What Happens in an Oceanside Surf Lesson

People often ask what happens in an Oceanside surf lesson class. There is a progression from dry land to learning in the water. The dry land explains everything the student has to execute in the water. The nature of lessons is that students often have a difficult time remembering each technique when confronted with waves.

The reason I give students techniques and even ask them to count out loud the steps of the pop up sequence is because I tell them their minds go “ga ga” in the water. I don’t want students to think through the steps nor rely on their instincts because both take them through the wrong process.

What Students Learn in a Surf Lesson

In the dry land portion of the surf lesson, students learn how to safely handle the surf board in the water. Students begin in shallow water catching foam waves and the most likely way to get hurt is to get hit by the surf board. Then students learn about pearling which is when the nose of the surf board goes under water and they are thrown forward.

The pop up is going from laying down to standing up. I give students a sequence that they memorize and then count out loud in the water. Counting out loud focuses their mind on each step and also slows down their natural tendency to pop up too fast. The correct process is orderly and smooth.

Students learn how to catch foam waves. At the beginning they are pushed until they start understanding how to pop up. Then they learn how to catch waves on their own. This is where they have the most fun even if they are not yet great at the pop up. I have students who are never able to get the pop up and still say they had fun because it is a great experience to catch waves.

After students can catch waves and ride to the beach, they learn to paddle out through the foam waves and turn around to catch a little bigger wave. This is even more fun because now the student is using their judgment and really get a feel for the ocean. Some can progress to catching real waves.

Oceanside surf lessons are fun because the beach and waves lend themselves to beginners. Real waves break far out and then roll a long time in foam waves to the beach. This gives students a lot of time to catch a wave and the size can vary depending on how close they get to where the wave first breaks.

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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