Surfing is an exciting and rewarding sport, but for beginners, it can also feel overwhelming. Many people who start surfing wonder: how long will it take before I can ride a wave confidently? The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, as the time it takes to learn depends on several factors. In this article, we’ll explore realistic expectations for beginners and what you can do to speed up your learning process.
The Beginner Surfing Journey
When you’re starting out, it’s important to have realistic expectations. Surfing is challenging, and it’s easy to get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results. That being said, it’s also a sport that offers constant improvement. With dedication, practice, and the right approach, you can enjoy your progress, even in the early stages.
Here’s what to expect as you embark on your surfing journey:
The First Few Days: Getting Comfortable in the Water
1. Day 1 – The Basics
On your first day of surfing, you’ll likely focus on learning how to paddle, get familiar with your surfboard, and practice the basic movements needed to catch small waves. During your first lesson, you’ll spend more time on land learning about board safety, how to position yourself, and how to get in the right mindset for the water.
Your instructor will guide you through the basic skills, such as paddling, positioning your body on the board, and catching waves in a safe, controlled environment. The most important thing on your first day is to get comfortable in the water. You won’t likely be standing up much, but that’s normal!
2. First Success: The Pop-Up
By the end of the first lesson, you may manage to practice the “pop-up” (the action of transitioning from lying down to standing up). It’s a challenging move for beginners, and mastering it takes time. But even just attempting it will give you an idea of what’s involved in standing up on the board.
While you might not succeed at standing up on your first try, you’ll build confidence and get more comfortable with the surfboard.
The First Few Weeks: Building Muscle Memory and Confidence
1. Consistent Practice is Key
In the first few weeks, it’s important to keep practicing. The more you surf, the quicker you’ll develop muscle memory. For most beginners, after around 5-10 lessons, you will begin to improve your paddling, balance, and timing when it comes to popping up on the board.
During this period, you might spend more time lying on your board and learning the timing of waves. Catching your first wave and popping up successfully might take a few attempts, but don’t get discouraged! Everyone progresses at different rates.
2. Understanding Your Body and the Board
Your body needs time to get used to the movements required to balance, paddle, and pop up on a surfboard. The more you practice, the more natural these movements will feel. You’ll also begin to understand how your surfboard works in the water. The right board for your level plays a huge role, and beginner surfers typically use longboards because they offer more stability and are easier to balance on.
3. The Importance of the Right Conditions
Surfing in the right conditions is vital. The waves shouldn’t be too big or too powerful for beginners. At Surf Haven, we ensure that beginners learn on smaller, slower waves so they can gain confidence before progressing to bigger waves. Learning on the right waves helps you catch more, stand up more, and build your surfing skills more quickly.
1–3 Months: Getting Comfortable and Standing Up
1. More Success with the Pop-Up
By the time you’ve spent a few weeks practicing, you should start feeling more comfortable with the pop-up. Many beginners can stand up for a few seconds or even ride small waves at this point. However, consistency is key. Standing up requires perfecting the timing of the pop-up and mastering the balance once you’re on your feet.
2. Timing and Wave Selection
At this stage, you’ll start developing a better understanding of how to read the waves and time your paddling accordingly. You’ll learn how to pick the right wave, paddle to the right position, and pop up just at the right moment when the wave is pushing you.
Some beginners catch waves successfully within 1–3 months, but it takes time to develop the timing and technique. It’s important not to rush the process. The goal is to be patient with yourself as you progress.
3–6 Months: Improving Your Technique
1. Increased Confidence and Wave Selection
By 3-6 months, you should feel more confident in the water and be able to consistently stand up on smaller waves. You’ll likely be able to choose waves that are a better fit for your skill level and improve your ability to read the ocean. With each lesson and each wave, you’ll develop a better sense of timing and control.
At this stage, you’ll also be able to make small turns and ride the wave for longer periods. You’ll begin to feel more in sync with the wave and gain more control over your movements on the board.
2. Developing Style and Control
Once you’ve built a solid foundation of balance and technique, you’ll start refining your style. You’ll become more comfortable with turning your board, controlling speed, and riding the wave in a smooth, flowing way. This is where the fun of surfing really starts to kick in!
However, even after 6 months of practice, some beginners might still struggle with more complex maneuvers like carving or riding bigger waves. Again, it all depends on the amount of practice and exposure to different conditions.
6–12 Months: Surfing with Confidence
1. Turning and Carving
By this point, many surfers feel comfortable catching waves, popping up with ease, and making their first turns. You’ll be able to ride waves with more confidence, and with time, you’ll start learning how to carve on the wave, increasing your speed and control.
2. Improving Balance and Skills
After 6–12 months of consistent practice, your balance and body awareness will improve significantly. You’ll start to make more precise movements and control your board in ways that allow you to ride waves with more style and fluidity.
3. Challenging Yourself
At this stage, many surfers begin to challenge themselves with slightly bigger waves and start working on more advanced maneuvers. You may start trying to “cut back” on the wave, “bottom turn,” or learn how to ride more powerful waves.
What Factors Affect Your Learning Time?
While the timeline above provides a general overview, there are several factors that can influence how long it takes to learn to surf:
1. How Often You Surf
The more you practice, the faster you’ll improve. Surfing is a skill that benefits from repetition, so those who surf regularly (2-3 times a week) will see quicker progress than those who surf occasionally.
2. Your Fitness Level
Surfing requires strength, endurance, and flexibility, especially in your upper body and core. If you’re in good physical shape, you may find it easier to paddle, balance, and pop up. Regular fitness training can speed up your progress.
3. Your Instructor’s Guidance
Having an experienced surf instructor can drastically shorten your learning curve. A good instructor can provide feedback, correct mistakes, and help you progress faster by teaching you the right techniques.
4. Wave Conditions
The conditions of the waves you’re learning on play a major role in how quickly you’ll progress. Smaller, slower waves are ideal for beginners, while bigger waves can be intimidating and more difficult to handle.