When is a student ready to surf independently?

Everyone learning to surf has the same goal: to put on their wetsuits, grab their surfboard and head out into the waves on your own schedule without time restrictions. Ultimately increasing your overall weekly wave count. Surfing independently isn’t just about convenience or desire, it’s a significant milestone built on sea safety, skill and respect. Here at Wavehunters our coaches focus on empowering students with the knowledge to make this jump confidently and safely all while perfecting their skill. 

The Foundation: Ocean Safety & Awareness

Before surfing ability comes into the equation, our number one non-negotiable prerequisite is sea safety. Now we don’t expect your water safety knowledge to be that of a lifeguard but there are key basics that will ensure you stay safe while surfing independently.  

• Can you confidently identify and escape a rip current?

• Do you have competent knowledge of how tides work and understand the rule of 12ths? 

• Can you read a wind forecast and understand how wind speed and direction affects the surf? 

• Do you understand surf etiquette and right of way rules? 

• Could you confidently navigate a wipeout to ensure your safety and the safety of others is maintained?

We get it, snooze fest but the above is (and we cannot stress this enough) the most important aspect to surfing alone.

The Practical Skills: Board & Wave Mastery

Once you have nailed down safety, you then need to ensure you have the skills of a competent surfer. The level of competency falls into two separate categories; beginners focusing on surfing in the white water (broken waves) only, and improvers focusing on greens waves (unbroken). While there are crossovers between, most are safe to surf alone in the white water whereas only those with sufficient skill and experience are safe to surf ‘outback’ alone. 

Skills required to surf independently in the white water:

• Confident water safety skills, with the knowledge to read the waves and evaluate where the safest section is to surf should there be no lifeguards. 

• Can you safely fall and protect others from your board?

• Can you safely control your board in the water before and while surfing?

• Are you strong enough to hold your own in the surf without assistance from others? 

Skills required to surf independently outback.

• Can you paddle out through the white water unassisted? 

• Can you catch green, unbroken waves consistently without a push? 

• Do you have control while popping up and riding along the face of the wave, going left, or right depending on what the wave dictates?

The Right Mindset: Humility & Problem-Solving

An aspect of independent surfing that many don’t account for is mindset, being humble enough to know when to surf and when to give it a miss. 

• Do you know your limits and have the ability to appropriately choose surf spots for your skill level?
• Can you self assess conditions and decide not to go in if it’s too big or too busy?
• Do you have a basic understanding of how to self-rescue if you get into trouble?

Having the ability to say no to a surf due to safety concerns is a hard skill, especially when you are desperate for a surf and that day may be the only chance you have. As a surf school we get it, cancelling lessons when the clients are stoked to surf because the surf is awful, never fun but a necessary call to make. 

Putting It All Together: Your First Independent Sessions

If you can confidently do all of the above, then you are ready for your first independent surf. Make sure you start at a familiar, lifeguarded beach on a small, easily manageable day. If you can, bring a friend, just for the first few sessions to elevate the worry that comes with surfing alone. On the safety side, it’s always a good idea to tell someone on shore that you are heading in and what time you’ll be out. This is a good tip to do with every surf you have, no matter how experienced you are. Lastly, don’t feel bad about having a lesson once in a while. Every professional surfer has a coach, surfing requires good technique and unless someone is correcting your form, how are you supposed to know if you are doing right?

Independence is a Journey, Not a Destination

Readiness to surf alone is a combination of safety, skill and judgement. It’s okay to say no to a surf if you don’t feel comfortable. If you are desperate to get in, call Wavehunters and get a lesson in managing those conditions. Every surfer is still learning, even the old school surfers with 20+ years of experience – however they may not admit it!

Unsure of where you are with the above? Give Wavehunters a call and we can guide you on your best next step. Or better yet, book a lesson with a senior surf coach to confirm your readiness for this next step.