Common Surf Pitfalls for Beginners and How to Fix Them

Master the Fundamentals: Top Common Surf Pitfalls (and How to Fix Them)

Whether you’re just starting out or working to polish your technique, here are some of the key things we spot most often during lessons here in the waves of New Hampshire and the quick visual cues we use to fix them!

1. The Popup: Hand & Foot Placement

• Hands by the Chest: When preparing to pop up, make sure your hands are back right next to your chest, not grabbing the rails or reaching too far forward.

• The "Staggered Hands" Secret: A super common mistake is popping up with your feet facing straight toward the nose. Imagine trying to balance on a moving balance beam with your feet facing forward... it’s nearly impossible! If you struggle to get that front foot turned sideways, try staggering your hands on the board. If you're a regular rider (left foot forward), advance your left hand slightly forward on the board. This subtle tilt can naturally open your hips, forcing your feet into a proper sideways stance as you pop up.

• Stance Width & Balancing on the Board: Aim for a strong, stable base with your feet slightly more than shoulder width apart. A classic pitfall is keeping your feet too close together near the tail. When you stand too far back, the tail sinks into the water and acts like a brake. If you feel yourself bogging down, scoot forward on the board. On the flip side, if you're nosediving, shift slightly back. Once you get your weight centered, the board should ride smoothly and flat on the water. This takes time and every board is different.
  
  

2. Posture & Sightlines

• Bend the Knees, Not the Hips: Once you’re up, keep those knees soft and bent. We often see surfers stand up with straight legs and bend at the waist which almost always results in a quick trip into the water.

• Look Where You Want to Go: Avoid staring down at your feet. Your board tends to follow your eyes. Face your head toward the beach. We like to tell our students to imagine a tropical palm tree sitting right there on the New Hampshire shore. Focus on it, present yourself to it, and let your body follow your line of sight.
  
  

3. Timing & Efficient Paddling

• Dialing in Your Timing: Getting up takes practice... pop up too early and the wave passes right under you; pop up too late and you’ll get caught in the whitewash. It takes a little trial and error, but staying patient and finding that sweet spot makes all the difference!

• "Stalking Prey" Paddling: Keep your core as motionless as possible on the deck to avoid rocking the board. Think of a tiger, jaguar, or puma stalking prey... smooth and steady. Imagine reaching your arm over invisible barrels on your sides so your hand enters the water clean and vertical, slicing deep and pushing backwards to catch maximum power on your stroke.
  
  

4. Wave Selection

• Reading the Water: Wave selection ends up being one of the single biggest challenges for beginners! Knowing which wave to go for and where to position yourself on the board relative to the peak takes ocean awareness that only comes with time. Before you even paddle hard, spend a few extra seconds watching how the wave is lifting and where it wants to break so you aren't paddling for waves that roll right under you or close out right on top of you.
  
  

Catch You in the Lineup!

Thank you all again for making this summer so incredible. Keep practicing those popups, enjoy the warm water, and come say hi to us down at the beach!

– Tom & Reid

E Street Surf School