How to Catch Unbroken Waves

Surfing unbroken waves opens the door for exponential progress in your surfing. So if you are fed up riding white water water waves, and you feel ready to progress to the next level, you’ve come to the right place. We want to give you a step by step guide on how to catch unbroken waves. We are confident that if you master these steps, you will be riding open face waves in no time! 

Before Paddling Out

The majority of the skills & requirements needed to catch unbroken waves are acquired even before paddling out! A wise person once said, “give me 6 hours to cut down a tree, and I will spend 4 hours sharpening the ax.” In surfing terms, the “sharpening of the ax” to catch unbroken waves will look like: (1) Learning how to find the right waves, (2) Learning how to paddle effectively, (3) Making sure you are on the right equipment. For the purposes of this lesson, I will gloss over paddling and equipment quickly, but for more information in mastering these crucial steps, check out our other blog post/videos: 

https://www.degree33surfboards.com/blogs/gettin-pitted/how-to-choose-the-right-surfboard-size 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSDITQG1s08

Finding the right wavs

Go to the right beach. If you see waves only breaking on the sand, or if the majority of people in the lineup are riding shortboards, catching very big steep waves or getting barrelled, it is not the best day for you! The best type of waves for you will be small and slopey, in the 2-3 ft range. If you see other surfers on longboards, this will likely be a great day for you!

If you are unsure of where to go, ask your surf instructor or check in with a local surf shop, they will know all the best beginner surf spots. We’d also recommend checking out  https://www.surfline.com/ to know how big the waves are and what conditions are like before paddling out! If you are in the San Diego area, give us a call and we’ll help get you to the right spot! 

• Analyze the conditions. Once you are in the right spot, it is best to spend some time reading the lineup. Look at all the waves up and down the beach. If you see a spot in the lineup where no waves seem to break or come in, this is called a “channel” and you won’t be able to catch waves there! Look for a spot with breaking waves that don’t seem too steep. This will be the best place for you to learn.

Understand the waves. Once they begin to approach shallower water, waves exist in 4 stages.

STAGE 1: the wave is just a small bump on the horizon. It is important to watch the horizon to see when waves are coming toward you, but you cannot catch waves at this stage because they are not steep enough. 

STAGE 2: the waves begin to steepen but are still a few seconds away from breaking. Waves at this stage are perfect for you to catch! They are just steep enough to allow gravity to propel you forward, but not too steep to where you’ll wipe out!

STAGE 3: the wave becomes very steep a moment before it breaks. Only more advanced surfers can properly catch waves at this stage. If you go for these waves as a newer surfer, you will highly likely nosedive! 

 

STAGE 4: the whitewater stage. These waves are easy to catch because they propel you forward with very little effort on your end. This is why new surfers should practice in the white water.

Practice Paddling 

Unlike whitewater waves which propel you forward quickly, catching unbroken waves will require you to use your own strength. To effectively catch the wave, you will need to paddle to the shore at about the same speed as the wave. If you find yourself not being able to catch a lot of waves even when it seems that the waves are in “stage 2” position, it is likely because you are not matching the speed of the wave when paddling. 

Right Equipment 

For any newer surfer, a bigger board will help you get into waves better. A board like our 9 ft Ultimate Longboard to help you paddle with enough speed to catch unbroken waves. This board would also be a great board for advancing on when you begin to turn, noseride, etc. 

STEP BY STEP HOW TO CATCH UNBROKEN WAVES 

You’ve “sharpened the ax” and now you are ready to catch an unbroken wave! Here is a step by step tutorial to help you learn quickly!

STEP 1: PADDLE OUT TO THE RIGHT SPOT

Newer surfers tend to paddle either too far out or too far in. If you do this, you won’t be catching waves, they either pass you by or they will be catching you! (wipeout). The old saying, “monkey see monkey do” comes in handy when positioning yourself in the lineup. Look at the other more advanced surfers and sit in line with where they sit. If there are no other surfers or if everyone else also doesn’t know where to sit, a general rule of thumb is to sit 10-15 ft further out from the breaking waves. 

STEP 2: FIND THE RIGHT WAVE

It will be easy for you to want to catch every wave that comes your way, but it is best to be selective and wait for the “set” waves. To find them, look to the horizon and find your “Stage 1” waves coming in. The “set waves” bigger than the rest and there are usually 3-5 of them in one set (this can vary). Once you’ve found a wave that looks good for you, look both ways to make sure no other surfers are going for the wave before you, this can cause collisions! Once you’ve spotted your wave, it's time to turn around to catch it! 

STEP 3: PADDLE HARD!

Turn your surfboard toward the beach and make sure you are perpendicular to the wave! Smoothly paddle to the shore and make sure you are looking over your shoulder to see if the wave is in “Stage 2” position! Also make sure no other surfers are already riding the wave! 

Once the wave reaches you, it will begin to pick you up and you will feel as though you are paddling downhill. It is best to keep paddling until you know you are riding the wave, many stop paddling too early and miss the wave. 

STEP 4: KEEP THE NOSE UP

The curve of the wave can often cause the nose to dive underwater, this is called “pearling.” To avoid pearling, keep your chest and head up! This will help bring weight further back so the nose can stay above the water! 

NOTE: Pearling happens to everybody, even advanced surfers. Don’t be discouraged if this happens. Learn from your mistakes is one of the best ways to learn in surfing

STEP 5: STAND UP!

Once you’ve caught the unbroken wave, it is time to stand up! The pop up in whitewater is no different than a pop up on an unbroken wave, so rely on your prior knowledge and don’t rush it! 

It is also important to not wait too long. If you wait until the wave turns to whitewater before standing up, you’ve stood up too late! It is best to stand up when the wave is still in the “stage 2 position” once you’ve caught the wave. This will allow you to feel the drop and enjoy all the wave has to offer. After you’ve stood up, enjoy the ride! 

Last Thing!

We hope this has been a helpful guide for you! Like any skill, these steps will take practice. So keep surfing, watch other surfers, and remember these steps! If you think you might be on the wrong board and you are having trouble catching waves, drop by the Degree 33 shop, give us a call (800-920-2363), or email us (surf@degree33.com) and we’d love to assist you in finding the right board.