Preparing for your first surf lesson

Start with an Open Mind & Optimistic Attitude.  It is very important to go into your first lesson ready to learn and thinking positively. Going in with an open mind and being ready to give it all you’ve got will allow you to get the most out of the lesson and you’ll be popping up on the board in no time.

Allowing all expectations and worries to fade away.  You can’t expect to immediately be a pro or never fall into the water; making mistakes is a key part of the learning process!  Allow yourself to wipe away all your frustrations, disappointments and complaints from your mind and focus on enjoying the moment.  After all, the best surfer is the one having the most fun.  As your stress fades away and you begin to feel more comfortable, you’ll soon be riding the waves with an enormous and permanent smile on your face!


Pop up time!
Standing up on your board is one of the first steps to surfing and it is something that is easy to practice on your own without an instructor, waves, or even a board! Check out our videos of the Stand Up Technique so you can practice on your bed, couch or any other space you can find in your house. Not only does practicing this prepare you more for your lesson, but you can also turn it into an interval workout, yeeeeewww!  Mastering, or beginning to master the pop-up technique will give you a leg up on others trying to learn how to surf as well.


What is a rip current?
A rip current, commonly referred to as simply a rip or “rip tide“, is a powerful, fast-moving channel of water that moves directly away from the shore and cuts through the lines of breaking waves.  Rip currents are capable of carrying even the strongest swimmer away from the shore.  Some of the more recognizable characteristics of a rip current include a line of seaweed or debris that is flowing steadily out to sea, a choppy channel of water, or a disrupted pattern of incoming waves. It is important that you know how to recognize a rip current and that you know how to escape one if needed. If you get caught in the current, your first instinct will be to swim against the current and back to the shallow water. This is not going to work for you. The ocean is much stronger than an individual, no matter how well of a swimmer you may be. Instead of swimming against the current, you have two options: swim parallel to the shore or follow the current out. First try to swim sideways, or parallel to the beach, and then you should be able escape and ride the waves back to shore. If you cannot swim parallel, your next option is to ride the current out and follow it to more calm waters. No matter what option you take, it is very important to remain calm. You do not want to waste energy by thrashing around and panicking. So before you go out and have the time of your life, get to know rip current safety!