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Surfing for Beginners: What You Need to Know

 Surfing for Beginners: What You Need to Know. Looking for a surfing guide to educate you as a beginner in this sport. Here you'll find everything you need to know to get started, explained in clear and concise language. First and foremost, if you want to start practicing, the most important thing is to take a beginner's surfing course because you'll save a lot of time in the learning process and you'll also do it correctly and safely. You can check out the classes at our surf school in Fuerteventura, Surfintrip. We have courses for all levels.

The first thing to do is start with the appropriate equipment for your level. Without a doubt, beginners should choose a board made of soft material (also known as corchopan or foam board) that is wide, thick, and long to provide more stability in the early stages of learning. If you decide to try this topic, check out our post on choosing the right board. It's also interesting to learn about the parts of a board (keel, edge, nose, etc.) and what they used for, as well as the minimum care required, such as cleaning a surfboard. A course give you a hands on experience with it, and it the best way to get started.

Choosing a Surfboard for Beginners and Other Materials

Learning how to use it and how to carry it safely is another important consideration. Aside from a surfboard, clothing required for beginners, preferably a wetsuit, although depending on where you're going to surf, it may be hot and you only need lycra or a neoprene jacket. It's also crucial to bring surf wax for your board. It's crucial to note that we're here to provide you with general technical information without going into the details of each point. This is why we always recommend starting with a course with professionals to maximize your learning and to practice in safe and suitable conditions.

First of all, you need to analyze wave power and height, entry and exit points, currents, red waves, hazards, number of surfers, positioning in the water, and orientation references on the beach. The next step is to walk into the sea, looking at the waves, until the water reaches your waist. My recommendation is to hold your board by the ends with the fins facing the waves, tucking it in on the right or left side (before the leeward side). It's essential to maintain a minimum safety distance from other surfers and not cross the line of other surfers.

Other Materials to Get Started in Surfing Practice

Also, try not to get in front of other surfers who are waiting for their waves further out. To catch the whitewater wave, you must perform a series of technical steps beforehand. Specifically positioning yourself on the board as explained above, paddling that begins gently with your eyes on the whitewater, and paddling that increases in intensity and frequency as the wave approaches. When the whitewater hits my feet, I finish the last two or three strokes (depending on the strength of the waves) and wait for my board to slow down and finally start to glide.

Once I've captured the change in speed as described in the previous section, it's time to stand up. There are several techniques, and jumping is undoubtedly the most effective. But at the beginning of an introductory course, in our case, the most appropriate technique is the three-step technique for two reasons because it adapts to different profiles and, above all, because the end result is something like a slow motion jump. Once I notice the change in speed, I stop paddling and place my hands under my chest, perform a plank, place my back foot at the height of the center fins.

Parts and Types of the Wave, Essential for Starting in Surfing

Parallel to the tail, and, as a final step, place my front foot at the height of my hands (exactly in the middle of them) with the foot slightly rotated at 45 degrees. I keep my legs bent, my back knee inward, my arms raised (just below the shoulder line) and projected forward, and my gaze forward. My hips should slightly rotated at 45 degrees. There are several techniques, but at first, there's one that's very simple and works well with small foam waves. It involves grabbing the edges of the board with both hands (one on each side) to lift it up onto the approaching whitewater wave.

It's very important not to get the board between you and the wave, so the board must be on one side of the wave during this phase. Once inside, you have to walk until the water reaches your waist. The aim is to be close to the breakers but not too close to the wave's point of impact. When a whitewater wave approaches, you must hold the edges of the board with both hands (one on each side) and push up onto it, using a small push with your arms and legs to get into a prone position (lying face down). All of this must done about 1 to 1.5 m before the whitewater arrives.

Conclusion

It's important to remember that your body must be positioned in the center of the board with your legs together. Among the elements that most influence the way waves break are the seabed and the shape of the coast. The combination of these latter elements creates the famous Surf Breaks, permanent or semi permanent obstacles that cause the waves to break. Among the most important types of Surf Breaks are Beach Breaks, made 100% of sand Point Breaks, where the waves hit a particular point of the coast (or rocks sticking out) following the shape that the coast itself provides and Reef Breaks.

The coral or rocky reef bottom floor. Don't rush to learn everything in an hour, as everything in life starting out in surfing takes time. We've always been clear surfing is a really fun sport from day one. Now, we'd like to remind you and make it clear that surfing is a process that requires discipline, perseverance, effort, and patience. Like any type of learning, it takes time to get used to, and trying to do things quickly won't get us anywhere if we want to know how to start surfing in the best possible way. Having a positive mindset and always remembering that the journey, not the goal, is the most important thing. 

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