The LOBA Surf Guide

The take-off (pop-up)

The single most important move in surfing — going from lying down to standing in one quick motion.

1. Paddle hard to match the wave's speed and feel it pick you up.
2. Place your hands flat on the deck under your chest (by your ribs) — not out in front.
3. Press your chest up like a cobra, eyes up and looking down the line.
4. In one motion bring your feet under you, landing both at once, across the board, shoulder-width apart.
5. Stay low — knees bent, weight centred, arms relaxed.

Practise the pop-up on the sand first. Muscle memory is what makes it click in the water.

Paddling & catching the wave

Most missed waves come down to paddling and board position, not strength.

1. Lie centred so the nose sits ~5 cm above the water — too far back and you'll never catch it, too far forward and you'll nose-dive.
2. Use long, deep, alternating strokes and keep your head up.
3. Start paddling before the wave reaches you and commit — keep paddling through the take-off.

Positioning in the lineup

Being in the right spot beats paddling twice as hard in the wrong one.

1. Sit near the peak — where the waves start to break — and line yourself up with landmarks on the beach.
2. Don't sit too deep or too wide; watch where the more experienced surfers sit.
3. Be patient, stay calm and let the sets come to you.

Reading the waves & conditions

Learning to read the ocean is what turns good days into great ones.

1. Find the peak and see which way the wave peels — left or right — then take off angling that way.
2. Offshore wind grooms clean waves; onshore makes them messy. Tides matter too — some spots prefer low or high.
3. Beginners: look for smaller, mellow, sandy beach breaks (we'll always pick the right spot for the day).

Surf etiquette

A few unwritten rules keep everyone safe and the vibe good.

1. The surfer closest to the breaking peak has right of way — don't "drop in" on someone already riding.
2. Paddle out around the breaking waves, not straight through the lineup.
3. Communicate, say sorry if you mess up, and always respect the locals.

Staying safe

Surf with confidence by knowing the basics of ocean safety.

1. Spot rip currents — channels of calmer, often darker water moving out to sea. If caught, don't fight it: paddle parallel to the beach, then back in.
2. Always wear your leash, and protect your head when you fall (cover up, fall flat, not head-first).
3. Know your limits, check the conditions, and never surf alone.