Learn to Surf: 3 Essential Steps
Looking to catch a wave this summer? Hannah Stevenson from Pacific Surf School in Tofino, BC offers three quick tips to get you started in surfing:
Go Big
1. “Bigger is better — for the board that is. You will be sadly disappointed if you take your buddy’s 6’ 2” short-board out for your first time surfing; you will look cool walking down the beach, but you will definitely struggle in the water. Start with a 9’0”, or at least an 8’0”, and go from there.”
Get Centred
2. “Get centred. Before you even attempt the pop-up (the process of getting from your stomach to your feet) make sure you are balanced on the board. While laying on the board, you should be directly in the centre. Most foam boards have a centre line, or if it’s a fiberglass board it will have a stringer, which follows the centreline. Also, make sure you’re not too far up on the board. You want the nose of the board to be just slightly out of the water, and your feet should be just at the tail.”
Step on the Gas
3. “Step on the gas! One of the most common problems we see while teaching surfing is that people jump up and lean back. Once up on the board, make sure you are putting a lot of your weight on your front foot. If you lean back (on the brake) you will slow down and the wave will pass you by. The only way there is ‘too much gas’ is if the nose of your board submerges.”
Learn for yourself by booking a lesson with Tofino’s Pacific Surf School
