How to Spot a Wave While Surfing

You've got your board, you've learned to paddle out, you're ready to go. So, why aren't you catching those waves? Learn how to spot waves and be in the right place at the right time, and you'll start to catch those elusive long rides other surfers seem to spot out of nowhere. A few beginner surfing tips will help you make the most of your time in the water.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Watch other surfers--the ones who are ripping it up. As a beginner, one of the most helpful learning tools is simple observation. Break things down into simple steps, however; if you're working on spotting a wave, focus only on how other surfers seem to be spotting waves. Where are they looking? Are they paddling? Are they hanging out? When they start to paddle like mad, try to see what it is they see--a wave on the horizon--and where they're headed in relation to it.

2. Sit on the beach or at a high vantage point, and spend a good 15 to 20 minutes--before you get wet--just looking out at the ocean. Notice where the waves are breaking; in what direction they tend to peel--if any; whether or not they come in groups, or sets, of several relatively larger waves. By looking for patterns ahead of time, you'll save time and energy once you enter the water, and have a better chance of riding those same waves to shore.

3. Keep your eyes looking straight ahead as you paddle toward the waves. This should come naturally--but learn to look beyond those waves barreling down on you; instead, focus "outside" past the break zone. Look for any lines or bumps out there that might turn into one of the waves crashing in front of you. Now is a great time to take note of where surfers in the lineup are headed.

4. Scan the horizon. Once you're out past the breakers, relax, stretch and re-energize, but don't stop scanning the horizon. Begin by gazing into the distance, and search for little bumps or lines in the water--the crests of incoming waves. Lie down on your board from time to time to get a lower vantage point--it may help you to pick out those tiny little bumps against the sky.

5. Compare what you see to what other surfers see. Ask them outright, if you feel comfortable. Or, just follow those little bumps in with your eyes and see if anybody's paddling to set up in front of them. You'll begin to learn which bumps will become full-fledged waves and which will roll on through without breaking.

6. Start putting your observations to the test--go for it! Spot a bump on the horizon, follow it in with your eyes, paddle toward where you think it will break, and take a chance. At the very least you'll get some good exercise; and each wave you miss will help you learn to catch the next.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep in mind: The ocean is dynamic--it is constantly moving and changing. This means that what you observe one day may be different the next--even at the exact same break. The breaks themselves can also change over time. So, especially as a beginner, take some time each session--before you get in the water--to sit and check things out. It's a good time to stretch and get warmed up.
• The type of break has a lot to do with the difficulty in spotting a wave. Point breaks, for example, tend to break consistently in the same spot. Beach breaks, on the other hand, often shift and may come in the form of several different peaks.
• When watching other surfers and their positioning, pay attention to the type of board they're using. Longboarders are able to catch a wave farther out than shortboarders. Model those surfing a board similar to your own.

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