F ree S a m ple

the
B e g i n n e r s

illustrations written by expertise

florian hättich daniel spes & florian Hättich daniel spes

 Whether you’ve already stepped on a board before, or your very first surf
trip is yet to come - if you want to learn how to properly lie on a
surfboard, paddle, jump up, surf a wave all the way to the beach, and have
fun right from the start, you’ve come to the right place.

Now, to make the start of your surfing journey as fun and safe as possible,
we have collected, curated and illustrated all the essential knowledge you
will need in your first weeks and months of surfing. But even as an
experienced surfer you may want to refer to this companion from time to
time, because you can always improve by working on the basics. and if you‘re
a surf coach teaching beginner surfers, this book will also be a great tool
for preparing and teaching lessons.

Nevertheless, this is not meant to be an all-encompassing encyclopedia,

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but rather a workbook that will support and empower you on your journey
as a surfer. like yourself, it will grow with every piece of information
and personal experience you add to it. it‘s a notebook, journal, guide and
reference book that will become more valuable the longer you use it.

to make the most of your time in the water we also highly recommend
getting professional coaching for more personalized instructions, insights
and feedback on your surfing. this will save you lots of frustrating moments
and get you to your goal much faster and with more fun.

Keep rippin‘
Daniel & Florian
 how to use this book

CONTENTS use the space around the illus-

trations to keep track of your
progress. write down personal
insights and experiences and take
notes of tips you get from your
1 equipment 6 surf coach or from video tutorials.
2 the surf spot 16 USE different COLORs to highlight
3 into the water 24 what is important to you.
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4 catching a Wave 38 word cues (marked with )
can help you focus during a surf
5 wave riding basics 52 session. Just keep repeating them
in your mind as you practice the
6 into the lineup 56 relevant technique, to concentrate
on your learning goal. also, Feel
7 Glossary 66 free to create your own word cues.

please note
surfing is an extreme sport. we assume no liability for any damages
or harm caused by the application of the contents of this book.
4 5
 wetsuits
there are many types of wetsuits with different thicknesses for different water
temperatures. It‘s good to have a suit without velcro, which can damage the material below you can see the most common thicknesses available
if it gets stuck on the suit. when buying a wetsuit, be aware that every brand has a and the corresponding water temperature range.
different fit, so sizes may vary significantly from one brand to another. In terms of material there
are many options nowadays, from classic neoprene to a wide selection of eco-friendly alternatives thickness * water temperature
(which we definitely prefer). the zips, too, come in many variants - front, back, or chest zip, and
even completely zipless. with a wetsuit you really get what you pay for so buy the best suit you can 2 18-24°C / 65-75°F
afford and you won‘t regret it in terms of warmth, comfort and durability. 3/2 16-21°C / 61-70°F
4/3 14-18°C / 57-64°F
5/4 6-14°C / 43-57°F
6/4 below 6°C / 43°F
shorty Longjohn full suit
*
thickness at TOrso / at extremities in millimeters.
3/2 for example indicates 3mm thickness at the
torso and 2mm thickness at the arms and legs.
the thickness
of a wetsuit is
usually indicated Tip
at the wrist if you‘re looking for a
(on the inside good deal when buying a
or outside). wetsuit, it‘s a good idea
to check out last year‘s
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models. They are just as
good as the latest ones,
but often a lot cheaper.

Ear plugs protect your

ears from cold wind
and water entering
your ears, which may
be harmful over a put the suit on carefully without stretching the
long period of time material too much, just like putting on a pair
(„Surfer‘s ear“). of tights.

a wetsuit should have a tight fit, so it can keep

you properly warm.
gloves and booties, especially
hood for useful in cold when taking off your wetsuit (carefully again)
very cold water and when it‘ll be automatically turned inside out, which is
water. surfing on reefs. great for washing and drying it.

8 9
 currents conditions
currents are a two-edged sword. knowing how to use them can help experienced before you enter the water, always check the surf conditions, like wind, wave
surfers conserve a lot of energy when paddling out. as a swimmer, however, currents height and shape, as well as possible dangers. Adapt your surfing and goals for
can be very dangerous, especially if you start to panic because you don‘t know how the session to the conditions and you will have a better time in the water.
to get out of them. when caught in the rip current, don‘t swim against it, but escape at a 90° Angle.
as an alternative, let it carry you beyond the breaking line (where waves start breaking), where the
current will stop naturally. then let the waves take you back to the beach (see escape arrows below).
glassy (no wind)
l c u r re n t
at e r a

sw
l

el
l
e s c ap e h e a d ch
a
swe

n
RIP n no wind means usually perfect “Neutral“ conditions.
ll

e
l feed e
r
e s c ap e
neck
r
feed e
offshore wind
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r
feed e

r
feed e
the current is strongest at
the feeders and the neck. waves break later & steeper, as the wind blows into the wave face.

