How to Get Better at Catching Waves While Surfing

Anyone can rent a surfboard and head out to try to catch a few waves, but surfing is a skill, and being able to read the ocean and know just what to do to catch a wave is not easy. As with any skill, the best thing you can do to get better at catching waves is to practice. The skill will develop slowly, over time. There are, however, a few things you can do to help the process along.

Instructions

    • 1

      Wait for the good waves, rather than trying to catch every remotely surfable wave that comes in. If you try to surf everything you possibly can, you will tire yourself out quickly, and miss a lot of the best waves that really are worth surfing. When you get out past the break, point your board out and watch for sets of waves coming in. When you spot a good one, pivot around and go for it.

    • 2

      Position yourself so that you can make it on to the wave quickly. The surfer who is closest to the peak of the wave has priority for that wave, because that surfer will typically be the first up on the wave. So if you want to catch as many waves as possible, you should try to position yourself beyond the break so that you will not have to let good waves go because someone else is already surfing them.

    • 3

      Paddle as hard as you can when you do go for a wave. You have a better chance of catching a wave if you are going the same speed as the wave, which is about six knots, or seven miles per hour. Try working out your shoulders, by swimming, for instance, to improve your paddling strength. Also consider ditching wet suit gloves if you wear them, as the added weight tires out your arms much faster.

    • 4

      Keep your weight balanced in the center of the board. If your weight is too far back, the wave is much more likely to go right under you without carrying you forward. Likewise, however, if your weight is too far forward your board will catch too much of the wave, and you may be pushed off the front of your board, which is called "pearling."