How Many Surf Lessons Do I Need?
It’s the question that every beginner surfer wants to know: how many surf lessons do I need to become a confident solo surfer?
The truth is that asking this question is like asking how long a piece of string is… it depends. The number of surf lessons required to reach independence in the water is different for everyone.
If you’re a particularly goal-oriented person or simply seeking a straightforward answer, we’ve done our best to break it down for you in this article.
Wondering how many beginner surf lessons are needed to go from pop-up novice to green wave warrior?
Here’s our take after hundreds of coaching sessions, thousands of happy clients and countless surf retreats.
Table of Contents
What does it mean to be a 'confident' or 'independent' surfer?
Like everything, surfing has many different skill levels.
You start as a beginner surfer and work your way up to advanced, with many different stages and nuanced steps in between.
A ‘confident’ or ‘independent’ surfer is one who’s surfing skills allow them to do just that: surf with confidence and navigate different surf break types independently without the help of an instructor.
From catching waves by themselves to ocean safety knowledge and muscle memory, these surfers have progressed past the initial skill level of a beginner. They’re comfortable in bigger waves and they can identify different wave patterns.
Simply put, a confident or independent surfer is someone who can hold their own in the lineup and have fun while doing it, whether riding small waves or mingling with more advanced surfers.
Why do we need surf lessons?
On a broader scale, taking lessons provides two main benefits.
The first is that lessons allow you to go deeper and learn more about your subject. But booking and paying for a lesson also represents the decision to invest in your own personal growth.
Surf lessons are no different to taking driving lessons or learning how to play a new sport. The X factor here is that you’re learning in what’s presumably a completely foreign environment.
The ocean.
So, why do we take surf lessons if we can simply learn by ourselves?
Shorter learning curve
Being able to learn under the guidance of a knowledgeable surf instructor significantly speeds up the learning process.
They provide personalized feedback and tips, helping you to improve faster than if you were just figuring things out on your own. They also stop any bad habits before they can cripple your progress.
Safe learning environment
Beginner surfers aren’t subject to life-threatening conditions.
That said, the ocean is unpredictable and accidents happen when you least expect it. Riding waves in a supervised environment helps to mitigate any potential risks and keeps you safe.
Ocean awareness
Do you know the different types of waves? Are you aware of rip currents and how to identify them? What about spotting potential hazards like rocks or other surfers?
All these factors are a crucial part of being a confident surfer and they’re all taught during surf lessons. Ocean awareness is an important aspect of learning to surf, and learning from an expert will help you become a more knowledgeable and responsible surfer.
Experienced instructors
With the right guidance, regular practice and surfing lessons conducted by knowledgeable instructors, the sky’s the limit.
Imagine how difficult it would be to learn how to surf without proper instruction. Surfing lessons give you an edge, and the right coach and surf school will aid your learn to surf journey.
Access to surfing equipment
Surfboards, legropes, wax and wetsuits… there’s more to surfing than simply grabbing a board and paddling out in your bikini or boardshorts (although that sounds pretty good to us, tbh).
Before you can start asking how many surfing lessons you need, ask yourself what equipment you require. Surf coaches taking you on your first lessons will presumably have all the gear necessary to ride your first wave.
It’s also often included in the cost of taking surf lessons.
Strong foundation
There are so many small nuances to riding waves that it’s impossible to master them all without proper guidance.
Surf lessons lay the foundation for a strong skillset, teaching you techniques and skills that will help you progress seamlessly through different surf levels.
What is the best way to book a surf lesson?
By far, the best way to book a surf lesson is to go online and find a provider who’s prepared to immerse you in your surf lesson experience.
You not only want knowledgeable instructors and great waves for your first lesson; you also want to learn about the details of surfing beyond technique.
We offer online coaching that’s ideal for those with prior experience. We also run retreats in Nicaragua that allow you to catch waves over multiple days thereby giving you consistent practice when it comes to board control, wave selection and much more.
How many surf lessons do I need before I can surf independently?
So… how many surf lessons do you need before you can surf solo?
As mentioned earlier, the answer depends on a variety of factors. Below are our general recommendations based on our experience and observations.
Please note that everyone is different, so if your early stages of surfing look either faster or slower than this, that’s perfectly OK too.
1-3 surf lessons / Mastering the basics
It’s funny.
Many people think you need great upper body strength and to be incredibly fit to learn new skills like surfing. The truth, however, is that you just need to practice, practice, practice.
In our experience, the vast majority of people are already popping-up on whitewash waves after just 1 lesson. It’s physically demanding of course, but under the right guidance, it’s definitely possible.
After 3 lessons plus immediate feedback and assistance from more experienced surfers, you should be able to catch waves on your own with some steady supervision.
4-8 surf lessons / Honing your skills
At this stage you’re probably still struggling to catch waves independently, but besides a few minor tweaks, the takeaway is that you’re building on a solid foundation.
It’s around the 4-8 surf lesson mark that you really come into your own.
Yes, you’ll still have moments of fear, discomfort and (let’s face it) embarrassment. But you’re on the precipice of surfing confidently by yourself and that’s something you can be proud of.
9+ surf lessons / Surfing independently
After around 9 or 10 surfing lessons you’ll have the physical fitness, theory and experience to paddle out into the surf without any help.
Everyone’s different of course, but we’ve found that this is the point where most people can rely on their own knowledge and skills to progress in surfing.
If 9 surf lessons sounds like a lot, consider how much longer it would take to reach the same level of surfing if you were to go it alone.
We always recommend taking surf lessons as the quickest and safest way to become an independent surfer.
Final thoughts
Ultimately, everyone reaches different stages of their learn-to-surf journey at different times.
While one person may pick it up quickly, another might take longer to grasp certain techniques.
The single most important thing is that you practice consistently… or at least dedicate a block of time each week, month or even each year to undertake back-to-back surf sessions.
Consistency is a key component in learning any new skill. In fact, it’s almost as important as making sure you’re having fun.
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