1. Warm Welcome & Icebreaker
⢠Introduce yourself and get their names.
⢠Quick game or fun question to make them feel comfortable and excited.
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2. Safety Talk (Kid-Friendly)
⢠Explain âsurfing rulesâ in simple terms:
⢠Never turn your back to the ocean.
⢠Hold the board on the side.
⢠What to do if you fall off (cover your head, look around).
⢠Show rip currents with drawings or hand signals.
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3. Beach Warm-Up
⢠Fun, playful warm-up: animal walks, beach tag, light stretches.
⢠Get them moving and laughing.
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4. Surfboard Basics
⢠Show the board parts: nose, tail, rails, fins, deck.
⢠Teach how to carry it safely (especially with wind).
⢠Show how the leash works and connect it to their ankle.
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5. Lying on the Board & Paddling (on sand)
⢠Demonstrate where to lie down (not too far forward or back).
⢠Practice paddling on landâturn it into a game or race.
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6. Pop-Up Technique (on sand)
⢠Use simple steps:
⢠âHands under your chestâ
⢠âPush up like a sealâ
⢠âFeet jump to the middleâ
⢠Keep it playfulâimagine theyâre ninjas or surfers on a mission.
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7. Practice Stance
⢠Teach the surf stance:
⢠Feet shoulder-width
⢠Knees bent
⢠Arms out like airplane wings
⢠Use a line in the sand to help them line up.
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8. Water Entry & Practice in Whitewater
⢠Walk out with them (you or another instructor holding the board).
⢠Start with them lying down, pushing them into small waves.
⢠Help with timing and stability.
⢠Celebrate small wins (just catching a wave = success!).
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9. Pop-Up in the Water
⢠Once theyâre comfortable, encourage them to try standing.
⢠Assist with balance or guide the board if needed.
⢠Keep it funâlaugh through the wipeouts.
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10. Short Break & Encouragement
⢠Let them rest and hydrate.
⢠Talk about what they did well (âYou caught that wave like a pro!â)
⢠Let them share how it felt.
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11. Wrap-Up & High-Fives
⢠Recap what they learned: âToday you learned how to surf!â
⢠Give a sticker, certificate, or âsurf nameâ as a reward.
⢠Invite them back and talk about what comes next.
1. Build Rapport & Set Expectations
⢠Start with names, surfing goals, and an icebreaker (e.g. âWhatâs the coolest thing youâve seen at the beach?â).
⢠Talk about what theyâll learn and how the session works.
⢠Keep the vibe casual but respectfulâthey respond well to being treated like adults.
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2. Surf Safety & Ocean Awareness
⢠Cover essential safety:
⢠Rip currents and how to escape
⢠Board control (donât ditch it)
⢠Surf etiquette (donât snake, right of way)
⢠Use visuals or real-time examples from the beach.
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3. Warm-Up
⢠Dynamic stretches: shoulder rolls, squats, lunges.
⢠Add surf-specific movement: pop-up drills, paddling motions.
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4. Surfboard Orientation
⢠Explain board types, fins, wax, and leash use.
⢠Let them handle the board, wax it, and leash upâbuild ownership.
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5. Paddling & Positioning (on the sand)
⢠Practice lying correctly (not too far forward/back).
⢠Teach efficient paddlingâelbows high, deep strokes.
⢠Demo turtle rolls or duck dives if applicable.
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6. Pop-Up Technique
⢠Teach the 1-step or 2-step pop-up, depending on athleticism.
⢠Focus on:
⢠Hands under chest
⢠Explosive push-up
⢠Front foot under center
⢠Let them choose regular or goofy stance.
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7. In-Water Session: Whitewater First
⢠Start with whitewater waves to master:
⢠Paddling with timing
⢠Catching waves
⢠Standing up and riding straight
⢠Give live feedback after every wave.
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8. Progress to Green Waves (If Ready)
⢠Teach positioning outside the break and timing takeoffs.
⢠Encourage reading the wave, turning, and trimming.
⢠Introduce bottom turns and riding down the line for more confident surfers.
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9. Video Coaching (Optional but Powerful)
⢠Record clips and review with them on the beach or afterward.
⢠Point out technique improvements and celebrate their best waves.
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10. Cool Down & Recap
⢠Easy stretch and breathing to wind down.
⢠Go over what they learned, what they nailed, and what to work on next.
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11. Stoke & Next Steps
⢠Offer encouragement and praise improvement.
⢠Invite them back for the next session: âNow we can work on turns or catching bigger waves!â
⢠Bonus: give a shoutout on social media if theyâre comfortable with itâteens love that.