How to Catch Waves
54 comments
It'll soon be you!
Here we are at your first surfing lesson. Now, there are a few different approaches to catching a wave, and most of the time it begins with lying on your board in the sand and practising what is called the 'pop up'. Popping up is the term used where the surfer has caught the wave and goes from the paddling position, lying on top of board, to a standing, upright position. We are going to skip pop ups at the moment as it will be covered in surfing lesson four.
Let's get straight into the water and talk about catching the white water part of the wave (where the wave has already broken). For more details about waves, take a quick look at the waves page. It is more fun getting straight into things and having a mess around than getting all sandy on the beach.
Waves to Start Surfing On
For your first few times out, surf the small, close waves. You're primarily looking for small breaking waves that you can walk out to, not the large battering waves you have to fight just off the beach. (Remember that surfing should be fun!)
Make sure that you are not holding your surfboard in a position where a wave could knock it back into your face and cause you an injury. Hold the board out at arms length with a hand on each rail. Jump over the oncoming white water as you walk your way out. Keep a look around to make sure you are not about to get washed into someone's path, or that you are not immediately behind someone who may lose hold of their board. It can be quite scary seeing an oncoming wave complete with nine feet of longboard wrapped up in it!
Keep the safety aspect in mind at all times, and everything should be OK.
Here We Go!
You are now at a comfortable depth out where the whitewater is rolling towards the beach. Place your board at your side, nose facing into the beach. Keep an eye on the waves that are coming towards you, and pick one that looks like it is big enough to pick you up and take you in.
If you are on the ideal beginner's board, the wave won't have to be that big, and you'll hardly need to paddle at all. On a very small, light board you may have to work a little harder.
Just as the wave is about to reach you, push the surfboard towards the beach and, at the same time, pull yourself on to the board so that you're lying flat on top of it. When you are lying balanced on top of your surfboard, paddle with both arms as the wave approaches from behind. Keep paddling as the wave starts to pick you up. You should feel the board rise in the water as the wave picks you up, and you'll feel an increase in your speed as the wave starts to take you. With a bit of luck you'll have caught your first wave.
Here are a couple of common problems you may encounter:
You pearl forwards and get thrown off your board.
- You may be too far forward. Try lying a little further back on your board.
- As the wave starts to take you, arch your back a little to put more weight on your legs / thighs.
- Try not to catch a wave that is in the process of breaking just yet. This will pitch you forwards.
The wave passes you by or you can't catch the wave.
- You may be too far back on the board. Try shifting your weight a little farther forward. You only want the nose of your board a couple of inches out of the water.
- Start paddling earlier so you have more speed when the wave reaches you.
- Paddle faster and keep paddling until the wave has passed.
At first, it's a good idea to practice catching waves without attempting to get up. This will give you the feel of catching a wave and help with the timing that is required to pop up.
By practicing in small waves like this, you'll develop a feel of when a wave picks you up. You can also develop your timing and practice some paddling to get extra speed to catch the wave. (We cover paddling next.) You'll also experience some of the common wipeouts, but you should not get into any difficulties in the small surf — great for building confidence.
I Want to Stand!
Great, so now you can catch the whitewater waves in to the beach, but what is next? Obviously you want to be standing on the surfboard when you are heading into the beach—after all, that is what we are here to do.
We need to have a look at how to position yourself on the board, and how to comfortably paddle around. As you progress with your surfing, you will be out in deeper water and will have to control your surfboard while you are out there, and to learn how to get through larger breaking waves. Lets find out more about paddling in lesson #2—paddling.
i like very much this site!
I hope you like my site too!
www.palmbeachtenerife.com/surfschoolsurf
It is about our surf school in tenrife ;)
See you bro :)
omg i wanna learn how to surf soooo bad do u teach teach in hialeah ?
Waist high broken waves
WOW!!! It's great to have this in writing. Now I can practice a few things to get ready for my next beach trip! Thanks a lot!!
i love to surf :) its all i do in puerto rico besides modeling :)heeh
how far do you go out?what is an exceptable "comfortable depth"? hips chest?
It's a personal thing, how comfortable you feel.
I would say for most people, it probably means somewhere between chest to shoulder height.
Best thing to do - give it a go and see how you feel.
thanks!
