The Most Important Steps for Beginner Surfers

Starting your surf journey is exciting, but it can also feel a bit overwhelming. Whether yStarting your surf journey is exciting, but it can also feel a bit overwhelming. Whether you're taking your first lesson or practicing on your own, mastering the fundamentals will help you progress faster and have more fun in the water. Here are the key steps every beginner surfer should focus on:

1. Choose the Right Surfboard

Your board can make or break your learning experience. As a beginner, you’ll want:

A soft-top (foam) surfboard for safety
A longboard (8-9 feet) for better stability
A wider board to help with balance

2. Master the Pop-Up on Land First

Before you even hit the waves, practice the pop-up (the movement from lying down to standing up). Here’s how:

Lie on your board in the center with your feet together
Place your hands near your chest, like a push-up position
Push up with your arms and slide your front foot forward
Keep your knees slightly bent and your back straight

Practicing this on land will help your muscle memory once you're in the water.

3. Learn the Right Paddling Technique

Good paddling makes catching waves much easier. Remember to:

Use long, deep strokes instead of short, fast ones
Keep your body centered on the board to avoid nose-diving
Arch your chest slightly to stay balanced and avoid sinking

4. Understand Wave Selection

Not every wave is the right one to catch. As a beginner:

Look for small, rolling waves (whitewater waves are great to start with)
Avoid steep, fast-breaking waves until you're more experienced
Watch other surfers to understand how waves break and where to position yourself

5. Learn to Fall the Right Way

Falling is part of surfing, so knowing how to fall is key:

Don't dive headfirst – always protect your head with your arms
Don't land feet-first in shallow water – you could injure your ankles
Try to fall flat and push yourself away from the board

6. Respect Surf Etiquette

Surfing has unspoken rules that help keep everyone safe and having fun:

Don’t drop in – Wait your turn for a wave
Don’t snake – Paddling around someone to steal a wave is bad etiquette
Respect locals – Be friendly and observe how things work at each spot

7. Take Your Time & Have Fun!

Surfing takes patience, practice, and persistence. Some days you’ll catch waves effortlessly, and other days you’ll wipe out more than you ride—but that’s all part of the journey. Stay positive, keep practicing, and most importantly, enjoy the ride.

At Crispy Surf, we help beginners progress with fun, safe, and supportive lessons. Ready to ride your first wave? Join us at Kuta Beach!