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How to Catch Your First Green Wave – Without Just Paddling Harder
Everyone remembers their first green wave.
It’s the moment you stop riding the foam – and start surfing the face.
But most beginners and intermediates make it harder than it needs to be.
Here’s the five-step fix that makes it way easier (and why it has nothing to do with strength):
1. Find the Bus Stop
Catching a wave is like catching a bus – you need to be in the right place when it arrives.
Sit where:
– The wave starts to lift
– It offers both left and right options
– Other waves have already broken cleanly
Look for where the foam fades and curves begin – that’s your “bus stop.”
2. Wait. Don’t Panic Paddle.
The #1 beginner mistake? Paddling too early, too hard, and too blindly.
This does three things:
– Kills your momentum with bubbles
– Creates anxiety
– Often results in a nose dive
Instead, sit and watch the wave. Wait until it lifts your tail – then paddle with purpose, not panic.
3. Look Where You Want to Go
When you’re in position and about to stand, don’t stare at the nose.
Instead:
– Chin up
– Eyes on the face ahead
– Hands and knees pointing where you want to ride
This gives your body direction and your board control.
Looking down = wobbling out. Looking forward = flow.
4. Trust the Lift
You don’t need to match the wave’s speed – you can’t.
You just need to feel when it’s offering energy, then tap in.
Once you get it, it’s a game-changer.
Every green wave starts to look makeable. And foamies start to feel like a warm-up – not a goal.
How TRAX Helps You Catch More Green Waves (and Wipe Out Less)
TRAX tracks:
– Where your board was when the lift started
– Whether you engaged early or late
– How your weight shifted at takeoff
– Whether your pop-up timing matched the wave
It shows the difference between a missed wave, a nose-dive, and a clean glide – so you can repeat what works (and stop what doesn’t).
Related Reading:
→ Paddle Better, Catch More Waves – Without Burning Out – Efficiency gets you more chances at the right wave.
→ Fix Your Surf Pop-Up – Your takeoff only works if the setup is right.
→ How Waves Really Work — You’re not just catching water – you’re syncing with energy.
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