Hi there, anybody know of any surf lessons for beginners in Ayrshire, Scotland?
I don't know any in Ayrshire, but there are several on the east coast.
I love this site,
And i'm from Flordia i want to learn to surf sooo bad,
But the boards are soo exspensive,
and i'm scared avbout getting bit by a shark
i wanna surf so bad so that wen i come back home to puerto rico i can go surfing with mi little bro
@ lauren bundy, i was recently in florida visiting family. i bought a 6' softboard for $200 while i was there. i brought it back to new england and enjoy using it very much. i dont got out far, between waist and chest deep, depends on where the waves are breaking. ...and im not big on sharks either
I'm planning on taking a bike ride a week after I graduate and going to Florida and learn to surf stay down there for about a month or two and enjoy Florida and no school!!!
i all of a sudden wanted to know how to surf so love this site but i live in st. Louise in the show me state so how can i practice these moves and also are they saying to be in the middle of the bored?
hey bros umm i luv this websit it is awsome dood hey maybe use should come surfing with me bros
see yuz
surfing rocks
This is so cool! Thanks for making this site! It is extremly helpful. :)
how do you know when you should start standing up in your surfboard?
or do you just when any type of wave is coming?
These seem like good tips for me to try next time. I was able to get up with my instructor, but not on my own. Thanks!
this site is great!! its very helpful but do you have a site for more advanced surfers, with info about green waves and tricks?
tricks are coming soon!
What if you live in cold waters? I live in cold weathers but in summer it gets at least 90 to 80 degrees. But im surfing at a lake. Is it possible to stand up on a lake wave? They are like probaly 3 inches. Please help me.
Hi I Have A Board.
No problem with cold water, you just need a decent wetsuit.
You can surf on the Great Lakes waves, but not regular lakes.
Thanks!
don't forget i always do a test run by slow paddling the board to feel the waves before i start catching them. second try to stay in front of the crest or you lose the wave.
even though i am 11 i wanna surf during the summer
Lol... Love the part about the board hitting you.... Funny when you are not paying attention while walking down the beach & the wind grabs it and smacks you.
yeh it sounds real funny
Its my dream to surf!!! My mom just bought me a beginner surf board for my birthday!!! These lessons are perfect for me to catch my first wave!!! Thank you so much!!!!
Dear All.
I now searching best surfing point in Phil. during end of Jan & start of Aug. Please advise it.
awesome stuff
I am going to destin fl tommorow are there good waves in the gulf
@wanna be surfer on Jun 21, 2012: There are waves along the Gulf Coast. Mostly it's short lived wind swells. The best waves are generated during hurricane season.
i surf and this is ok i guess but its not exactly true
cool
wow i love this sight!!
how big does a wave need to be, to be able to have a barrel.
is there any way to surf in hawaii for cheap?
Great site, lot's of excellent info
Am I too small too surf? I weigh 94 pounds.
what is the right time to surf mavericks?
can a shortsighted person surf?
can you have goggles on whilst surfing
i am short sighted so i have perscription goggles
your rss widget generator rocks!
www.widgetsofvalue.com
good job with this website!! You dont know how bad i want to surf. i am going to Cancun mexico for spring break, do you know if that would be a good beginner beach place to start surfing? also do you think there are small waves there? thanks
@gymnast13: Lots of beginner waves in Cancun. Try Playa Chac Mool or Playa Delphines.
We've also got info on our forum about surfing in Cancun so take a look there.
Surfing is fun so far!! I'm just a beginner surfing the break zone, but i feel like i'm ready to ride the unbroken waves now.
how do you drop in on backside hand
Thank you, however, I need the best number of wave for the biggest, to add to the prose I am writing about surfing. Got it? Good. Appreciate your assistance.
Can you please tell me the difference between a "Surf Instructor" a "Surf Coach" and a Surf Trainer" and their respective certifications? …Thank you
Love your site’s teaching!!! I can’t wait till I catch a wave
I appreciate that you explained feeling the board rise and the wave picking you up as you start to stand on the board. My brother and I want to surf when we are in Hawaii in a couple of months, however, we both have never tried it before. We'll have to consider getting some lessons first so we know what we're doing.
thanks