How to Surf | Your Guide to Surfing

If you've ever caught yourself saying, "I want to learn how to surf", you have come to the right place. This free online guide to surfing provides you with good information to learn surf basics like choosing a good beginner surfboard, where to surf, how to pop up and how to paddle a surfboard. You'll find instructional surfing videos and more. You will find your answers here.

Whether you are young or old YOU CAN LEARN HOW TO SURF! Surfing is such a pure and amazing experience. I hope this website encourages you to get out and surf.

Update: . The free "How To Surf" Ebook is now available. You can download it hassle free, no emails required.

The download page is here: How To Surf Ebook

Feel free to share it with your friends. If you like the book, do me a favor and Tweet this page or link to the page if you've got a Facebook page or a blog. Thanks!

Learn How to Surf

SURFhow is here to help beginner surfers learn how to surf and help intermediate surfers with some of the finer points as their surfing progresses. I have tried to write this information in a clear, easy to understand manner, without the “surfer attitude” you may have run into when asking questions of surfers. My goal was to create an online surf tutorial to teach anyone how to surf. There is a lot of information within the website, so be sure to bookmark the site for future reference.

SURFhow is equipped with a site search function which you will find in the upper left corner of the website. You can use the search feature to look for answers to your surfing questions. If you can't find what you are looking for, please send me an email. I have a FAQ section in the website where I answer questions and I'll either email you back personally with a response, or if it is a question that I think would help other surfers, I'll add the Q & A to the website.

Beginner Surfing Instruction

In the Learn To Surf Basics section of the website you will learn the essential elements required for successful surfing.

Beginner Surfboards

When it comes to buying a beginner surfboard, the choices seem limitless. Softtop, shortboard, funboard or longboard? Fiberglass or epoxy surfboard? New or used? Surfboards are designed for many different styles and levels of surfing abilities. Different surfboard styles are explained and you are guided through the process of deciding which surfboard is best for you in our Surfboard Info section. A surfboard option available to beginner surfers is the Softboard Surfboard. These are great surfboards for kids learning to surf.

Intermediate Surf Instruction

The Intermediate Surf section of the website addresses some of the finer points in surfing. The section covers topics like How To Duck Dive a Surfboard. Duck diving a surfboard is a surfing skill used to easily get through a breaking wave or heavy whitewater. There aren't many steps involved in duck diving a surfboard. But when you are out surfing, getting the timing right for the duck dive takes a lot of practice. I also discuss the difference between trimming your surfboard and carving. Trimming Your Surfboard.

Surfing Accessories is a section of the website where I review surf products in the marketplace. I hope you will find the information useful. The most popular surf product review page on the site is Surfboard Racks For Cars and Trucks.

If you live are planning trip, you'll find a useful list of airline surfboard bag charges in the surf travel section of the site. Did you know some airlines have blackout periods during peak travel times where they won't accept your surfboard on the plane? Some airlines charge up to $250 each way for your surfboard! While others simply consider your surfboard part of your checked baggage and your surfboard is free. Check it out if you plan to travel with your surfboard. If you're traveling on an airline that isn't listed on the page, please send me an email and I'll update the page. My email address is info@surfhow.com.

Regarding travel, surf travel medical insurance shouldn't be overlooked. Our page on Surf Travel Insurance discusses the coverage options you need before you leave home on your vacation. There are choices you should make to ensure have the right type of policy. Making the smart choices now will save you money.

I wrote an article for Hubpages answering the question, “Can I paddle faster on a shortboard?”. It is a common question from beginning surfers. Since writing the article, I have discussed the topic with friends and discovered that most non-surfer's or new surfers assume a shortboard is the fastest surfboard to paddle. With that in mind, I have decided to add a new page to SURFhow's website to go over the topic in a little more detail than I did in the Hubpages article. Here is the new addition to SURFhow: Which Surfboard is the Fastest to Paddle?

Have you tried to search for surf videos yet on a particular surfing topic? It can take some time to find one that covers your question. Here, you will find good quality instructional surf videos. Also, one of the key things to learn to surf is simply the act of watching good surfers. So there is a section with great surfing videos too. Through watching great surfers and really paying attention to what they are doing and where they are placing themselves (on their surfboard and on the wave) you will learn to surf better. As you progress you'll come to understand that the three most important aspects are paddling strength, wave selection and stance. You can learn two of the three by watching others at the beach and on surf videos.

I love surfing in Costa Rica. If you are looking for the best places to surf in Costa Rica, I've put together my top ten selection of surf beaches on the Surfing Costa Rica page, complete with videos of each beach. The best place to learn to surf in Costa Rica is at Playa Carmen which is in Santa Teresa and Mal Pais. Located on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, Santa Teresa is one of the country's most beautiful coastal locations. It is not crowded, yet there is a great variety of restaurants and hotels to choose from with something for every budget.

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