Surfing: Learn How To Surf

In this part of our guide to how to surf we look at what how you stand up on a surfboard.

The first part of learning how to surf is knowing what waves are right for you. A wave that isn't large enough will not have enough inertia to support you and your board on a ride into the shoreline. If it's too large for your skill level you'll be pushed off the board. For beginners, 3-4 foot (1-1.5m) waves are appropriate.

Look for swelling waves that are forming into a C shape. If you see the wave shaping into a C begin to paddle from the correct position. You want to be lying on your board, stomach down, with your head toward the shore and paddle with a freestyle stroke, alternating your arms. While steadily paddling faster glance back to see where the wave is so you can estimate how fast and in what direction it is headed.

While lying down, your toes should be pointing straight down toward the board. Your elbows should be near your body, as if you were about to do a standard push-up. Once you feel the lift of the wave, you need to "pop-up" by switching to a crouch from your lying position.

While gripping the sides or "rails" of the board, bring your feet beneath you at roughly an equal distance from the center of the board. Your feet should be at an angle and cross the centerline, known as the "stringer," in the middle of the board.

From the crouched position, let go of the sides of the board and begin to stand by increasing the rigidity of your feet. When you stand, don't stand completely straight, instead adopt a knees bent stance and extend your arms, one forward and one to the rear.



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