The Ultimate Surfer's How To Guide

Written By Matt Rode (Surfline's head of Maps to Nowhere series) Once you have integrated all of the surf tips from this blog into your approach, your comfort and performance in the water will likely see some noticeable improvements. Progress like this deserves acknowledgement, and there’s no better way to reward yourself for all of the hard work you’ve done than to go on a surf trip! Photo from tickettoridegroup.com   Checklist for Packing Once you decide where you want to go and get all of your flights and logistics in order, the last thing you have to do is pack...

Written By Matt Rode (Surfline's head of Maps to Nowhere series) The Phenomenon of Sun Blindness If you spend enough time in the ocean—especially in the tropics, where the sun is strong and reflects off the surface of the water—you may run into an uncomfortable and inconvenient malady called sun blindness. This is especially likely when the waves are firing, because we surfers aren’t exactly known for having a lot of self-control. Sun blindness is essentially a case of sun burning your eyeballs. This happens due to sun exposure—obviously—but not just from direct sunlight. A lot of the impact on your...

Written By Matt Rode (Surfline's head of Maps to Nowhere series)   Once you have chosen the right board for the conditions and your abilities, it is important to also match that board with the right fins. There are four main fin clusters that are used on surfboards, ranging from single fins (slowest and most “retro,” but provide a lot of hold and a classic feel) and single fins (also retro, but faster and looser) to thrusters (modern three-fin setup) and quads (a modern tweak on the twin fin, which includes trailing fins on each side). Generally speaking, single fins...

Written By Matt Rode (Surfline's head of Maps to Nowhere series)   Buying your first surfboard—or any new board, for that matter—is an exciting experience. But it can also be a very confusing one, since there are so many different options out there. Not only are there dozens of different worldwide surf brands (and thousands of local shapers around the world), but there are also a number of different types of boards, ranging from longboards and funboards to shortboards, hybrids, retros, and specialty boards such as big wave guns and logs.  To help you figure out what board is best...

Written By Matt Rode (Surfline's head of Maps to Nowhere series) Anyone who has gotten barreled will tell you that there’s no better feeling in surfing. In fact, getting tubed might just be the best thing in life, period! But it is also incredibly difficult, requiring impeccable timing and positioning, intense focus, a huge amount of ability, and a willingness to turn off your brain and intentionally put yourself in harm’s way. Finding the Right Wave If you have gotten to the point in your surfing career where you are capable and willing to do all of that, then the first...

Written By Matt Rode (Surfline's head of Maps to Nowhere series) Once you get to your feet and are actually surfing the wave, that’s when the fun really starts. But there’s a difference between riding a wave and riding a wave well —and the better you get at surfing, the more you will be able to do and the more fun you will have.  The Thrill of Surfing: Beyond Just Riding the Wave A lot of people try to start ripping as soon as they start surfing—but that’s a lot like trying to learn to run before you can walk....

Written By Matt Rode (Surfline's head of Maps to Nowhere series) There are hundreds of different nuances and actions that go into good surfing, but we often spend the majority of our time only thinking about the most glamorous—things like arm placement during cutbacks or where the board sits in the face while riding the barrel. But sometimes the best way to become a better surfer is to start with the simplest, most basic actions. Once you have those dialed, you can catch more waves, which means more time to practice the more exciting aspects of your surfing. @kimasurf The Importance...

 Written By Matt Rode (Surfline's head of Maps to Nowhere series) One of the foundational skills in surfing is paddling. After all, if you can’t paddle into waves, then you certainly can’t ride them (unless you have your own dedicated tow team!). But as simple as paddling might seem, there are actually a lot of nuances involved, especially if you are trying to paddle in the most effective and energy-efficient manner possible.   Paddling Technique for Longboards The first thing to consider when you are working on your paddling skills is what type of board you are riding. If you...

 Written By Matt Rode (Surfline's head of Maps to Nowhere series)   Unlike most other sports, surfing doesn’t happen in a stadium or on a field. Instead, it is a sport pursued in an ever-changing oceanic environment. And within this setting, each wave is different, breaking in different styles (beach break, reef break, point break, and outer reef) and even differently within those styles. This makes every wave unique, which leads to them taking on nearly mythical personalities and reputations. Of course, the fact that every wave is different means that it can be challenging to decipher and navigate new...