What Are the Different Levels of Surfing?
Keen to book a surf trip but aren’t 100% sure if you can handle the waves? Don’t stress!
Surfing, like all skills, has different levels of ability. These levels help determine where you’re at in your surfing journey and what you can work towards.
In this article, we give you a thorough breakdown on the 5 different levels of surfing based on our own experience working with thousands of surfers from all over the world.
Hopefully, by reading this article in its entirety and identifying your surf level, you can avoid wasting time or money on booking a surf trip that’s not right for you. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
What are surfing levels?
The 5 surfing levels refers to the skill and ability level of a surfer. These are:
- Beginner
- Advanced Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced Intermediate
- Advanced
These levels of surfing are essentially the ranking you receive based on your proficiencies in the following areas:
- Surf knowledge: How well do you know the ocean? What about surfing etiquette, wave selection and understanding the conditions?
- Catching waves: Can you catch waves independently without assistance? Or do you require help from an instructor or experienced surfer?
- Stamina: Get noodle arms after only a couple of waves? How do you feel after an hour in the water… exhausted or ready for more?
- Board control: Are you able to duck dive or turtle roll your surfboard? Do you feel confident in paddling for waves?
- On the wave: Can you turn the surfboard are you still going straight? What about your ability to generate speed, pop up quickly or ride a barrel?
By meeting key markers in these various areas, you can determine your level of surfing.
Why do the levels of surfing matter?
Picture this. You’re in desperate need of a holiday after a stressful university or work semester and you have your heart set on a surf camp in Nicaragua.
BUT… having only surfed a handful of times and hearing reports that the waves in Nicaragua can be quite powerful, you’re not sure if it’s the right destination for your surf level. Signing up for a surf trip that’s too advanced for you can result in frustration, disappointment and even danger.
On the other hand, if you’re an experienced surfer who’s been riding waves for years, booking a trip catered towards beginners or even intermediates can leave you feeling unchallenged and bored.
Let’s not forget either that you’ve just spent valuable time and money on a surf vacation that wasn’t suitable for your surf level. This is what we call an all-round bummer.
Knowing your surf level can save you from these pitfalls and help you choose the right destination and accommodation to match your abilities.
Ultimately, being aware of your level of surfing ensures you maximize your time in the water and have a great surf trip experience.
What does the surfing progression arc look like?
Your surf level is a complex combination of these factors and can change over time as you improve your surfing skills.
Let’s say you’re a true beginner, which means you’ve never surfed before or you’ve had a couple of lessons. You’re at the very bottom of the surfing progression arc.
As you continue to practice and improve your skills, you’ll start to move up through the other surfing levels, which run from Beginner to Advanced.
Is this an easy and straightforward arc towards surfing proficiency? Yes and no. It’s easy if you dedicate enough time to surfing and are surrounded by people who will challenge you.
However, if you’re unable to surf regularly or don’t have access to quality waves, it may be a slower journey. What’s important to know is that there’s no time limit or deadline on when you should achieve a certain surf level.
Everyone’s surfing journey is unique and should be enjoyed at their own pace. Learn more about how long it takes to learn surfing.
Is it possible to improve my surfing level quickly?
Yes!
While general life busyness and other responsibilities can often get in the way of your surfing progression, there are steps you can take to improve faster.
- Book a surf retreat: The more you surf, the faster you’ll progress, and nothing allows you to do this more than a surf retreat. With daily surf lessons and unlimited access to quality waves, you’ll be surprised by how much your surfing improves in just a week or two
- Plan road trips to the ocean: Do you do regular road trips during university or school holidays? Consider pointing your vehicle in the direction of the coast! Combining school or university breaks with waves and a few friends can be an incredibly fun way to speed up your surfing journey
- Become a part of the surfing community: Reddit, Facebook and even our own Instagram page are great places to stay in the loop for surf trips and upcoming retreats. Meeting other surfers can not only motivate you but also open opportunities to learn from experienced riders
- Take online classes when landlocked: Shameless plug! If you’re serious about having more fun in the water and surfing some of the world’s most picturesque waves (but can’t always access the ocean), consider our online surf classes that you can take from anywhere
- Watch surf clips and videos online: These days, surfing is a globally recognized sport with an abundance of content online. Watching professional surfers, instructional videos and even vlogs can help you learn new techniques and inspire you to push your limits
How do I know what my level of surfing is?
While it’s all well and good to read about the different levels of surfing, it can be very tricky assessing your own level if you’re new to surfing.
Certainly, the difference between beginner and advanced is very obvious. The differences between an advanced beginner and an intermediate, however, might not be as defined.
So how do you actually assess your surf level? Check out the different levels of surfing breakdown below or get in touch with us directly.
You can send us your questions via email or reach out on Instagram. If you want to send us a video of your surfing, we can provide personalized feedback and help you determine your surf level.
The different levels of surfing
Beginner
You’re a Beginner surfer if…
- You’ve never surfed before
- You’ve surfed once or twice and you catch white water waves
- You aspire to catch green waves but struggle to identify and paddle into them
- You ride a soft top surfboard and are more comfortable on this surfboard type than a hard (fiberglass) surfboard
- More often than not, you fall while popping up
- You’re unable to duck dive
Your goals should be:
- To paddle more efficiently
- To pop up with balance and control
- To become more comfortable paddling out the back and catching green waves independently
Advanced Beginner
You’re an Advanced Beginner surfer if…
- You surf in the lineup and can catch green waves
- But you still have trouble reading the ocean and picking the best waves
- You feel like you’re ready to progress onto a hard surfboard
- You might also feel like you’re ready to drop down in surfboard size
Your goals should be:
- To increase your wave count
- Drop down from a longboard or soft top to a beginner-friendly hard board
- Learn how to turn down the line, AKA bottom turn, AKA turn across the wave face.
- Increase your make rate percentage of pop-ups
Intermediate
You’re an Intermediate surfer if…
- You can reach the lineup easily
- You consistently catch waves without assistance
- You still have trouble with wave selection and positioning, but overall your make rate is good
- You’re riding a board that matches your surf level and you have the ability to control your direction
- You can duck dive confidently and turtle roll if needed
Your goals should be…
- To learn how to generate speed while on the waves
- To refine your bottom turn and begin mastering various top turns
- To work on your timing for more critical sections of a wave
- To begin challenging yourself in bigger or steeper waves
Advanced Intermediate
You’re an Advanced Intermediate if…
- You catch most of the waves you paddle for (but still miss a few when it’s crowded)
- You can navigate different break types, such as reef breaks, beach breaks and point breaks
- You understand the differences between various surf craft and how they respond in different conditions
- You understand the role speed generation plays in surfing
Your goals should be…
- To push your limits with different turns and barrelling waves
- To gain comfort and confidence in bigger surf
- To learn how to read the ocean even better and make strategic decisions for each wave you catch
Advanced
You’re an Advanced surfer if…
- You catch almost all of the waves you paddle for
- You only fall once or twice every other session and have a great understanding of how the ocean works
- You can ride almost any craft and your pop up doesn’t need much work at all
- You’re able to get barrelled but may be working on speed generating in the barrel
- You are now working on aerials, variations of turns and extending barrel time
Your goals should be…
- To surf your way around the world and have fun seeing new places, meeting new people and trying different surf craft!
Final thoughts
With any luck, you now know exactly what your surf level is and have some clear goals to work towards.
Keep in mind that these levels are not set in stone and can vary depending on the individual. The most important thing is to always have fun, stay safe and continue progressing as a surfer.
If you’re still not sure what level of surfing you fall into, don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance. We’re always happy to help and provide guidance on how you can improve your skills in the water!
