Location, location, location. When you are learning how to surf, it is extremely important in choosing the right surf location. And not only is it important to find the right location, it’s just as important in finding the appropriate wave(s) to learn on at that surf location. Hopefully our tips and advice below on finding the right surf location will help you on your quest to learn how to surf.
Avoid learning how to surf in crowded locations. Your safety and the safety of others is the primary reason why it is important in avoiding crowded locations. Learning how to surf can be frustrating at times, especially at the very beginning. You are going to fall off your board over and over again, and you are going to be repeatedly “losing” your board. Losing your board means that when you fall off your board, your board continues its forward motion toward the shore. Obviously, you risk the safety of others when this happens. One way to prevent losing your board is by wearing a leash. A surf leash is a cord connecting the surfboard to your ankle and is typically 5-6 feet in length. Even though wearing a leash will prevent the board from reaching the shore, you still run the risk of the board shooting out from underneath you and hurting yourself or someone else.
When learning how to surf, your ideal wave actually isn’t much of a wave at all, it’s the whitewater. The whitewater is what is left after the wave has crested and has broken. It looks like a line of white bubbly water. It’s a lot easier practicing standing up and balancing on your board while riding in the white water. Once you get comfortable catching waves in the whitewater, then you can move out further to the actually breaking wave. Don’t be embarrassed riding whitewater waves. Everyone starts out there and it’s actually quite fun.
Stick to sandy beaches and avoid any beaches where you can see rocks or coral reef in the breaking portion of the waves. If you see one rock or reef, chances are there are plenty more just out of sight under the water.
If you can find an uncrowded beach where there are no rocks or reef and safe whitewater to ride in on, go out as often as you can. It doesn’t matter how big or how well the waves are breaking, you are just concerned with practicing paddling and standing up at this point. The more time you spend out in the water, the more you will build up your surfing fitness and surf knowledge.
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