Have you been dreaming of finally standing on a surfboard and riding your first wave? Then you’re in the right place!
Learning to surf is an incredible adventure – it challenges you physically, takes you to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and rewards you with unforgettable moments of progress. But let’s be honest: getting started isn’t always easy. Which surfboard is right for you? How do you nail your first take-off? And where’s the best place to learn?
Don’t worry – this guide has you covered with the best tips for beginner surfers! From choosing the right equipment and taking your first steps on the board to avoiding the most common mistakes – we’ll walk you through everything you need to know for a successful start to your surfing journey.
Essential Surf Knowledge for Beginners!
Learn to Surf: 10 Tips for Beginners
Learning to surf takes patience, practice, and the right preparation. Ideally, you should start at a beginner-friendly beach with small, mellow waves and a suitable surfboard. A surf course with professional instructors is the most effective way to learn proper technique from the start and avoid common beginner mistakes. In addition to water time, good physical fitness (see Surf Fitness) will help you progress faster. Regular swimming, balance training, and stretching exercises prepare your body optimally for surfing. It’s also essential to understand weather and ocean conditions (see Surf Forecast) to stay safe in the water.
To get you started safely, faster, and with more fun, we’ve put together the 10 best tips for beginner surfers! These tips will help you make faster progress, stay safe, and enjoy your time in the waves.
1. Start with a Surf Course
Whether you’re in France, Portugal, or Morocco – a surf camp with professional instructors is the best place to learn the right technique from day one. It saves you time and helps you avoid typical mistakes.
In a beginner course, you’ll be guided step by step, receive important safety tips, and benefit from your instructors' experience. You’ll learn not only the technique, but also how to read waves, fall safely, and behave in the lineup. So why struggle on your own when a good course can get you up and riding faster?
2. Choose the Right Surf Spot
Not every surf spot is suitable for beginners. Look for beaches with small, gentle waves and sandy bottoms.
Avoid spots with strong currents or rocky reefs – these can be dangerous. Beach breaks are ideal, as they offer consistent waves and lower risk of injury. Make sure the spot isn’t too crowded so you have enough space to practice comfortably.
Tip: Always check the spot conditions in advance – local surf schools or surfers are usually happy to help. You can also use surf forecast websites to find the best beginner-friendly days.
3. The Right Beginner Surfboard
For beginners, a softboard or longboard is the perfect first board:
- More stability = easier balance
- Faster paddling & easier take-offs
- Softer surface = more safety
Avoid small shortboards at first – they’re harder to paddle and less stable. Your goal is to catch as many waves as possible and practice your balance. Softtops around 7–8 feet long are ideal to get started!
4. Improve Your Paddling Technique
Better paddling = more waves! Lie centered on your board with the nose slightly above the water. Use long, powerful strokes instead of short, frantic movements, and keep your chest slightly raised to maintain balance.
Extra tip: Paddle training in a lake or pool can really boost your arm strength and endurance. Try interval paddling to improve speed and stamina!
5. Practice the Take-Off on Land First
The take-off is one of the most important surfing skills – it's the move from lying to standing on the board. Practice it on land first so it becomes second nature in the water. Here's a step-by-step guide:
- Position on the board: Lie centered so the nose is just above the water. Keep feet close together and eyes looking forward.
- Timing: Paddle hard. As soon as you feel the wave pushing the board, it’s time to pop up.
- Pop-up: Hands under your chest, push up, bring your back foot up first, then front foot. Bend your knees!
- Stance: Body turned sideways, eyes forward, arms out for balance.
- Surf & enjoy: Stay relaxed, keep your knees bent, and ride the wave!
6. Surf Fitness
Surfing is a full-body workout! Strength, endurance, and balance are essential to stay on your board and make the most of every wave. Start training before your surf trip to boost your progress.
- Swimming & paddle training: Paddling is everything. Regular freestyle swimming and specific paddle drills help improve endurance and arm strength.
