Where Should Beginners Catch Waves?

By the time you're an experienced surfer, the spots you surfed as a beginner usually fade into nostalgic memory. The learning curve in surfing inevitably involves advancement to more challenging waves suitable to your skill level, but the fact remains: Everybody's gotta start somewhere. The right choice of beginning waves can make the difference between sticking with the sport and improving, or throwing in the towel after a few frustrating sessions.

  1. Don't Even Think About It

    • You know those classic surf spots where legends catch waves and the beautiful people line the beach? Do not go there. First, you don't have the skills yet to handle those waves and could easily be discouraged or injured. Second, you'll antagonize the locals by floundering around cluelessly and impinging on their waves. Third, many of the best surf spots have rock or sharp-coral bottoms -- enough said. You don't take driving lessons at Le Mans, so don't try to learn to surf at any spot you've seen on the cover of a surfing magazine.

    Lower Your Expectations

    • Find a sand-bottom "family beach." A non-hotspot for surfing where you can catch white water (broken waves) and experiment with small, sloppy shorebreak near the beach. You'll know the spot when you see it: parents, kids, a few boogie boarders in the water and a guy looking for lost coins with a metal detector. A lousy spot you wouldn't bother with once you know what you're doing, but a perfect classroom for getting your feet (and head) wet as a beginner.

    Ask For Directions

    • Are you renting a board or did you take the plunge and buy one before you knew what you were getting into? In either case, the surf shop where you got it can point you to good beginner spots. Since the guy behind the counter is usually an experienced surfer, he'll be sure to direct you away from wherever he surfs, to some harmless, brand-X beach where you can practice the basics and pay your dues. Many shops offer paid instruction. Invest in lessons or at least find out where the lessons are held. That will be a good learning beach.

    Moving Up

    • When you have advanced to riding white water comfortably and can usually remain upright on knee-highs, it's time to leave the shallow end. Point breaks, where the beach curves inward from a point of land sticking out, produce clean, catchable, green-water waves. Point breaks offer a natural channel of smooth water for trauma-free paddle-outs -- or an escape route back to the flats if things get gnarly outside. On small-surf days, point break swells break less sharply the further they wrap away from the point. These gentler, sloping waves are forgiving of rookie errors and tend to treat beginners kindly, unlike the steep, thundering waves at beach breaks. Check the surf reports and pick days when the surf is small and the tide is between high and low and go for it.