How to Catch More Waves

One of the biggest frustrations any surfer can have is not being able to catch enough waves. Some may be able to shake it off and hope for better luck next session, while others can unfortunately force their way into waves in ways that break surf etiquette. This is a large reason why you will see surfers taking off on each other, back paddling, and becoming overly greedy for waves.  The goal of this blog is to help you get waves in the right way. This will allow both you, and the people you are surfing with, to stay stoked. 

What not to do:

As stated above, the aim of this blog is to help you get more waves. This is not, however, the ultimate goal of your surf sessions. Even above getting waves, the surfers primary goal should be to maintain respect in the line up. There are plenty of surfers who get waves by disrespecting others in the line up, but there are fewer surfers who get waves while also maintaining harmony in the line up. 

So here are a few no-no's: 

1. Do not take off on other people's waves. 

This should be obvious. When someone is up and riding on a wave before you, do not take off on them. Additionally, if someone is closer to the peak, they have the right away. The rules do not change for you if you feel as though you are not getting enough waves, or if you see yourself as a better surfer than the one who have priority. 

2. Do not back paddle.

Once you've caught a wave and are heading back out to the line up, do not paddle behind everyone to recapture priority closest to the peak. This is a sure way to get other people upset. Instead, be patient and wait your turn until you can paddle back into priority position.

Additionally, don't cheat the system The one who is closer to the peak get priority. Some try to hack this system by paddling behind someone who is already up and riding. This is another form of back paddling that is against surf etiquette rules. 

3. If you are riding a big board and are catching a lot of waves, let other people catch waves too. 

There are many instances in which one person has a longer board than everyone else in the line up, so they continually paddle far out past every one and catch all the waves they want without letting others catch waves. If other surfers try catching a wave, they might even fade into them to scare them off the wave, then quickly turn the other way. This is one of the most frustrating things a surfer can do. It shows disrespect to others, and quickly makes you one of the most disliked surfers in the line up. 

Upholding these rules will allow everyone to leave the line up stoked! 

Choosing your Spot:

The first point is often overlooked. If you are trying to up your wave count, first spend some time finding the nooks and crannies in your area that are more unpopulated. Some of the best surfers in the world have actually cut their teeth not in the best, most crowded waves, but in waves that others may consider difficult, or subpar. The payout of surfing such waves, however, is that you are able to catch many more of them, allowing you to also improve your surfing quicker.

As an example, here in Carlsbad, CA there is a well known reef break that is constantly crowded. Yes the waves might be easier to ride and are longer, but it is always insanely crowded. About a half mile south of this wave is an array of beach breaks that are usually empty. There might be a few more closeouts to navigate, but this is arguably better than navigating your way around people. If your goal is to catch more waves and to get better at surfing, opt for the less crowded wave. 

Positioning and Paddling:

Since surfing is now one of the fastest growing sports in the world, surfing with a crowd is inevitable even if you do your best to surf the less crowded breaks. This is where positioning and paddling is key.

Positioning

Surfing is not like skiing where you simply get off the chair lift and start riding. Instead, it is more like fishing. The majority of your time in the water is waiting for waves, but there are things you can do to better your odds at success. The first thing to do is to find the take off zone. At a reef break, this takeoff zone is generally static because the permanent reef under you - so the waves break in the same place every time. The key to catching waves at a reef brake is to line up with somewhere on the beach to ensure you never drift away from this take off point.

A beach break is different. There may be certain sandbars that are better than others, but usually the playing field is much more spread out. You can line up with somewhere on the beach if you would like to, but this is not always necessary for catching waves at a beach break. Instead, getting more waves at a beach break is all about having a keen eye and quick reflexes. Find the spot where you would intend to you, then scan the horizon to see where the waves might be coming. If south, quickly paddle south to position yourself there, if north, do the same. Remaining static might be good for a reef break, but you will generally catch less waves if you do this at a beach break because the waves are aways different at beach breaks. 

In regards to positioning in crowds, there are usually two different philosophies. One type of surfer might try to get in the middle of the crowd and battle it out to catch the best waves. This surfer might indeed catch the better waves of the day, but this also sets you up for frustration. For many, the goal of surfing is to get away from the hustle of everyday life, and positioning yourself directly in the center of the crowd will keep you on edge. If you realize this expectation and are okay with it, waiting your turn in the middle of the crowd is not a bad option. If, however, you want to catch waves without having to battle the crowd, you might have to become a bit more creative. Observe the line up and find the places in which good waves are coming with less people. More often than not, you can find a peak off to the side of the crowd. This type of surfer may not get wave of the day, but they will generally be more stoked. 

Note: Sitting a bit away from the crowd does not mean sit way outside of the peak in the channel. If you do this, you will certainly not catch any waves because waves do not break there. Instead, find a place that is approximately close to the peak, but not occupied by a swarm of people. 

Paddling

Second, a lot in surfing comes down to personal fitness and paddling. Even if you position yourself in the perfect spot, you will not be able to catch the wave unless you are first able to paddle into the wave. For learning about proper paddling technique, check out our paddling blog here.

Once you have this technique down, paddling strength simply comes from experience. Surf as often as you can and paddle as often as you can. If you have access to a pool when you are not surfing, swim often to help your endurance and strength. If you are able to paddle well, this will give you an edge in the line up because you can start to take off on waves that others might not be able to catch. 

Additionally, if you want to catch more waves, lower your standards for the type of waves you are looking for. There may be some smaller waves on the inside of everyone that other surfers do not want; these waves are fair game. 

Board Choice:

If you are paddling well and positioning yourself in the line up perfectly but are still unable to catch waves, you might be on the wrong board for the specific day. This generally involves getting a board with more volume. For example, on a small day, even the most fit person might have difficulty catching a wave on a shortboard. The waves are simply too soft to carry the rider forward. So on days like this, we recommend getting a good longboard or midlength. Our Ultimate longboard is an amazing option for you if catching waves in smaller surf is a difficulty for you.

On the midlength side, we highly recommend our Easy Rider, Poacher, and Speed Egg in epoxy construction. Each of these boards is designed to paddle very well without sacrificing turning ability in any size wave. Much of this effect is achieved by the board's construction and outline. Epoxy boards are much more buoyant than poly boards which help the rider catch waves easier. 

Another great paddler for small waves and big waves is our Over Easy. This is a great option for you if you are looking for a midlength that can be ridden in every type of wave from 2ft to even 12 ft. The pointy nose and tail helps you turn well and make steep drops, while the fuller rails offer tons of paddle power. This is very helpful when the waves get bigger. Many try to surf tiny boards in big waves, but they are unable to catch the waves because there are unable to match their paddle speed to the speed of the wave. The Over Easy is designed to lessen this gap so that you can catch the wave easier. 

Conclusion:

Surfing is a different sport than any other. Even when you implement everything which is outlined above, there are certain days when the waves just do not come. For this reason, we want to conclude with a reminder to keep your expectations low in surfing. Do not expect to catch wave of the day, or to catch the most waves of anyone in the line up. More often than not, this will not happen and you will be left in frustration. If you keep these expectations low, you will only exceed them - thereby causing you to remain stoked no matter what. 

If you have more questions, or would like to discuss what board is the best one for you, do not hesitate to reach our to us directly by calling us at (800) 920-2363, or by emailing us at surf@degree33.com.