A freshie/beginner
What is my surf level?
A freshie/beginner
Level 1
"I never surfed before, but I can swim."
- Paddling
- How to use basic surfing equipment
- Safety aspects
- Surf etiquette
- Catching waves - basica
- How to pop up/stand up on a surfboard
- Other things you might work on: the way you stand on your board, catching unbroken waves, slowly start turning down the face of the wave
Beginner with some experience
Level 1.2
"I tried surfing befor (couple of times), but I still struggle with the basics steps: paddling, popping up, riding the wave"
You can focus on:
- Repeating basic step for beginner surfers - see level 1.1)
- Improving your pop-up/standing up and paddling techniques
- Working on your surfing stance to gain balance and control
- Learning to catch unbroken waves and ride them on the face of the wave
- Improving your positioning on the board
- The basics of accelerating and slowing down on the wave
- Angling your board just before you pop up
Beginner with experience
Level 1.3
"With occasional assistance, I van pop up, and ride a wave with decent control."
You could focus on:
- Reviewing the basics for beginner surfers - see level 1.1/1.2
- Learning how to catch unbroken waves
- Learning how to read waves better
- Improving your positioning on the board
- Learning to angle your board just before popping up
- Improving your flexibility on the wave
- Understanding how to ride the face of the wave
The Intermediate surfer
Level 2.1
"I can paddle out to the peak and catch waves by myself, go left and right Right on the face. I am comfortabe riding waist to shoulder high waves. I want to learn how to control my board better."
You could focus on:
- Making speed
- Improving to read waves better/when to take off
- Choosing the right board for the surf conditions
- Duck diving
- Improving your flexibility on the board/wave
- Learning how to do bottom turns and top turns
Intermediate transitioning into an advanced surfer
Level 2.2
"I am flexible on my board, can catch waves pretty easily and can handle at least head high waves. "
You could focus on:
- Generating speed on the wave
- Iproving take-off spot/ wave reading ability
- Duck diving
- Improving bottom turns and top turns (upper body movements and positioning feet)
- Learning cutbacks/improving cutbacks
- Learning how to do floaters, re-entries, roundhouse cutbacks or snaps (this depends on your level)