Beginner Surfers Catch Real Waves

Beginner surfers catch real waves after they have practiced catching foam waves. The beginner surfer should start with an 8’or 9′ soft top board in shallower water on beach breaks.

Once the surfer is able to catch waves and ride to the beach without falling off the surfboard, they should start paddling out to catch bigger foam waves and look for small real waves.

Timing Real Waves

A real wave peaks and the surfer wants the wave to come under their board before the wave breaks. The surfer knows about where the real waves are forming and paddles in the area to develop momentum and sort of patrols waiting for the wave.

When the surfer sees the wave start to form, they have to judge where it is going to peak. They might paddle out, parallel, or in to get in the right spot. The surfer can catch the wave to ride straight or angle to the right or left to head immediately into the pocket.

Paddling and Pop Up

The surfer paddles to the right position and as the wave comes under the board and lifts the tail, the surfer paddles hard for three to five paddles until he feels the push. Once he feels the push, he puts his hands on the board like a man’s push up and goes through the count to pop.

If a surfer wants to go directly to the pocket, he paddles hard to catch the wave and can then point toward the pocket before the pop up. Once he pops the board is already driving the pocket. If the surfer goes straight down the face, then he has to bottom turn into the pocket.

Watching Other Surfers

Etiquette in the line up dictates that the first surfer to catch the wave near the apex (where the foam comes over the lip) has the right away. If you want to keep your session friendly, observe this rule.

When the waves start to form, surfers will start paddling to indicate they want the wave. If you wait your turn, others will probably give you a shot at a wave. If there are too many surfers acting aggressively and wanting every wave, you might try to move down the line to another section (break).

Often the waves if you are on a sand bar beach and not a reef will form once on the outside and reform closer to shore. Beginner/intermediates might start on the break closer to shore because it will be less crowded and smaller.

Learn More

For Oceanside Surf Lessons, see the Home Page

See the Post Surf Lessons Begin with Foam Waves

See the Post What You Learn in a 2 Hour Lesson

See the Post How to Progress in Surfing

See My Dry Land and In Water Demo video

See How to Catch a Green/Real Wave video

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