If you need to move against a

current, get on your board, so you onshore wind
won‘t be exposed to its drag force.

waves break earlier & flatter, as the wind pushes from behind.
Great for beginners who are trying to catch their first unbroken waves.
20 21
 PROTECTING DANGER from
head and neck protection is an absolute MUST in Surfing. Repeat the technique The most common dangers are other surfers and their boards, as well as your
shown below several times on land, so it will become a reflex. This way you‘ll own board and leash. one thing you can do to mitigate the danger posed by

YOURSELF humans &

do it automatically in the water, whenever you fall off your board or when others is choosing a spot where there are not too many other surfers. that is
there‘S a collision about to happen. the technique shown below will allow you not always an option, however. luckily, there are some things you can do to

(& OTHERS) boards

to feel safe and prepared and to focus on your surfing. avoid accidents with people and equipment, be it theirs or your own. so make
sure you know what to do should a potentially dangerous situation occur.

danger: other surfers

whenever a surfer looks like
they‘re losing control over their
board, make sure you get out of
the way in time, if necessary by
diving. protect your head and neck,
and curl into a little ball, so
even if you do get hit, you will
not get seriously harmed.
1. Grip the back of
your neck with
one hand, the other
hand goes onto the
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back of your head.
bring your chin
towards your chest.

Danger: your board ...when it comes

when you do a nose dive, down again it may hit
your board gets propelled your head just as you
into the air due to its resurface. so always
buoyancy... protect your head when
surfacing.

close the make sure your neck

2. elbows to is still covered by
protect your nose your lower hand.
and temples.
3. situation
hold this position until
is all clear.
the

stay safe!
always protect your head & Neck

28 29
 surf
the stance in surfing is not a static one. depending on the maneuver you want to
perform, you will rotate your upper body, compress your legs, grab the rail, and so on.

stance
Nevertheless, it is very important to have a proper basic stance because gives you the
necessary control and speed. It is also a starting and end point for many maneuver-
related movements.

upper body leaning

slightly forward, chest to speed up, shift your
over front knee. weight forward by
lowering your back
your backhand your leading arm knee and compressing
standing with your left (where your (where your your body
foot forward is called a heels are) toes point)
regular stance. if your
right foot is in front,
that‘s called goofy stance. place your feet on the
the explanations on the center line (stringer * ),
correct stance shown here about shoulder width
apply equally to boTH. apart (or a little wider).
Tip
~90° keep your body centered
*
on most soft top boards the perpendicular over the center
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wooden stringer that gives the board line to maintain balance and
structural stability, isn‘t visible. drop the back knee slightly control at all times - don‘t
toward the front heel. lean to the sides too much,
~45°
even when turning.

chest over
front knee,
facing forward

shift your weight

tuck your more onto your back
tailbone in foot by moving your
hips backwards to
Stall / slow down.
side r
b a c k re y o u
e )
( w h po i n t
s
h ee l

keep your hands

side
f r o n t yo u r outside the rails
e
(wher int)
o
to e s p
44 45
 turtle roll
when paddling out on a board with lots of volume, like a soft top, a mini
mal or a longboard, it can be hard to get through the whitewater and past
the breaking line. especially waves with a bit of power will push you back,
or throw you off the board. the turtle roll is a diving technique that lets you get through powerful lift the board‘s tail with
oncoming waves with ease. your foot, so it‘s higher
than the nose.
3
1
let the wave
pass over you

hold on to the
board & keep your
arms slightly bent.
pull the nose down.

paddle hard
towards the
breaking wave.
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2
4

2-3 meters before when the wave has

the wave reaches passed, quickly get
you, grab your rails back on your board &
towards the nose & continue paddling out.
roll sideways

60 61
 get the complete Beginners Surf Companion now on
surfcompanions.com/the-beginners-companion
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free sample
need something more advanced?
CHeck out the Intermediate Surf Companion here
surfcompanions.com/the-intermediate-companion
 THE beginners sURF coMPANION
1 st edition

copyright 2021/2022 florian hättich

published by

surf companions GbR

florian hättich & daniel spes
Susannenstr. 1, 20357 Hamburg, germany

written by

daniel spes & florian hättich

illustrations expertise

florian hättich daniel spes

edited by
Ayse Rösch & ed Milsom

send inquiries to books, online courses & coaching on

[email protected] www.surfcompanions.com

surf related tutorials on Youtube Instagram

surfcompanions @surfcompanions

printed at

reset st. pauli

virchowstr. 8, 22767 Hamburg, Germany

climate neutral print on recycled paper

ISBN: 978-3-9821372-2-3