There I was; my first time on a surfboard, standing proud, knees bent in a wide stance, arms stretched out to each side, sun on my excited face, and the balmy Hawaiian breeze in my hair.
I was channeling everything I had ever seen about surfing for this climactic moment: my very first surfing lesson, taking place on Kauai’s infamous North Shore with Hawaiian Surfing Adventures surf school.
“Good job,” said Masaijah Lani, my surfing instructor for the day. “Now just remember what to do when you’re actually out there on the water.” I stepped off my board, out of my daydream and onto dry land where we were doing a “dry-run” before heading out into the water for the real thing.
Ten Surfing Tips for First-Time Surfers and Beginners
Despite my established snowboarding skills, I knew my first attempt at surfing wouldn’t be easy and I was warned multiple times that I would never “get it” the first time. Criticisms aside, I was more stoked than ever for my first surfing lesson and excited to prove that this Canadian-snowboarder-girl could learn to surf.
The following tips will help to give you an idea of what to expect and how you can maximize your first surfing experience!
1. Knowing how to swim is a huge plus!
You wouldn’t go snorkeling or scuba dive without knowing how to swim and the same goes for surfing. After all, surfing is all about finding the best and the biggest waves to ride which often mean that there will be strong and powerful currents, dangerous to a non-swimmers. Lucky enough, I had years of swimming lessons and high school swim team training behind me.
2. Pick a good destination to learn how to surf.
My destination of choice for my first-time surfing experience was Kauai’s Hanalei Bay in Hawaii, noted as one of the best places in the world for surfing along with Hawaii’s Maui, Big Island, and Oahu. In fact, tradition goes that surfing first came from the Polynesians and was a sport for royalty and clan chiefs to show their superiority. The tradition was then passed on to Hawaiian Islands when Polynesians migrated to the islands that would become one of the surfing capitals of the world. Other well-known destinations include California, Florida, Portugal, Spain, France, South Africa, Australia, Tahiti, Fiji, Indonesia, Mexico, and Costa Rica.
3. Take a lesson: find a surfing school or an experienced surfer/teacher.
For first-timers, don’t even think about going out there without a lesson from a surf school or a friend who’s experienced at surfing. Learning the basics is important: like how to stand, how to approach a wave, how to look for the right wave, watch for other surfers and stay safe when you’re surfing. My surfing lesson with Hawaiian Surfing Adventures took 15 to 20 minutes and before I knew it, I was applying my knowledge on the water—semi-successfully! It’s worth your time to learn how to do it properly for your own safety!
4. Be prepared to drink salt water.
A downside to surfing are the wipe outs and mouthfuls of salt water that you’ll inevitably swallow. Fact of life. Coming from a place where I’m used to mouthfuls of shockingly cold snow, the salt water isn’t so bad - and it’s much softer than snow and ice.
5. Wear a wet suit or rash guard long t-shirt.
Wet suits are great for staying warm since most surfing waters can be chilly. They also act as a rash guard for your skin since you will rub up a lot against your surfboard. Similarly, a rash guard acts as a barrier for the upper half of your body to keep your arms and torso from rubbing against the board. Both are usually rented out at surfing schools but if you are planning on surfing more than a handful of times, it’s worth your while to spring for a wetsuit since surfers are known to urinate in their wetsuits to stay warm - everyone does it, apparently.
