Get into SUP Surfing
Ready to catch your first waves? This pathway takes you from paddling out through the surf to confidently riding your SUP. Learn the essential techniques, improve your balance and footwork, understand your equipment, and build the knowledge to surf safely and respectfully. Follow each section in order to develop the skills and confidence needed to enjoy SUP surfing.
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Section 1: Entering the Surf & Catching Your First Waves
Begin your SUP surfing journey by learning how to safely launch through the waves, paddle confidently in the surf and catch your first rides. These essential skills will build the confidence and foundations you'll use every time you head to the beach.
Learn how to launch your SUP safely and confidently in waves, with simple techniques for controlling your board and paddle as you make your way into the surf.
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Launching a SUP in waves
Learn how to launch your SUP safely and confidently in waves, with simple techniques for controlling your board and paddle as you make your way into the surf.
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Once you've launched, learn how to paddle out through breaking waves and use your body position and board control to make getting through the surf easier.
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Getting out over waves on a SUP
Once you've launched, learn how to paddle out through breaking waves and use your body position and board control to make getting through the surf easier.
View VideoGood wave catching starts with good timing. Learn when to turn your board, position yourself and start paddling so you're ready when the wave arrives.
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Catching a wave on a SUP – Timing your turn
Good wave catching starts with good timing. Learn when to turn your board, position yourself and start paddling so you're ready when the wave arrives.
View VideoPut the basics together and start catching waves. Learn how to position yourself, build enough speed and give yourself the best chance of getting your first rides.
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Catching your first waves on a SUP
Put the basics together and start catching waves. Learn how to position yourself, build enough speed and give yourself the best chance of getting your first rides.
View VideoBefore progressing further, understand the rules of the lineup. Learn wave priority, positioning and good surf etiquette so you can share the water safely and respectfully.
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The Complete Guide To SUP Surfing Etiquette / How To Respect The Lineup
Before progressing further, understand the rules of the lineup. Learn wave priority, positioning and good surf etiquette so you can share the water safely and respectfully.
View VideoSECTION 2: BUILDING YOUR SURF STANCE & CONTROL
Develop the stance, footwork and board control needed to ride waves with confidence. Learn how to position your body and feet before putting these skills into practice as you begin riding along the wave.
Start developing a stronger surf stance with simple exercises you can practise away from the waves, helping you build better balance, movement and board control.
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The basics to riding along a wave
Start developing a stronger surf stance with simple exercises you can practise away from the waves, helping you build better balance, movement and board control.
View VideoLearn where to position your feet and how moving them around the board gives you greater control, preparing you to start surfing your SUP more effectively.
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Becoming a SUP surfer – Practicing SUP surf stance
Learn where to position your feet and how moving them around the board gives you greater control, preparing you to start surfing your SUP more effectively.
View VideoMove beyond simply catching the wave and start riding along it. Learn the basic positioning and control needed to stay with the wave and extend your ride.
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Becoming a SUP surfer – Basic foot placement
Move beyond simply catching the wave and start riding along it. Learn the basic positioning and control needed to stay with the wave and extend your ride.
View VideoSECTION 3: DEVELOPING YOUR SURF SKILLS
Build on the fundamentals and become a more capable SUP surfer. Understand beach breaks, learn from common mistakes and develop better control through wave choice, paddle use and backside surfing.
Understand the different types of SUP leash, how they should be worn and why choosing the right setup is particularly important when you're paddling and surfing in waves.
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Leashes for paddleboarding
Understand the different types of SUP leash, how they should be worn and why choosing the right setup is particularly important when you're paddling and surfing in waves.
View VideoLearn how beach breaks work and why waves break differently along the beach, helping you choose better places to paddle out, catch waves and surf safely.
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Surfing & understanding beach breaks
Learn how beach breaks work and why waves break differently along the beach, helping you choose better places to paddle out, catch waves and surf safely.
More InfoIdentify some of the mistakes that commonly hold SUP surfers back and learn what you can change to catch waves more consistently and improve your surfing.
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Common Mistakes when catching waves paddleboarding / Beginner & Intermediate SUP Surfers
Identify some of the mistakes that commonly hold SUP surfers back and learn what you can change to catch waves more consistently and improve your surfing.
