How long does it take to learn how to surf?

It's one of frequently asked questions about surfing, but let's make clear what does it actually mean "to learn how to surf"?

Learning the basics – how to stand up on a longboard and ride foamie (white water wave) in the shallow beach break – is quite easy and uncomplicated, and you can do it on your first surf lesson while on vacation.

Improving real surfing skills can take months of practice and there will be a lot to enhance and correct. Becoming an advanced surfer, who able to ride serious waves in different breaks and under different ocean conditions, can take many years.


Splashing in knee-high white water is just a holiday amusement and cannot give you the real surfing practice.

Every beginner needs hours of practice to learn how to paddle, manage the board and pop-up in the green waves. And only through the constant surf practice they can get the feeling of the ocean. So if you think that several group lessons in a surf school is enough to become a surfer, we are sorry to disappoint you – it's not that easy.

But, the good news, 5-7 lessons with personal guide in the real surf conditions make you ready for further training by your own in easy waves.


The real surfing requires many hours of practice.

The more waves you try to catch, the faster you will progress. The more you want to learn, the faster you'll learn.

People who take surf lessons from time to time achieve progress more slower than surfers who hit the water 2-4 times per week during several months.

People who just seat in the lineup without taking any wave barely improve surf skills. Feeling confident and comfortable in the water – is the only right spirit for surfer.


Motivation and effort mean a lot.

Paddling is one of the most demanding skills in surfing and it could be rather tiring for beginners. The flexibility and agility are also important as well. Surfing is a motion sport, and you should be able to jump fast from a prone to an upright position, squat, rotate your hips etc.


Depending on your endurance, strength and flexibility you can improve your surf skills faster or slower.