- Yoga & stretching: More flexibility = better movement on the board. Your shoulders, hips, and back especially benefit from regular stretching.
- Balance training: Use a balance board, slackline, or simple one-leg exercises to improve stability for take-offs and turns.
7. Learn to Read Waves
Not every wave is surfable – and the better you understand them, the easier surfing gets. Take time to observe the ocean:
- Gentle whitewater beach breaks are perfect for beginners – safe, soft, and consistent.
- Find the peak: The highest part of the wave breaks first – that's where you want to position yourself.
- Avoid steep, messy waves: Look for smooth, slowly breaking waves that are easier to ride.
8. How to Fall Safely
Wipeouts happen – even to pros. Learn how to fall the right way to avoid injuries:
- Don't dive headfirst or stretch your arms out! Tuck in and protect your head.
- Protect your face: Use your arms to shield from your board or others nearby.
- Come up slowly: Check your surroundings before surfacing – your board might be right next to you.
9. Respect Surf Etiquette & the Locals
There are unspoken rules in the water – following them keeps you and others safe and happy:
- Don't drop in: The surfer closest to the peak has priority. Be aware and respectful.
- Don’t paddle into whitewater blindly: Look around before you go – don’t cut off others.
- Be friendly: A smile or quick chat makes a big difference – and locals may share useful tips!
10. Be Patient – and Have Fun!
Surfing isn’t something you master in a day. Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t work out right away. Every surfer started as a beginner. Celebrate the small wins, enjoy each session, and never forget: the most important thing is to have fun in the waves!
Learn to surf at a surf camp
Surf lessons for beginners
How fast do beginners pick up surfing?
How long does it take to learn surfing?
How long it takes to learn surfing depends on how often you practice, the conditions you learn in, and of course, your physical abilities. Some beginners manage to ride their first small waves and stand up on the board within just a few hours. Others need a few days to get the hang of it. The best way to learn surfing is with patience and a relaxed mindset. But there are several other factors that influence how quickly you progress in surfing: wave conditions, body type, core strength, equipment, and personal mindset.
It may take some time before you feel comfortable on the board and learn how to ride waves. The fastest way to learn surfing is with experienced surf instructors in a beginner-friendly surf camp over one or two weeks. In our experience, sporty surf students often manage to stand on the board within the first two days of lessons. You might even nail your take-off on day one if you have good balance, body awareness, and a decent base level of fitness.
If you don’t manage the take-off right away, don’t worry. It’s totally normal to only stand up after a few days on the board. The first attempts at surfing and paddling into waves require persistence, endurance, and patience.
By the end of the first course week, even students who are less sporty usually manage to stand up. During a second week of lessons, those with good paddling technique can already start catching unbroken green waves. More laid-back students often manage to enjoy longer rides in the white water by then.
If you already have experience with other board sports and consider yourself an athletic type, you can expect to start surfing clean green waves after about 10 to 20 days—assuming you get in the water regularly. Beginners without board sport experience who only surf during the occasional holiday with long breaks in between should allow a bit more time for their first successes in green waves. The more often you get in the water and the more waves you catch, the faster you’ll progress and take your surfing technique to the next level.
How challenging is it to start surfing?
How hard is it to learn how to surf?
Learning to surf is a challenge – but one that’s totally worth it! In the beginning, it can be a bit tricky to find your balance and read the waves. But with the right technique, a good dose of patience, and a relaxed mindset, you’ll make progress in no time.
Many beginners manage to stand up on the board in their very first session and experience that unique moment when the wave carries you. That feeling will keep you coming back for more – pushing yourself, trying again, and giving it your all. And even if things don’t go perfectly: just being in the water, feeling the salt on your skin, and the power of the ocean – that’s pure freedom!
Step by Step
How beginners learn to surf
Step 1: Safety & Introduction: Learn the basics of surf safety, ocean awareness, and surf etiquette. Your instructor will explain how to stay safe in the water and what to expect in the lineup.
Step 2: Get to Know Your Gear: Understand how to use your surfboard, wetsuit, and leash. You'll also learn how to carry, wax, and care for your board.
