Want To Learn How To Surf? 10 Things You Must Know Before You Start!

Fresh bait (one or two kinds)

Sand flea rake if you plan to use them for bait

Clean rags or a towel

This list will get you by. After a few surf fishing trips you will probably fine tune it to your preferences. Take the time to use a checklist and save yourself the grief of leaving something essential behind.

Here is my list of the top 10 things every beginner surfer must know before paddling out!

1. Choose the right surfboard & wetsuit!

2. Go to the right spot.

3. Go surfing on the right day.

4. Know what rip currents are and how to get out of them.

5. Know about localism.

6. Know how to catch a wave.

7. Know how to stand up on your surfboard.

8. Know how to make it outside (beyond the breaking waves into the green water).

9. Know some of the unwritten rules of the line up.

10. Have fun surfing is a blast!

1. Choose the right surfboard & wetsuit

You do not want to start on a super thin high performance short board, or any short board for that matter. When you are learning, you need to start on a surfboard that has some width and thickness to it, yes a long board. How long depends on a how big you are, the bigger the person the bigger the board should be. If you do not want to be a longboarder that's okay, but you will get a lot better faster if you use the long board. A longer board will help you to get the basics down. From there you can scale down in size as you progress, think of it in steps. A short board is super wobbly and unstable if you are inexperienced. Starting on a bigger board will help you progress faster, ride more waves, ride the waves you do catch further, and have more fun! Along with choosing the right surfboard is choosing the right wetsuit. You will want to check with your local surf shop about the wetsuit thickness for your area. Your average water temperature will determine what wetsuit thickness you should purchase or rent. You can also ask the local surfers what they wear.

2. Go to the right spot!

You will want to go to a beginner friendly surf spot. If you do not know of one, ask your local surf shop where the best beginner spots are. The weather conditions can make a beginner friendly spot into a dangerous place quickly. You should point your board toward the beach, wait for a white water wave to come in, then lay down on your board and practice riding to shore. After you get that down you can practice paddling to catch the wave. To paddle you need to dig down deep and really try to stay smooth, and keep the board in a planing position. The paddling method will be more difficult. Do not be to far back on the board as you will push water.

7. How to stand up on your surfboard.

Before going to the beach, practice doing pop ups. Lay down on the floor with your hands near your chest but not too wide. You want to be able to push off your board to get up to your feet in one smooth motion, without touching your knees.