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Essential First Time Surfing Advice: What Every Beginner Needs to Know

Ready to catch your first wave? Surfing is a water sport that's equal parts physical exercise, ocean familiarity, and the pure rush of sliding down a wave. As thrilling as it can be, having your first surfing experience without instruction can be intimidating. 

This first-timer's guide to surfing will give you the necessary first-time surfing tips to set yourself up for success, safety, and fun in the water.

Choose the Right Surfboard for Beginners

When starting, there is a need to choose the right surfboard. Soft-top longboards, ideally 8 to 9 feet, should be the ones that a beginner chooses. They offer more stability and buoyancy, hence it becomes easier to balance and catch small waves.

Avoid shortboards initially—they may seem cool, but are way more difficult to control. Your top pick for learning the basics of paddling, popping up, and balancing is a large, fat board with a rounded nose.

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Take a Surf Lesson

One of the smartest first-time surfing tips is to take at least one professional lesson. Certified surf instructors teach proper techniques, ocean safety, and wave etiquette in a controlled, beginner-friendly environment. A good instructor can shorten your learning curve dramatically and help prevent bad habits or injuries.

If it is not possible to take a lesson, look into observing beginner surf lessons or surfing with a guest surfer who will teach you the fundamentals.

Pick the Right Beach and Conditions

Not all surfing locations are suitable for beginners. Look for a beach with soft, rolling waves and a sandy bottom. Steer clear of locations with powerful rips, rocky reefs, or big, fast-breaking waves until you get some experience.

Check surf forecasts daily to locate beginner-friendly conditions—a perfect wave size is 1 to 2 feet. Require beaches with surf schools or on-duty lifeguards, at least for your initial sessions.

Learn Surf Etiquette

Surfing also has its own set of unwritten rules to ensure everyone stays safe and cheerful. Some points are:

Don't drop in: Never ride a wave that someone else has already ridden.

Respect the lineup: Wait your turn and paddle around others to catch more waves, but do not.

Hold on to your board: Be in control of your board at all times to avoid injuring yourself or others.

Surf etiquette knowledge is as important as learning how to surf.

Practice the Pop-Up on Land

Practice the pop-up on sand before entering the water. This is standing up from a position of lying on the board in one motion. Practicing this on sand helps to build muscle memory and gives confidence in the water.

A simple pop-up is as follows:

Lie down, hands underneath your chest.

Push with arms.

Bring the back foot up first.

Stand up in a low, balanced position.

Use the Right Surf Gear

Besides a beginner surfboard, other equipment you'll be using to surf is:

Wetsuit: So that you'll be warm and sun- and scratch-protected.

Leash: So the board won't get away from you.

Wax: So you don't slip off.

Ensure that your equipment is in good shape and appropriate for the water temperature and conditions.

Start in Whitewater

Don't be afraid to paddle out past large waves. Practice in whitewater—the broken-up waves near shore. They are simpler to catch up with and ideal for practicing paddle, popping up, and balance.

When you get used to whitewater, you can move on to unbroken waves more confidently.

Final Thoughts

Your first surfing experience should be one to remember for all the right reasons. With the correct board, beach, and state of mind, you'll be ready to go into your first surfing experience with a good and quality learning experience. 

Take this first-time surfing tip, and you'll be surfing on your board in the waves in no time.

Whether you're surfing or sunbathing, Surviving Summer has everything you need to enjoy the season.

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Longboard vs Shortboard: Which Skateboard Is Right for You?

Selecting a shortboard or a longboard is difficult for newbies. Longboards are suitable for cruising, downhill, and carving, as they provide comfort and stability over long distances. 

Shortboards are suitable for tricks, quick turns, and skatepark riding, as they are small in size and light in weight. Your selection relies on your reasons for riding—whether you ride on streets or learn technical tricks. 

Understanding the difference allows you to choose the board that suits your style of riding. If you're unsure where to begin, explore surviving summer for insight into gear selection and your riding approach.

What Is a Longboard?

A longboard is longer, wider, and normally more stable than a shortboard. Longboards are usually between 33 and 60 inches in length and sport bigger, softer wheels. 

They are perfect for cruisers on smooth surfaces, downhill riding, and traveling long distances to work.

Key Features of Longboards:

Length: 33–60 inches

Deck Shape: Typically features a drop-through or pintail configuration.

Wheels: Softer and wider to provide more traction and smoother gliding

Best For: Cruising, carving, downhill, and commuting

Longboards are best for beginners because of the ease and stability they provide. If your main purpose is riding longer distances or smooth cruising around city roads or boardwalks, a longboard is perfect.

What Is a Shortboard?

Shortboard, or skateboard, is shorter, lighter, and trick-oriented, with capacity for flips and technical tricks. Shortboards are usually 28 to 32 inches long. 

They are double kicktail and possess harder wheels and are suited for skatepark, street, and vert ramp skating.

Key Features of Longboards:

Length: 28–32 inches

Deck Shape: Popsicle shape with symmetrical kicktails

Wheels: Small and hard for precision and speed

Best For: Tricks, flips, street, and park skating.

Shortboards are ideal if you would like to master tricks such as ollies, kickflips, and grinds, or learn how to skate at a city feature or a park.

Longboard vs Shortboard: Key Differences

Which Is Better for Beginners?

Longboards are usually optimum for beginner skaters since they have a wider deck and offer greater balance and stability. They are more comfortable and easier to get used to, and learn to turn and stop. 

They are optimal for cruising and recreational use. If you want to learn tricks or street skateboarding, though, it is best to begin with a shortboard. 

While shortboards are harder to learn at first, they are more suited for technical tricks and skatepark skating in the long term.

Longboard or Shortboard for Tricks?

If you're wondering, "Can you do tricks on a longboard?"—the answer is yes, but not as much. Longboards are primarily used for cruising, carving, and downhill speed, so their size and weight aren't adapted for technical tricks or flips. 

While others may master small tricks on a longboard, they are not best for street-style or skatepark skating.

Final Thoughts:

If learning and doing tricks such as ollies, kickflips, or grinds is your main concern, a shortboard would be your best option. Its maneuverability, lighter weight, and trick-friendly design make it the best fit for performing tricks. 

Your dream skateboard would be your aspirations and your riding style. Select a longboard for cruisability, stability, and smooth gliding—great for beginners or those who like smooth rides.

Select a shortboard if you enjoy tricks, technical tricks, and skatepark skating. Knowing the main differences between longboards and shortboards makes your selection an informed one.

If you're grinding over hills or practicing your next trick, shortboarding is more rewarding and pleasant to you with the proper board.

🌞 Ready to embrace the season with more outdoor gear tips, beginner guides, and ride-style advice? Visit Surviving Summer and make the most of every session under the sun.