Surfing can be intimidating and discouraging. After all, it is not easy to learn. Surfing takes a lot of practice, and it can be difficult to stay motivated while learning to surf.
That said, there are some things you can do to stay motivated while learning to surf that will help you stay on track and achieve your surfing goals. This article will also cover tips on how to stay positive and have fun on your surfing adventure.
I have been casually surfing for over 8 years, and I have gone through the struggle of learning to surf. In my opinion, once you get a few good waves under your belt, it will be so worth it!
Is it hard to stay motivated while learning how to surf?
Lets say it how it is: surfing is not easy. In fact, surfing is quite difficult and takes a lot of effort to learn. It can take months or years to get past beginner level.
Surfing is challenging because of many factors. For example, surfing is physically demanding, mentally taxing, and unintuitive for many people. That said, anyone can learn how to surf! You don’t have to be a super athlete.
Think about your expectations of surfing. It can be discouraging to compare your experience to media depictions of professionals. In reality, most people struggle to learn how to surf.
Realize that learning how to surf can be discouraging at first, but after repeated effort, you will learn and improve over time. Read more about learning how to surf for beginners.
How long does it take to learn to surf?
It is hard to define what it means to be “able to surf”. However, for this example, consider the following definition of an intermediate surfer. An intermediate surfer is one who can consistently catch waves under six feet high and ride the unbroken face of the wave without falling.
It will take different people different amounts of time to reach this level. How long it takes will depend on how often someone practices, how suitable the conditions are for learning, and of course the skill of the person learning.
| How often someone goes surfing | Average time to reach intermediate level |
| More than once per week | 1 – 3 months |
| Once per week | 2 – 4 months |
| Twice per month | 6 months – 1 year |
| Once per month | 1 – 2 years |
| 6 times per year | More than 2 years |
There are ways to speed up the process and get over the learning curve. Taking a surf lesson or finding a mentor are great options. I think it is worth it to take a surf lesson. A close friend who surfs can make a great mentor. Needless to say, guidance from experienced surfers helps tremendously!
How can I manage failure while learning to surf?
The reality of surfing is that you will fail a lot! Failure is just a part of surfing. In each part of surfing the possibility of failing exists: paddling out to the break, timing the wave just right, and being in the right position on the board.
Even hauling your gear to the beach and putting on a wetsuit on can be a challenge. However, failure is an essential part of learning. The only way to learn how to surf is to make mistakes and learn from them.
If you embrace your failures as a learning opportunity, and study your mistakes, then you will reach success much quicker. Remember that something like surfing which takes hard work is worth pursuing, because success is incredibly rewarding.
Account for failure when you set your expectations. If you go into the experience expecting to fail a lot, you likely won’t be as disappointed when you do face challenges. For example, you should not expect to be able to stand up on your first day.
How to stay positive while learning to surf?
A large part of being able to stay motivated while learning to surf is your attitude. Due to the high frequency of failure, in combination with high expectations, many people can be frustrated by their lack of progress.
It is important when learning how to surf, or learning anything new, to stay positive and enjoy the experience. Surfing should be fun and exciting, even when it is challenging. Don’t take it too seriously!
Don’t get too bogged down with your mistakes. Take them lightly and learn from them. Use the obstacles as an opportunity for you to become stronger and more resilient to failure.
Learning to surf with friends and family can be quite helpful in keeping the morale up. Group lessons are also a great way to learn to surf while being around other people who want to learn too.
Why do I feel like I am not improving at surfing?
Even if you are surfing often and trying to learn from your mistakes, it can still feel like it is taking a long time to improve. This is normal. The learning curve just takes time to climb.
You may feel like they are not improving fast enough, or even not improving at all. If you feel this way, there are some things you should consider.
First, it takes a lot of time to get better. You need to be surfing often enough where your muscle memory develops. Once or twice a year probably won’t cut it. Try to go at least once a month, or 12 times a year if you can.
You also need to surf in beginner-friendly conditions. This means smaller waves, less currents, and longer breaks (more time to stand up).
Also consider what type of board you are riding. Make sure that you are riding a beginner-friendly surfboard. Some boards are much harder to ride than others. Learn how to choose a surfboard for beginners.
If you are surfing often in good learning conditions and using a beginner-friendly surfboard and you still feel like you are not improving, try to seek out some instruction. You can reach out to a surfer friend or take a one on one lesson. Hands on guidance goes a long way in the water.
How goals can help you become a better surfer
Goals are a great way to set a direction for your surfing experience and celebrate your successes. I like to think of goals as checkpoints. They help define your course and allow you to measure your progress.
There are many goals in surfing. For example: standing up on your board for the first time, riding the face of the wave for the first time, riding different types of surfboards, or even just trying to surf for the first time.
All of these achievements are incredibly rewarding when accomplished. The feeling of joy when learning something new is one of the things I love most about surfing.
Try to set some surfing goals for yourself! They go a long way when trying to stay motivated while learning to surf. Then, each time you achieve a goal, celebrate!
Here is an example of some major surfing milestones:
- Go surfing for the first time
- Take a group or individual surf lesson
- Catch a broken wave and ride it on your stomach
- Catch a broken wave and ride it on your knees
- Catch a broken wave and ride it on your feet
- Catch a wave before it breaks and ride the face
- Ride a wave frontside and backside
- Ride different types of surfboards
- Surf at different beaches
- Surf at different times of year
Conclusion
Surfing is difficult to learn and can take months or years to reach an intermediate level. Failure is part of the learning process. Keep your expectations realistic. It is important to embrace failure and learn from your mistakes.
If you are struggling to improve, make sure you are surfing in beginner-friendly conditions on a beginner surfboard. Seek instruction from friends or take a lesson to improve faster. Set some surfing goals and celebrate your achievements. Most importantly, be safe and have fun!
Heads up! Surfing is awesome but it can be dangerous! Learn more about how to stay safe and avoid dangers while surfing. If you are a beginner surfer, check out my other articles about surfing and my ultimate guide to learning how to surf.
