When it comes to learning how to surf, people are notoriously focused on standing up and "surfing" instead of just having fun and learning the basics. This often prevents beginners from focusing on key functions like paddling and catching waves in the whitewash. Standing on a surfboard is one of the most challenging things you can do as a beginner in a sport. Everything is changing by the second, and things are always different. I have watched so many people get frustrated to the point of crying because they couldn't stand up right away. But what if we lowered our expectations and just tried to catch the whitewash on our stomachs and riding all the way in? That one thing is more complex when you're starting out but is critical for learning how to surf.
At a lesson I lead yesterday I recommended to students to ride 4 or 5 waves just on their stomach and then 1 or 2 on their knees. If they fall when they try to go to their knees, then go back to some rides on their stomachs. That way they have some success instead of falling on every wave. Then when they can ride a wave on their knees successfully, to try and pop-up. And if they fall on their pop-ups, to go back to riding on their stomach and knees. This way, the new surfer has a day full of success instead of a frustrating day full of falling. Nobody told me to do this, and many days were beyond frustrating because I fell so many times as I tried to pop-up.
Try it- 100 waves on your stomach and knees! Focus on the basics and fun!
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