Longboards, Wetsuits and Flexible Hips: A Beginner’s Guide to Surfing

An early lesson that beginner surfers learn when they first put their boards in the water, is just how much is out of their control. “In the ocean you’ve got a barrage of waves which makes even getting out really difficult for a first-timer,” says Julian Goyma, senior surf instructor at Urbnsurf. “Then the other thing is knowing where to sit and catch your waves because swells come from different directions and different sizes are going to break in different parts of the beach.”

This is why the artificial swells of surf parks are handy for beginners – the waves are always breaking just right. Since 2020, Urbnsurf has been creating ocean-like conditions in a controlled environment using wave pool technology. Goyma teaches beginners classes at the park, which focuses on getting anyone standing on their board sooner rather than later. “If you follow all the instructions and you’re a good learner, it’s not uncommon for people to be standing on their first wave,” Goyma says. So if you’re keen to start sliding gracefully across the waves, here are a few things to get you set up

Your first board
You won’t get far without one of these. While a stylish, sleek surfboard might look cool, you’ll need to start out with one that will help keep you steady on your journey as a beginner. Longboards are what Goyma recommends for those just starting out - included in all beginner lessons - because they’re more buoyant and stable than shortboards. When you’re shopping for your first board, big and easy will get you standing sooner. “Get something big like a nine-foot longboard and then, even when you do progress, you can take that longboard out on a small day when you’re not going to take your shortboard out,” Goyma says. He also advises not to be swayed into judging a board by its surfer. “As a younger surfer I never surfed longboards – I had this shortboard mentality around them being for old guys.”

A suitable outfit
Surfing bare-chested in board shorts has a certain romance, but if you’re going to make the effort to learn consistently, you’ll be heading out in all weather – not just when it’s sun’s out, guns out. Particularly in Victoria, this means getting yourself some cold-water gear like a full-body wetsuit. “In winter, you want a thick, good suit – like a five-millimetre suit – with boots, gloves and a hood,” says Goyma. “We get a massive fluctuation in temperature, so make sure you’re prepared for the elements, whether it’s sunscreen and a hat and long sleeves so you don’t get burnt or it’s a hood and gloves in the winter.”

Don’t forget to stretch
When you begin, you’ll learn about where to place your feet on the board and how to “pop up” (that’s when you go from lying down to standing on the board). As you can imagine, this is where you’ll start to notice surfing can be tough on the body. “There is a demand for pretty good flexibility, especially through the hips and lower back,” Goyma says. “If you’re sitting down all day, you want to be doing some regular stretching to be able to open you up.” Yoga sessions can be great to open up the hips, awaken your lower back muscles and get those stretches sorted before jumping on a board.

Safe conditions
Urbnsurf is the perfect place to start out as a beginner – controlled waves, expert instructors, and a distinct lack of sharks. But when you do eventually want to try your skills in the surf, it’s important to know how to find ocean conditions that are safe and approachable, and that means small waves to start with. “You don’t want to go out in the wrong spot – it’s dangerous for you, you’re going to put other people in danger as well,” says Goyma. “Find a good surf website with the forecasting on it and look for the right size [waves]. You’re probably looking for no more than two-to-three feet (60-90 centimetres).”

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Urbnsurf Melbourne.