Beginner training plan
Your first lessonEach lesson begins with making sure every student is fully equipped with the proper wetsuit and surfboard, carefully selected based on their skill level, body type, and the ocean conditions for that day to ensure the safest and most successful experience possible.
The first 30 minutes are spent on the beach focusing on ocean safety, surf etiquette, and detailed pop-up technique instruction. This time allows students to become comfortable with me as their coach, ask questions, and build confidence before entering the water. I break down the fundamentals of paddling, positioning, timing, and proper pop-up mechanics so each student has a clear understanding of what to expect.
Once in the water, I guide students to the best learning area for that day’s conditions—typically directly in front of where we practiced on the beach for familiarity and safety. I provide hands-on instruction with wave selection, positioning, and timing, while assisting students into their first waves until they develop the upper body strength, confidence, and technique to paddle into waves independently.
From there, we focus on repetition and progression—practicing paddling, popping up, and riding each wave as far as possible to build muscle memory, improve strength, and create a strong foundation for long-term surfing success.
Lesson 11+By lesson 11 and beyond, students should have developed a strong and confident understanding of how to read the ocean, position themselves effectively in the lineup, and catch waves independently with consistency and efficiency. At this stage, the focus shifts from foundational skill-building to refinement, style, and long-term progression based on each surfer’s personal goals.
These advanced sessions are designed to help students fine-tune their wave knowledge, timing, and overall performance. Surfers work on making smarter decisions in the lineup, recognizing high-quality waves earlier, and adjusting their positioning with confidence to maximize every session. Wave selection becomes more instinctive, allowing students to surf with greater flow and less hesitation.
A major emphasis is placed on improving maneuvers and learning how to fully utilize the wave’s energy. Students continue developing turns such as bottom turns and cutbacks, while also learning how to trim along the top of the wave, stay in the pocket, and control both speed generation and speed reduction depending on the section of the wave. Understanding when to accelerate, when to slow down, and how to stay connected to the most powerful part of the wave is what begins to separate a progressing surfer from a true waterman/waterwoman.
Depending on the student’s goals, this phase may also include transitioning from a larger beginner board to more performance-oriented equipment such as a mid-length or shortboard. Learning to ride different types of surfboards increases versatility, adaptability, and overall confidence in a variety of wave conditions. This allows students to better understand how different boards respond and helps them discover the style of surfing they enjoy most.
Lessons 11 and beyond are highly personalized and designed around the individual surfer’s progression, whether the goal is improved performance, competitive development, increased ocean confidence, or simply gaining the freedom to enjoy surfing at a higher level. This stage is about creating independent, knowledgeable surfers who can confidently handle themselves in the ocean and continue progressing for years to come.
