The Simplest Way to Improve Your Surfing – One Thing at a Time
Surfing can feel overwhelming. You want to catch more waves, pop up cleanly, build speed, throw turns, and look stylish – all in the same session. But here’s the truth: trying to fix everything at once means you improve nothing.
The fastest way forward is to focus on one thing per surf.
1. Why Most Surfers Don’t Progress
Beginners and intermediates often treat every wave as a test for everything – paddling, reading waves, stance, speed, turns, and style. That much noise makes it impossible to know what’s actually improving. Did you miss the wave because of bad paddling, poor positioning, or a late pop-up? You can’t tell if you’re juggling ten skills at once.
2. Learn From the Pros
When pros want to improve airs, they don’t spend the session on cutbacks or floaters. They get towed into sections again and again, doing nothing but airs. Total focus on a single skill. You don’t need a jet ski to apply the same principle – just set an intention for each surf.
3. Break Down the Movement
Don’t think “I’m working on my bottom turn.” Break it into steps:
- Look up at the lip, not across the wave
- Compress deeper than usual
- Hold the rail for three to five seconds
- Extend to create lift
Train one piece until it feels natural, then layer in the next. Small wins stack into major breakthroughs.
4. Pick Non-Competing Skills
If you want to work on more than one thing in a session, choose areas that don’t overlap. Example:
- Paddling technique (on the way out)
- Positioning at the peak (before the wave)
- Bottom turn (on the wave)
Each happens at a different stage, so they don’t fight for your attention.
5. Use Feedback Loops
Film yourself, or get feedback from a friend or coach. Even a short clip will show you whether you actually did what you intended. Don’t just tick the box once – repeat it until it becomes second nature.
6. Fail Forward and Have Fun
Improvement doesn’t mean nailing it first try. It means trying, failing, adjusting, and trying again. One small improvement is a win. If you can’t fail, you can’t learn.
TRAX: Turning Focus Into Feedback
TRAX makes single-skill training easier by tracking the details you can’t see: pop-up timing, weight shifts, turn angles, and flow. When you choose to focus on one thing – like bottom turns, paddling, or positioning – TRAX shows you exactly what changed, so your small wins become measurable progress.
Related Reading:
→ Break down surfing to progress faster — Why smaller steps lead to bigger gains
→ Fix your surf stance – from Poo Man to Power — Stance is the foundation of control
→ Expectation management in surfing — Set the right goals and avoid frustration
