights that you would never discover by surfing on your own, but they’ll also keep you accountable and on track.
A professional surf coach will work with you to set achievable goals based on your current skill level and desired outcomes. They’ll also be able to provide expert feedback and adjustments as you progress.
A surf lesson, surf camp or surf coaches attached to surf retreats are the best place to look.
From catching unbroken waves to identifying new surf spots and matching it with more experienced surfers, surf coaches are the way to go.
Tip 2: Group your surf days to get in the flow
Like any skill, but especially surfing, you need to link back-to-back sessions in order to move past basic surfing maneuvers.
We’re not saying you can’t get better surfing only once or twice a month. But if you want to see real progress in your surfing level, we recommend grouping your surf days together.
By booking surf trips, surf retreats or surf camps, you’ll have dedicated time to immerse yourself in the sport and build on what you’ve learned each day.
This consistent practice will help you get into the flow of surfing, progress from basic maneuvers to turning in the most critical part of the wave and become an experienced surfer.
Tip 3: Ride boards that make surfing easier, not harder
One of the most common failures of early-stage surfers is their tendency to jump from a user-friendly board to a high-performance shortboard before they’re ready.
While it may seem cool to ride a smaller board, many surfers find themselves plateauing if the board is too advanced for their skill level. You’ll miss most of the waves you paddle for, find it difficult to generate speed and possibly even regress.
Our advice is to ride boards that are slightly more forgiving and allow you to stay in the right part of the wave.After all, the more waves you ride, the better you’ll become.It makes zero sense to ride a board that’ll ultimately limit your progression.
Side Note: You can learn to surf how ever you want. I personally learned to surf on a busted up 5’11” as a kid. Back then there was no surf coaching around, so I just did it and figured it out for myself. I was also a stubborn kid and weighed like 20 pounds, so take this with a grain of salt. The truth is, bigger boards make surfing much easier and it’s actually not that cool to surf shorter boards.
Tip 4: Get regular video feedback to improve technique
How we think we surf and how we actually surf are as different as night and day.
Many of our clients who see themselves on video for the first time are often shocked at how different their surfing looks compared to what they imagined. It’s a humbling experience, but also one of the best tools for improvement.
You can’t grow as a surfer unless you recognise your shortcomings, and regular video feedback allows you to do just that. By seeing yourself on video, you can pinpoint areas for improvement and work on them with your coach.
It’s painful and it can be incredibly cringy, but it’s the right thing to do.
From water safety, to duck diving, basic surfing fundamentals and beyond, video work can teach you everything you need to improve quickly.
Tip 5: Surf, surf, surf... even when it’s ugly
Andy Irons, Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, Stephanie Gilmore and Carissa Moore are the greatest surfers of their era. They’ve surfed the best, most perfect waves in the world.
You might think that all this perfection helped them become champions, but the truth is that they’ve also surfed on many, many terrible days.
If you want to progress faster in surfing, you need to be dedicated and committed to getting in the water as much as possible. This means surfing even when the conditions aren’t ideal.
Wind howling onshore? Go for a quick one. Weak, small waves? Grab a longer board and have some fun. Tide all wrong? Sit out the back and wait for the shift.
If you want to make the most of your time and advance quickly, you can’t afford to be picky. Wax up and get out there. We guarantee that you’ll learn something new every time you paddle out.
Final Thoughts
Becoming the best surfer you can be is a journey, and it’s one that requires dedication, consistency and hard work.
By following these underrated tips for faster surf level progression, you’ll be well on your way to generate speed, surf green waves and mow through those surfing levels. Remember, the more you surf, the better you’ll become.
Get the basic techniques sorted, paddle out in a variety of surf conditions and ride larger waves with these tips!