Step 3: Warm-Up & Stretching: Before entering the water, your surf coach will guide you through a short warm-up session to activate your muscles and increase mobility.
Step 4: Surf Theory: In short on-land sessions, you’ll learn how waves form, how to identify safe surf zones, and when and where to paddle out. This gives you the confidence to read the ocean.
Step 5: Paddle Practice: You’ll start by lying on your board and practicing paddling. Good paddle technique is essential for catching waves efficiently.
Step 6: Whitewater Gliding: Your first rides will be in the whitewater – the foamy part of a broken wave. You’ll learn to glide while lying down and get used to the board’s movement.
Step 7: The Take-Off: Time to stand up! You’ll practice the “pop-up” technique on land, then try it in the water. This is your first big milestone in surfing.
Step 8: Ride Broken Waves: Once you’re confident with your take-off, you’ll start riding whitewater waves while standing. Balance and board control improve with every ride.
Step 9: Steering & Turns: Next, you’ll learn how to shift your weight and steer your board to control your direction.
Step 10: Green Waves: With practice, you’ll begin paddling for unbroken “green” waves – the holy grail for beginners. Catching and riding these requires timing, positioning, and commitment.
Preparation away from the ocean
How can you prepare for surfing?
To make the most of your surf holiday, it’s a great idea to prepare yourself for the physical challenge ahead. By training your overall fitness and getting familiar with the movements involved in surfing, you’ll enjoy your time in the waves even more!
- Paddle training: You don’t need the ocean to start practicing paddling. Grab a surfboard and a surf buddy, head to the nearest lake – and off you go! A strong shoulder and arm workout will help you paddle longer during a surf session. Plus, paddle training teaches you the correct board position, which makes catching waves easier later on.
- Swimming & freestyle strokes: Strengthen your arms and back by doing freestyle strokes in the pool. Swimming is the perfect prep for your next surf lesson with your instructor.
- Diving & breath-holding: Pool dives are great for practicing duck dives and turtle rolls. Holding your breath – diving – and repeating will prepare you for situations where waves hold you under longer. The better your breath control, the more relaxed you’ll stay in the lineup.
- Endurance training: Running or jogging boosts your cardio fitness so you can enjoy longer surf sessions without tiring out.
- Yoga: Yoga is the ideal addition to surfing – physically and mentally. Stretching, breathing, clearing the mind: specific surf yoga prepares your body and mindset for the next session in the water.
- Strength training: Whether it’s at home or in the gym, strength training builds the power you need for your first pop-ups and paddling. At Puresurfcamps, we also partner with ZENSPOTTING to offer live online fitness sessions. Unlike pre-recorded classes, Zenspotting connects you with a live coach to help you reach your individual goals in yoga, fitness, or meditation – the perfect way to build strength for your next surf trip!
- Skateboarding / Longboarding / Snowboarding: If you’ve done other board sports before, you’ll probably find it easier to get started on a surfboard. You’ll already have a sense of balance and board control, which will help you progress faster.
- Balance board / Slackline: Perfect for improving balance and core strength – and an ideal way to prep for standing up on a surfboard. In summer, practice on the slackline in the park. At home, use a balance trainer to add this surf-focused workout to your routine. Find all the info you need on balance boards, along with exercises and training tips.
- Surf tutorials & surf films: Online surf coaching is a great way to mentally and technically prepare for your first waves. There are countless surf tutorials and surf films for beginners that are fun to watch and build stoke. “How to surf” videos explain the basics, techniques, and first maneuvers – so you can improve faster when you hit the water.
- Trip planning: One of the simplest yet most effective ways to boost your excitement: plan your trip! Research your surf destination, get to know the local culture, check out surf camp photos, explore nearby surf spots, and pack your summer clothes – it’s even more fun if you plan it all with your surf buddy!
Can you still learn to surf at 30, 40 or even 50 years old?
When should you start learning to surf?
