Yes, surfing is difficult- but anyone can do it if they put out the effort. Mastering will be harder and will require both natural ability and some serious time in the water.
Surfing is an extraordinary activity that is unlike anything you’ve ever done before. An active connection with the basic elements of the sea, wind, and waves provides a mental clarity that travels through your body. It’s one of the most difficult and complex sports to master because it’s such an amazing and gratifying experience.
It’s all about hard work in surfing. The euphoria and liberation that overwhelms your soul as you battle Mother Nature on the seas is unlike any other experience.
Before you get into the wonderful world of surfing, there are five things you need to be aware of and what expectations you should have before beginning this incredible sport.
Have Patience (a lot of it)
Don’t expect surfing to be like any other sport that you can learn in a few hours or days. It might take weeks, months, or even years to master consistent waves in reality. Because the surfing environment is ever-changing, it takes time in the water and lots of direct experience to master and read waves. This includes understanding things like swell direction and wave period.
The surf isn’t always the same; in fact, it changes constantly throughout the day and even by the hour. There are so many different factors to consider, including wind, waves, ocean floor configuration, tides, and temperature that surfing can be difficult.
Finally, surfing is interesting because the right wave might take a long time to arrive. This might mean that you’re out there for a long time- patiently waiting for the ideal set of waves and the appropriate stance. You’ll discover that spending that time to unwind your mind and study the waves before heading into gear is both therapeutic and exciting.
Be Prepared to Fall a Lot
If you’ve ever snowboarded, you’ll know how tiring it can get after a few trips. You may have fallen on your butt numerous times the first few days, but you were rarely knocked down once you got into the rhythm. Don’t expect the same level of generosity from surfing that you might find in other activities like snowboarding.
As a newbie, you will fall and wipe out frequently, therefore it’s critical to keep a level head and learn to roll with it rather than fighting against it.
Wiping out occurs to even seasoned surfers from time to time. It’s more about accepting and comprehending that it’s a part of surfing than attempting to eradicate it.
It’s frightening to be held under the waves while being washed after a wipeout. Being trapped underwater for longer than you want may cause doubt in your love of surfing, as well as be an unpleasant experience. That is why it is critical to learn how to deal with a wipeout like a champ and maintain composure and peace of mind during the process.
- Fall bum first and away from your board.
- Don’t fight to get to the surface and waste unnecessary energy.
- Stay calm and have faith that you’ll eventually come up to the surface
- Take control of your board when you surface.
It’s common for novices to become anxious underwater, as they feel powerless. Maintaining control of your thoughts and stress levels can help you use more oxygen and retain your air supply for a longer time.
Avoid Surfing in Conditions Outside your Comfort Zone
Before going out on the water, it’s critical to inspect the beach conditions and decide whether it’s safe for your skill level. While you may be eager to attempt and ride waves like more experienced surfers, it might result in a terrible day on the water or worse – put yourself or others in danger.
It’s a good idea to avoid attempting waves outside of your skill level. Trying to catch waves that are beyond your capability can put you in a bad mental place, as well as potentially delaying your learning as a surfer. It may also result in a broken board or colliding with another person in the water.
Overall, be sure to consider the surf conditions and select the appropriate safety measures before going out into the ocean. It’s always a good idea to go for a stroll on the beach for 10-15 minutes to get an understanding of current conditions.
If you’re a novice, the choice of beach with smaller waves is critical for improving your abilities. A beach that is empty will also allow you to learn to surf without having to worry about other people in the water and make you feel more at ease with learning how to surf.
Take Some Lessons to Master the Fundamentals
You’ll learn the majority of your surfing skills from simply getting out on the water, but having a few lessons early on might help you grasp the appropriate methods as well as maintain good form.
Having an instructor demonstrate the “pop-up” on the beach before getting into the ocean can go a long way toward ensuring that you are able to catch waves as soon as possible.
You may expect to gain significant insights from a surfer instructor while working with one of these individuals. These can include:
- Duck diving – Learning how to get your and your board under an oncoming wave
- Proper Stretching – Warmup is critical to avoiding injuries and delivering your best performance.
- Reading waves – Waves aren’t always reliable, so you’ll want to focus on the most dependable technique for reading them. While it might take years to master how to read waves, an instructor may offer you some pointers when watching for that ideal wave.
- How to fall -An instructor may instruct you on how to fall correctly on a surfboard, which will help keep you safer in the water and avoid environmental dangers.
- Popping up – Drilling muscle memory of the board pop-up technique on the beach will ensure that you are better prepared to ride the waves with good form.
While you may not need a large number of surfing lessons to progress, having at least one or two will help you develop quickly. I assure you that it will not disappoint.
Respect Others and Don’t Snake Their Waves
Before heading out on the water, you should familiarize yourself with surfing etiquette. The importance of having respect for oneself, the environment, and others around oneself is a key feature of what it means to be a surfer.
Before you go to any of these beaches, keep in mind that there may be locals who have lived there all their lives. It’s also important to remember to be considerate of the space of others as well as your own.
Whatever you do, don’t drop-in on another surfer’s wave! You don’t want to be the one who gets in the way of someone else catching that “perfect line.” The golden rule is this: the surfers who are closest to the peak will have the longest lines and right-of-way.
Mistakes will occur, and having a thorough knowledge of the “unwritten” rules as well as an understanding of basic water safety is quite beneficial to other surfers. Approach any activity with respect for everyone around you and show others kindness in the same way that you do at home.