Learning to surf can seem intimidating at first. Watching experienced surfers carve through the waves at beaches like Legian or Kuta might make you think it takes years to even stand up.

The truth is, with the right basic techniques and consistent practice, anyone can experience the thrill of riding a wave. If you are about to paddle out for the first time, here are the essential beginner surfing tips you need to know before hitting the water.

Preparation Before Hitting the Water

1. Use the Right Surfboard (Soft-Top Longboard)

The biggest mistake beginners make is choosing a board that is too small or too thin just because it looks “cool.” For your first few sessions, always opt for a soft-top longboard (a foam board). These boards have high buoyancy, making them much easier to balance on, and they are significantly safer if you accidentally bump into them.

2. Warm Up and Practice Your Pop-Up on the Sand

Before touching the water, make sure your body is loose and ready. Do some stretching, focusing on your shoulders, back, and legs. After that, practice your “pop-up” (the motion of springing from your stomach to a standing position) repeatedly on the sand. Building this muscle memory on land will help you immensely when you are trying to balance on a moving wave.

Basic Water Techniques

3. Maintain the Right Body Position While Paddling

Paddling is what you will be doing 90% of the time. Position your body right in the middle of the board—not too far forward (which makes the nose dive into the water) and not too far back (which creates drag and slows you down). Find the “sweet spot” where the nose of the board is just slightly above the surface of the water.

4. Don’t Fight the Current

The ocean has a powerful energy of its own. If you find yourself caught in a rip current (a strong channel of water pulling you away from the shore), do not panic and do not paddle straight back toward the beach. Instead, paddle parallel to the shoreline until you are out of the current’s pull, and then make your way back to land.

When Catching a Wave

5. Look Forward, Not Down!

This is the golden rule of surfing: your body will follow where your eyes are looking. When you are getting ready to pop up and ride, look straight ahead toward the beach or down the line of the wave. If you look down at your feet or the nose of the board, you will lose your balance and wipe out.

6. Bend Your Knees, Not Your Back

Once you manage to stand up, lower your center of gravity to maintain your balance. The correct way to do this is by bending your knees, as if you are lowering yourself into a slight squat. Never try to lower your body by hunching your back, as this will make your stance stiff and unstable.

Essential Surf Etiquette

7. Understand the “Drop-In” Rule

The line-up (the area where surfers wait for waves) has unwritten rules that must be followed for everyone’s safety. The surfer positioned closest to the peak (the breaking part of the wave) has the right of way. Never catch a wave that someone else is already riding—this is called “dropping in” and is highly frowned upon. Always look over your shoulder before you start paddling for a wave.

Ready to Catch Your First Wave? Learning to surf requires patience, but the feeling of standing up and gliding across the water for the very first time is unbeatable. Don’t hesitate to take a lesson from a professional instructor to ensure you are building the right habits from day one. See you in the water!