Giving your first Surf Lesson
Giving a surf lesson doesn’t mean that your a pro-surfer or instructor. It might not happen today but mark my words somewhere along the track someone will ask you to teach them to surf. They will ask you for a surf lesson not caring whether you can teach or not only that you can surf.
If you do take up the offer and decide to help someone to learn to surf there are several things you will need to consider. Most of us are not naturals at teaching anything let alone something as dynamic as surfing. Each wave is as different as each student. All I can say is follow these basic ideals for teaching your first surf lesson and you’ll be in the ballpark for success.
Surf Lesson Water Awareness
If the beach is your second home, like in mine, then you need not have your eyes open to navigate around your house, open the fridge and sit in your favourite chair. For newcomers however we need to teach them that the water is safe as long as you respect it. Choose a safe surf spot, point out where the surf lifesavers are and where the flags are. In many countries surfing is not allowed between the flags where people are swimming, Point out not to get in the way of other surfers that are already in the water.
The onus on the beginner is to learn safely without negatively affecting those already enjoying the sport. Most times this is easy as beginners will stay in the wash and a lot closer to shore.
Surf Lesson Shore Practice
Practice makes perfect. Well almost. Practice on the shore means drinking less seawater and falling off less. Take your student through the motions on a beach towel of how to stand up and imagine being on the board. The more you do this on the beach the easier it will be for your muscle memory to kick in and you will naturally know what to do.
Surf Lesson
If you don’t have a longboard or softboard available then I suggest you hire one. A surfboard in the 8-10ft range will suffice for most body size and types. There is nothing more frustrating when trying to teach someone to surf with a short board.
This does nothing but frustrate all parties involved and disappoint the student which eventually lose all their confidence and motivation. Just ask my wife how long it was until she tried to learn again after such an experience.
Calming fears during your first Surf Lesson
Most people are scared of waves and it can be terrifying when your not used to them. When teaching someone on their first surf lesson its extremely important to calm their fears and nerves and tell them that your not going out very far. Only into the broken wash and in most cases will be able to stand. If they fall off they can safely stand up on their own.
Walk you student through the wash together and show them how to carry the board out without injuring themselves or others. Instead of just taking a board each into the waves and watching your students from a distance you should, if possible, take only 1 board out and gently push them onto their first few waves so that they can feel what its like to catch a wave.
This will accelerate your students learning and give you a warm fuzzy feeling that your doing a good job. Stay for a few waves and reassure them then you can take a step back and watch them try on their own. If they have huge problems when you let them on their own you might need to go back for some more 1 on 1.
Surf Lesson Attitude
If confidence is king then a Sense of humour is the kings best friend. If you try to instil a good sense of humour and positive attitude in your student even before go head out to the water your day will be a success and each fall will just seem like a comical situation rather than an ego bursting experience.
Teaching someone to surf can be both rewarding and an enjoyable experience. Don’t take it lightly that someone has asked you to give them a surf lesson. Be grateful that someone believes in your abilities. Take your time with your student and always consider their safety. What is obvious to you may not be obvious to your student. IF you are unsure or not confident to the task then politely decline. Better to say no now then cause injury or hours of frustration at the beach.
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5 Ways to Make Your First Surf Lesson a Success
Surf Lesson
The most valuable piece of advice I would give someone who wants to learn how to surf is to get a surf lesson. Your first surf lesson will lay the foundation for many years of enjoyable surfing and will save you countless hours of frustration.
At your very first lesson don’t expect to spend all your time in the water catching barrels or hanging ten off your surf boards. More realistically you’ll spend approximately thirty to forty five minutes of your first lesson on the beach going through water safety and the stand up technique.
On the beach you’ll practice this stand up technique until your arms are sore. Its painful but a necessary evil. When your out in the ocean paddling and the wave is pushing you, your adrenalin will be pumping and there will be water in your face. At this point you’ll be thankful for every second of your practice.
I think that if you can stand up on the board at all you have made your first surf lesson a huge success. You can start getting more ambitious once you’ve set a good foundation for your basic techniques.
I advise you to consider the following when looking for your first surf lesson:
Tip #1 – Accredited Surf School Instructors
When it comes to a surf lesson it is no different than buying any other product. Always check to see if the business is accredited with a national/state training program. This way you will have more of a chance of obtaining a quality surf lesson from an instructor that has been taught how to train students rather than someone that just knows how to surf. A good surfer doesn’t always equal a good instructor.
Tip #2 – Package V’s Single Surf Lesson
It’s difficult to gauge how much you are going to enjoy surfing, if at all, before you have ever tried it. A single surf lesson will give you the taste of what the sport is like and it is from here that you will be able to decide whether you wish to pursue it any further.
A package on the other hand, usually five lessons, will be cheaper per lesson and also gives you the advantage of using the same board, learning from the same instructors who will get to know you and your level and be able to see your progress in order to give you better advice.
Most courses/packages have an outline of what students will be able to achieve by the end and this sometimes helps in making your mind up. However the disadvantage of a package is that if you don’t enjoy the first lesson or decide that surfing is not for you, you have wasted a lot of money for lessons that you are not going to use.
Tip #3 – Instructor to Student Ratio
I think the instructor to student ratio is vitally important in order to get good advice, correction and instruction and to achieve your goals in the quickest possible time. Adult classes should not have more than 8 to 10 students per instructor. Classes for children should not exceed 5 students per instructor due to the safety element.
The lower the ratio the better service and more attention you will receive. This in turn transforms itself into better feedback and quicker results. In short, a smaller group to instructor ratio will result in a more ideal class.
Tip #4 – Surfboards (size matters)
A misconception by most first surf lesson participants is that they will be jumping on a Kelly Slater 5 ft 10 inch fibreglass board and paddling off into the sunset. When making inquiries at surf schools it’s a good idea to ask them what size and type board you are going to be learning on. Make sure you mention that this is your first lesson and you have no experience.
I strongly recommend that you begin your surfing experience with a 9-10ft, foam board and about 3-4 inches thick with rubber fins. This large and thick board helps with buoyancy, balance and control. This size and style of board will make your first few sessions more enjoyable. With a foam board you should be able to pick up waves and ride them literally all the way to the car park.
Tip #5 – Rash shirt & Wetsuits
When booking a lesson check out what clothing they provide. Without a rash shirt and wetsuit your lesson will be far from enjoyable unless you live in Hawaii. If not I’d recommend finding another school that does offer this service. At this stage you don’t want to be spending a lot of money on equipment when your not really sure if you are going to like surfing and continue on in the future.
From experience I would recommend you bring these things along to your first surf lesson:
1. Water
2. Sunscreen (SPF 30+)
3. Boardshorts or swimmers
4. Towel
5. Change of clothes
6. Sense of humour and willingness to have a go.
Congratulations, your now well on your way to becoming a surfer dude (or dudette).
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