Which Surfing Level Am I?
It’s all well and good to read articles about the different surf levels, but how do you know which one you fall under?
Knowing your surfing level is crucial to ensure you progress quickly and safely. If you’re not sure what level you are, you risk wasting time or money on lessons or retreats that are either too advanced or too basic for you.
People, but especially those new to surfing, have a tendency to either under or overestimate their abilities. This can lead to frustration, injury or simply not enjoying the experience as much as you could.
So let’s break down the different surf levels and help you figure out which one you are.
Table of Contents
Our 5 different surfing levels
Every surf coaching clinic has different designations of surfing levels.
Here at Independent Surfer, we use 5 different levels to help you identify where you’re at and where you want to go.
If you want to know which surf level you’re currently at, check out the categories below and see which one resonates with you.
Surf schools, surf lessons and surf camps can help you progress through these levels, but surf coaches and surf retreats ensure personal attention and a tailored program to help you advance even faster.
Beginner Surfer / You catch whitewash waves and ride a soft-top
- You’ve never surfed before OR you only catch whitewash waves
- You can occasionally catch unbroken waves but you need a push
- You ride a soft-top surfboard or “beginner” board
- You find it difficult reaching the lineup unassisted
Advanced Beginner Surfer / You can surf green waves and navigate the lineup
- You can reach the lineup and identify the right waves to catch
- You ride a soft-top or hard-top longboard but you’re considering downsizing
- Your wave count is slowly increasing but you still miss many waves
- You’ve mastered basic maneuvers like the pop-up and you’re starting to turn your board
Intermediate Surfer / You ride a hard board and can surf independently
- You’re consistently catching unbroken waves in the lineup without assistance, but occasionally miss one or two due to incorrect positioning
- You’re capable of riding different boards and you can duck dive/turtle roll
- You can generate speed and are comfortable trying basic surfing maneuvers
- You actively challenge yourself by surfing different waves and conditions
Advanced Intermediate Surfer / You can perform turns, get tubed and ride a variety of wave types
- You catch waves at will, but you occasionally miss waves in congested lineups with many surfers
- You do regular surf trips, either within your country of residence or abroad
- You spend most of your time in the pocket part of the wave, but you want to focus on improving speed generation and mastering different turns and barrels
- You can surf various wave types, but you still feel intimidated by larger waves and more powerful wave conditions
Advanced Surfer / You surf with confidence and are currently working on aerials, variations of turns
- You can differentiate surf conditions and ride a variety of surf spots with confidence
- You’re able to catch more waves than ever before, and your wave selection is on point
- You’re proficient in getting barrelled, with a focus on improving speed generation within the barrel. Your falls usually come on the wave’s face when attempting new maneuvers
- You’re linking turns with the right timing, but now you want to try aerials, more vertical or fast maneuvers and getting barrelled for longer
Final Thoughts
Still not sure about your surfing level? Check out this article or get in touch. We’ll personally assess your surfing level by providing honest but constructive feedback. You might be spot on, but you also might be under or overestimating your abilities. It’s imperative that you know exactly where you stand in order to know where you want to go. Everyone from beginner surfers to more experienced surfers should know what level surfer they are. What surf level are you?
