Getting good at surfing doesn’t happen overnight. Ok, maybe for some. But it’s not the case for everyone. If you’ve never been on a surfboard before, it’ll take a few days of intensive practice in the water before you can say you’re good at it.
Under the right conditions, learning to surf can take as little as fifteen minutes. However, to be good at surfing, it will take many hours of practice to learn the skills. You can speed up your progress by spending lots of time in the water, staying fit, and hiring a surfing coach.
However, not everyone has the right conditions when they decide to learn to surf. For some, it can take a few months or years, especially if there’s no ocean nearby. The truth is, you can only expect to get good at surfing with actual practice. But how long would it take someone with the determination and the right conditions?
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Is There a Magic Number of Hours to Become a Good Surfer?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a magic number of hours to become a good surfer; besides, “good” is a subjective adjective. Learning to surf can take anything from 15 minutes to a few months, but becoming a good surfer takes more practice in the right conditions.
For example, imagine you’re on holiday in Hawaii. You’ll learn to surf faster by spending every day in the warm water there than by practicing every other weekend in cooler conditions.
The truth is, you will learn to surf and become good at it at your own pace. Check out the following factors that will affect your learning pace.
What Are Some Factors That Affect Learning to Surf?
Many factors affect someone’s ability to learn how to surf. However, if you’re looking to learn to surf quickly, the following factors will stand in your favor:
Adequate Levels of Fitness and Strength
Surfing requires a lot of energy, so you must have moderate fitness, strength, and stamina. For example, you need to paddle a lot to get to the right waves, endure swells, and be able to pop up on your board quickly when the time is right. Without adequate fitness, mobility, strength, and stamina, you will tire quickly and need to rest more frequently between surf sessions.
Flexibility
Surfing requires flexibility for the different stances on the board. You must be able to jump between different riding positions quickly, whether paddling on your belly, popping onto your haunches, or riding in a goofy or natural pose. Being flexible helps to switch between these positions more readily. Try to practice some regualr mobility exercises for surfing, or many surfers swear by yoga!
Good Balance
Balance is another factor that will influence a person’s ability to learn to surf. A good start is having a strong core, but the ability to balance on a moving object is advantageous. Having a background in skateboarding, snowboarding, or other board sports could be helpful because you need to balance and transfer your weight while on a board.
However, remember that the ocean offers more variables than solid ground, so the balance required in surfing is more dynamic.
Equipment
Learning to surf will be easier if you have equipment suited to your needs. For example, beginner surfers tend to learn faster on longboards. However, your surfboard should be suitable for your weight and height. Additionally, wearing the right wetsuit will help you stay in the water longer, especially on cooler days.
Other equipment that could benefit a beginner surfer’s learning include a leash to keep your board close, and even a helmet.
Age
As with anything, the earlier you learn a skill, the more time you have to master it. People who grew up in a surfing culture are more likely to be good at surfing than someone who only learns in their 30s, for example.
There is no age limit on learning how to surf. If you have the willingness, fitness, equipment, and ability to read waves, you stand a good chance of learning to surf.
Location
Learning to surf is easier when you’re at a beach with smaller, consistent waves . Additionally, it helps if the seabed below you is sandy and not rocky or near a coral reef. Rocky beaches with inconsistent waves aren’t ideal places for people to learn to surf and might slow the learning process.
Foresight
Foresight usually comes with a bit of practice and experience. For example, it helps to use your energy wisely when paddling. Also, it would help if you had the foresight to help position yourself to catch the waves at the right time.
Tips To Help You Progress Faster in Surfing
There are ways to help you progress faster through the intermediate surfer phase. Here are some tips to guide you:
Regular Practice
The more you practice surfing, the better you’ll get. You’ll improve your fitness, wave-reading, and skill through regular practice. If you can practice regularly, try out different surfing spots to expose yourself to various sea conditions.
Some aspects of surfing you can focus on during early practice sessions include the following:
- Your paddling speed and capacity between catching waves and when lining up for a wave.
- Popping up to a standing position quickly. The faster you can get to an upright position, the better.
- Your foot positioning. For example, your front foot shouldn’t be positioned straight forward. Instead, it should be at a 45° or less for improved control.
- Your standing stance. It should be relaxed, with knees slightly bent, unlike the beginner “poo man” stance, which looks like you’re squatting to go to the toilet.
- Catching waves at an angle before they break so you can ride them for longer.
Get Feedback from Experienced Surfers
Experienced surfers have a wealth of knowledge and a keen eye for what works and doesn’t work in certain conditions. You can ask more experienced surfers for feedback or advice on an aspect of surfing you’d like to improve. Alternatively, you can sign up with a surf school or instructor for one-on-one lessons.
Stay Fit
You can speed up your surfing progress by keeping physically fit when you’re not surfing. For example, you can work on your overall fitness by improving your stamina with rowing or swimming or doing cross-training with sports such as skateboarding.
How to Stay Motivated and Keep Learning
If you enjoy surfing but are still not as good as you’d like to be, persevere. You might go through a dull patch where it feels like you haven’t progressed much, but the chances are you’ll have a breakthrough if you keep at it.
The fastest way to get better at surfing is to spend many hours in the water. Even if you don’t get to surf, spend time in the sea, swimming and improving your fitness. Practice swimming with a wetsuit, as that can take some getting used to.
Other ways to stay encouraged are to hang out with experienced surfers or sign up for a lesson or two. An instructor can help you improve your weak areas and give you exercises on land or in the water.
You can also watch training videos, practice some foot positioning on a skateboard or surf skate, and join surfing forums. Finally, of course, taking a relaxing surf holiday would be an ideal motivation and opportunity to become better at surfing, so plan a trip if you can!
Conclusion
Learning to surf can take a few minutes; however, being good at surfing takes practice. Regular surfing practice takes dedication and planning, plus a reasonable number of hours in the water. However, you could become good at it in a few hours depending on the frequency and intensity of your surfing sessions.
Luke is an avid athlete and the driving force behind Surfhungry, a vibrant online platform dedicated to sharing the joy and passion of surfing and water sports with enthusiasts around the world. With a deep-rooted love for the ocean and a lifelong commitment to riding waves, Luke’s journey as a surfer has inspired him to create a community where like-minded individuals can come together to celebrate their shared passion.
