What you should know when you learn to surf – we answer the 5 most common questions
July 4, 2024How long does it take to learn to surf? What size waves are good for beginner surfers? And what does a board cost? We answer five of the most commonly asked questions beginners may have when they are starting to surf!
If you are new to surfing, you probably have a ton of questions about it. That’s the reason you clicked on this post, right? Well, you’re not alone! Most beginner surfers ask the same questions as they learn to surf, here we answer five of the most common ones.
We recommend you to check out this post about things to know as a beginner surfer and this post where we give 20 tips for learning to surf. Check them out to get a wider understanding of surfing for beginners.
Question 1: What kind of board should you use as a beginner?
As a beginner you want a board with a lot of volume, this will help you to float in the water and make the paddling and catching waves easier. Foam surfboards, called foamies, are perfect boards to use when you start surfing. A board between 8 and 9 feet is normally good for beginners. When you, later on, advance to an intermediate surfer you can switch out your foamie to a funboard.
However, don’t try to advance too quickly. You should stay on a bigger board until you really feel ready to level up.
Some of the main factors to consider when picking a board is your surfing style and level. The basic information you should give your surf instructor or the crew member in the surf shop are:
Your height
Your weight
Your skill level
Your fitness level
How often you’re going to surf
What kind of waves do you want to catch
The best advice we can give you before getting a beginner's board is to ask the experts, your coach or the crew at the surf shop. Again, stay humble about your level and get a board that isn’t too advanced for you. It's a good idea to try out different boards before you decide which one to buy. Check out this post for more tips on how to choose the best board for your level.
It may be tempting to buy one of the shortboards that you see in the surf shops, but you’re simply not there just yet. They may look cool, but they don’t contain enough volume for beginners and will make your time in the waves more difficult than it needs to be.
Be patient on the beginner board and you'll get there in time!
Question 2: How long does it take to learn how to surf?
Speaking of time, how long does it take to learn how to surf? Well, to put it simply: it depends. This is probably THE common question among beginner surfers, but there isn’t a clear answer to it. It all depends on what your goal is.
Do you want to surf like Ítalo Ferreira or do you just want to have a good time in the waves with your mates? The time it takes to learn heavily depends on your ambitions and consistency. Do you surf regularly? If you surf once per week or more then you’ll most likely progress faster than someone who surfs less than that. The learning curve in surfing is long since it’s a very demanding and complex sport where every wave is different from another.
This may not be the answer you want to hear, but learning to surf is a process of a lifetime. You may stand up in your first surf class and catch your own waves within a few sessions, but learning to surf is a never-ending process.
But isn’t that what makes it so fun? It’s important to have reasonable expectations when you start and not be too hard on yourself as you learn, we all started as beginners at some point.
Question 3: What size waves are good for beginners?
Choosing the right size wave will make the process much easier and more fun than stepping out of your comfort zone in big waves too quickly. You want to surf in the slow waves in the white water. In general, you want to surf at the smallest surfable waves possible.
Waves that are above knee-high to chest-high are usually good waves to start with, these waves measure around 1.5 ft and 2 ft in surf measurements.
Question 4: How much does surfing cost?
Surfing can be a pretty pricey sport to get into. Unlike running where you just need a pair of good shoes, surfing requires a bit of equipment. But on the other hand, once you have your stuff you’re all set. The ocean doesn't require a monthly membership fee. You don’t need to get the most expensive board as a beginner, around 350 euros is a reasonable price.
But it comes down to your preferences and how much you want to spend on a board. If you’re surfing in a colder location then you also need a wetsuit. Going back and forth from the beach will require you to have some sort of transport as well unless you're lucky to live close to the beach. If you learn to surf with a surf school, all these things are usually provided for you. You can usually also rent your equipment and see what works for you.
Try out surfing a few times and see if surfing is for you before you spend your hard-earned money on a brand new board.
Question 5: Where can you learn how to surf?
When you want to learn how to surf, the easiest and most rewarding way is to go to a surf school. Can you learn to surf by yourself? Well, theoretically yes you can. But where’s the fun in that? Having a good instructor to teach you and being together with other beginners is both a great way to pick up the proper techniques, understand the surf forecast and have the most fun.
You can learn how to surf all around the world.
Check out our surf camps at destinations such as Bali, Sri Lanka and Portugal.
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