Preview VideoLearn how to recognise which way a wave is breaking and choose the right direction, helping you move from riding straight towards the beach to surfing along the wave.
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Which way to go on a wave
Learn how to recognise which way a wave is breaking and choose the right direction, helping you move from riding straight towards the beach to surfing along the wave.
View VideoYour paddle becomes an important surfing tool once you're on the wave. Learn how to position and use it to improve balance, control and your overall surfing.
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What To Do With Your Paddle When SUP Surfing
Your paddle becomes an important surfing tool once you're on the wave. Learn how to position and use it to improve balance, control and your overall surfing.
Preview VideoBackside waves can initially feel less natural. Learn how body position, vision and paddle use can help you stay controlled and surf more confidently with your back to the wave.
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Tips on SUP surfing backside
Backside waves can initially feel less natural. Learn how body position, vision and paddle use can help you stay controlled and surf more confidently with your back to the wave.
More InfoBring your beginner skills together with Lucy's practical coaching tips, covering some of the key areas that can help newer SUP surfers build confidence and progress.
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Lucy’s Beginner SUP Surfing Tips
Bring your beginner skills together with Lucy's practical coaching tips, covering some of the key areas that can help newer SUP surfers build confidence and progress.
More InfoSECTION 4: UNDERSTANDING & TUNING YOUR FINS
Discover how fin choice and setup can change the way your SUP surfs. Learn about fin position, size, configurations and different conditions to better understand how small setup changes can affect performance.
Discover how moving your centre fin forwards or backwards changes the way your board feels, and learn how simple fin-position adjustments can alter tracking and manoeuvrability.
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Centre fin placement for your SUP
Discover how moving your centre fin forwards or backwards changes the way your board feels, and learn how simple fin-position adjustments can alter tracking and manoeuvrability.
Preview VideoStart exploring how fins affect your board's performance, with a closer look at the relationship between fin choice, tracking and speed on the water.
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Fins Do Make A Difference #1 / Tracking and Speed
Start exploring how fins affect your board's performance, with a closer look at the relationship between fin choice, tracking and speed on the water.
Preview VideoSee what happens when you reduce fin size and discover how smaller fins can change board control while placing greater demands on your paddle technique.
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Fins Do Make A Difference #2 / Small Fins & Paddle Technique
See what happens when you reduce fin size and discover how smaller fins can change board control while placing greater demands on your paddle technique.
Preview VideoExplore different fin configurations and understand how changing the number and arrangement of fins can alter the way your SUP feels and performs.
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Fins Do Make A Difference #3 / 1, 2, 3 or 4 Fins
Explore different fin configurations and understand how changing the number and arrangement of fins can alter the way your SUP feels and performs.
Preview VideoDifferent conditions can benefit from different fin setups. Learn why changing your fins can help tune your board to the waves and type of surfing you're doing.
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Fins Do Make A Difference #4 / SUP Fins For Different Conditions
Different conditions can benefit from different fin setups. Learn why changing your fins can help tune your board to the waves and type of surfing you're doing.
Preview VideoSECTION 5: CHOOSING YOUR SURF SUP
Finish the pathway by understanding what to look for in your next surf SUP. Explore inflatable and composite options, beginner-friendly designs and the board characteristics that can help different riders progress.
Can you really surf an inflatable SUP? Discover what an iSUP can offer in the waves, where its limitations lie and why it can still be a great way to start SUP surfing.
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How to SUP Videos / Surfing an iSUP
Can you really surf an inflatable SUP? Discover what an iSUP can offer in the waves, where its limitations lie and why it can still be a great way to start SUP surfing.
View VideoCompare inflatable and composite surf SUPs and understand the differences in feel and performance, helping you decide when moving to a hard board could benefit your progression.
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iSUP VS Composite Surf SUPs / Whats The Difference For Beginner Riders?
Compare inflatable and composite surf SUPs and understand the differences in feel and performance, helping you decide when moving to a hard board could benefit your progression.
Preview VideoGo deeper into choosing a beginner surf SUP with additional advice on board design and the considerations that can help you find a better match for your ability and ambitions.
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Best Surf SUPs For Beginner Riders
Go deeper into choosing a beginner surf SUP with additional advice on board design and the considerations that can help you find a better match for your ability and ambitions.
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