How to Learn to Surf a Shortboard
Although longboarding is great fun and easier to pick up initially, learning to surf a shortboard will open you to a whole new world of surfing: speed, sharp turns, aerials and other tricks. Once you get some experience longboarding--a beautiful, soulful art in its own rite, give shortboarding a try. It's just, well, different. Try out both to see which suits you more. Or, better yet, keep one foot surfing in each world!
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Rent the appropriate-sized shortboard--based on your body type and where you'll be surfing--from a local surf shop. Ask employees to find a good fit and negotiate a rental deal for several days, if possible. The more consecutive days you spend in the water, the more quickly you'll learn.
-
2
Practice paddling around and sitting on the board in calm water before you head out to surf. This assumes that you have beginner surfing experience on a longboard or funboard. Get a feel for switching between lying flat and sitting, and adjust your weight so you can paddle smoothly forward.
-
-
3
Head out toward the breakers once you've learned to maneuver the shortboard. As you approach a breaking wave, begin to duck dive just before it reaches you: plunge the board's nose down into the water, maintaining your grip on the rails, and push on the board's tail with your foot or knee. With practice this will shoot you under the wave and out the back---have patience!
-
4
Sit on your board once you reach the lineup and scan the horizon for waves. When you see a wave with your name on it, paddle toward where you think the peak of the wave will just be breaking. You need a good push on a shortboard to get going, so you need to be very close to the wave's peak.
-
5
Paddle hard as the wave approaches, glancing over your shoulder to line up into position: just off of the breaking peak. Try to angle slightly away from the peak. As the wave starts to carry you, jump quickly to your feet, and try to head down the line--in the direction the wave is breaking.
-
6
Stay fairly high on the wave, and pump--or swivel--your hips and legs back and forth to maintain and build speed. It's easier said than done. Just keep in mind: you have to keep your speed to stay with the wave; slow or stall, and the wave will overtake you. Work your way up and down the wave face as you move along, trying to stay just in front of the whitewater.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Larger waves will allow you to carve wider turns and give you all the speed you need; small waves will make you work for it--pump and stay high!
Begin by trying out a few boards before you buy one--if possible. Learn what style you like to surf best, and choose one you'll fall in love with!
Practice, practice, practice! Learning to surf only comes with time. Don't get discouraged as a beginner, even after a year... or more! Really good surfers have been ripping it up since they were knee-high.
Surf with a buddy, near other surfers or at a beach with lifeguards! If you have trouble, you'll have people close by to help.
