Learning to surf is a super exciting activity, however there are many things to remember and mistakes to avoid if you want to make it a positive experience. Common mistakes made by kooks can easily hinder their progress but also put theirs and others’ safety at risk. To make your surfing experience easier and more pleasurable, here are the most common mistakes you must avoid as a beginner:
1. Picking the wrong Surfboard
If you choose a short hard-top surfboard when you’re just starting out as a surfer, you will find it extremely challenging to paddle and catch waves. Shorter boards have lesser volume, and therefore aren’t easy to catch waves with compared to bigger surfboards. As a beginner, you’re better of choosing a soft-top foamy surfboard, which offers you more volume and size for ease in paddling, catching waves, and balancing.
2. Surfing without warming-up
A warm-up before any sporting activity is essential as it helps loosen up your body. Surfing is a more rigorous sport compared to many others, therefore, you must warm-up before you dive into the water. Ten minutes of properly stretching your ankles, legs, back, shoulders, and arms can help you avoid muscle strain and overall stiffness. A little job along the beach will also be very helpful to get the blood flow going.
3. Poor paddle technique
A lot of beginners burn unnecessary energy with an inefficient paddling technique. Its import not to flail your arms, but instead use correct movement to paddle with control and balance. You must remain centred with the body weight on your gut, and shoulders pushing back. Don’t be slack and look like a whale on a surfboard. Yes, its important to have a strong upper-back, however, good technique can help you improve your overall endurance too.
4. Catching the wave too soon
Many surfers are over-excited and try to go for bigger waves way too soon. As a beginner, you should focus on learning and practicing your basics well before you try to paddle out to the line-up. Its better to practice on whitewash – try standing up and getting your balance on broken waves before you try to catch green waves.
5. Incorrect stance
Many beginners don’t realise their stance on the surfboard is quite incorrect and leads them to missing waves or nose-dives. Here are some of the mistakes you want to avoid in your surf stance:
- Leaning back too much will make you miss the wave when you pop-up.
- Leaning too forward too much will cause a nose-dive as soon as you catch the wave.
- Being rigid or stiff and upright will make you fall off.
- Putting your feet too close or wide apart will reduce your ability to adjust your position
Instead you must take a comfortable, low position with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees bent slightly forward to maintain your balance on the surfboard.
6. Ignoring ocean safety & surf etiquette
Before you get into the water, it’s important to observe the ocean and understand the tides, the currents, and the waves, so you don’t put yourself in any dangerous situations. Ignoring ocean safety can put you and others at risk of being hurt.
7. Not practicing pop-ups
Pop-ups are the most essential part of surfing, and many surfers simply skip practicing their pop-ups enough. If you want to have a good time surfing, you better use the beach to work on your pop-up skills. Quick pop-ups whilst maintaining balance are the key to good surfing.
8. Ignoring surf fitness
Every sport requires a level of fitness. Surfing requires a little extra effort compared to many other sports. Therefore, it is crucial that you work on your fitness to build agility, stamina, and endurance to sustain through a high intensity surf session. Practice cardio work-outs, surfing yoga, core and overall muscle strength training to see good results when you visit our Taghazout surf camp. Being a good swimmer really helps too.
9. Ignoring local surf etiquette
Interfering with other surfers or disregarding local rules is considered disrespectful and it can lead to confrontation with the locals. Ask your surf coach to brief you on local rules and surf etiquette to avoid problems in the local area.
10. Choosing the wrong surf spot
Choosing the wrong surf spot can be a massive surfing mistake for beginners. Surfing might look easy when watching from the shore but jumping in without knowing a surf spot can get dangerous very quickly. Crowded surf spots or waves for advanced surfers can be extremely unforgiving for beginners. If you’re not sure of the kind of breaks and beach type you’re at, you’re best to find out, first. As a beginner, you want to surf smaller beach breaks on sandy bottom beach. Avoid reef or point breaks at all costs if you are a beginner.
When you join our surf camp in Taghazout, we help you learn and practice surfing with all the right basics, surf etiquette and coaching to help you improve quickly. Provided you continue your surf journey with the right intentions and approach, you can become a good surfer with consistent effort.