You can learn to surf at any age – from toddlers to seniors! Whether you go from the playpen to the surfboard or from the office to the lineup just before retirement: surfing is not a matter of age, but of mindset and fitness. What really matters is your physical condition. If you can swim briskly for at least 15 minutes without a break and stay active in everyday life, you’re good to go. In that case, it’s not about age – it’s about having the right gear, the right surf spot, and the right guidance.
Age plays only a minor role when it comes to learning how to surf. Sure, the older you get, the more commitment and perseverance it might take – but it’s never too late. So YES, you can absolutely learn to surf at 30, 40 or 50 years old!In fact, some of the world’s best surfers didn’t start until later in life. Surfing is also considered a low-impact sport, which makes it especially suitable for adults. So if you’re feeling the stoke and want to stay fit – now’s the time to paddle out!
Surf camps for young adults, 24+, and families
Learn to surf at any age at Puresurfcamps
Basic skills you need to start surfing
What are the requirements for learning to surf?
There are only a few basic requirements for learning to surf – but there are definitely ways to prepare and set yourself up for faster progress. The following points will help you get started and make the most of your surf journey:
- Swimming skills: Being able to swim is essential. You’ll often be in deeper water, and if you fall off your board, you need to feel safe and confident in the ocean.
- General fitness and body tension: While not mandatory, good fitness and core strength are a plus. Surfing requires strength, endurance, and flexibility – the fitter you are, the easier it will be to handle the sport’s physical demands.
- Understanding ocean currents: Knowing how currents work and how to deal with them is a huge advantage. Understanding wave and weather conditions increases your safety and confidence in the water.
- Equipment: A surfboard and the right wave – that’s all you need to get started!
- Basic wave & ocean knowledge: Learning about the ocean and how waves form will help you progress faster – but don’t worry, our surf school covers all the theory you’ll need.
- Surf lessons with an experienced instructor: Getting guidance from a qualified surf instructor is highly recommended. You’ll learn proper technique, safety rules, and get personal tips tailored to your level.
- Surf etiquette & behavior in the lineup: Understanding how to act respectfully in the water with other surfers is essential. This topic is also covered in detail during our surf courses at Puresurfcamps.
Beginner surf camps with certified instructors
Learn to Surf with Puresurfcamps
Every surf camp you book with Puresurfcamps is the result of a careful development or selection process carried out by professionals with years of experience in running surf camps. That’s how your first surfing experience at a Pure surf camp becomes an unforgettable adventure – guaranteed.
The best way to start wave riding is at a surf camp. At Puresurfcamps, we design, manage, and run our own surf camps in top surf regions like France, Portugal, and Morocco, and also collaborate with selected partner camps worldwide. What matters most to us is the quality of the surf camp – whether it's one of our own or a trusted partner location. Quality in accommodation, food, and service always comes first.
As Europe’s market and quality leader, we host more than 15,000 guests per year at our surf destinations around the world. That adds up to more than 120,000 overnight stays in surf camps annually. Our complaint rate is under 0.4%.
All surf lessons at Puresurfcamps meet the highest safety standards and are run exclusively by certified, licensed, and experienced instructors. Their surf instructor training covers not only surfing techniques and theory but also everything they need to teach you how to ride waves. Of course, our instructors are also trained in first aid and safety protocols – so you’ll enjoy a fun and safe surf experience.
We teach in small groups of no more than eight people using professional equipment and beginner-friendly boards. The quality and safety of our surf school is our top priority. That’s why we offer a wide range of surf courses for all skill levels – whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced surfer – you’ll always get expert advice tailored to your needs.
Riding a wave is one of the best feelings in the world. You’ll feel the pure energy of nature and the raw power of the ocean – and that makes surfing a truly unique experience. From your very first wave and first minute in the water, you’ll be hooked. Learning to surf isn’t hard – not with the right surf school, like the ones from Puresurfcamps. Fun is the most important ingredient! Stay loose. Enjoy the ride. As simple as it sounds – that’s how it is.