surfing skill level

[oldmansurfer]

Here is my scale to rate surfing skill . I think that surf schools are the cause of this odd scale. They want to reward their customers for progressing so they use the beginner, intermediate , advanced scale set low so their customers can achieve this. I guess you can tell I had a slow day at work

Beginner (total newbie)
Intermediate (can catch green waves and turn the board a little)
Advanced (can make a top turn, a bottom turn, and a cutback)
Average (right in between a total newbie and a pro)

Better than average (could have a future as a pro)

Highest skill level (pro surfer or better)

[Big H]

All I know is that it seems that everyone as soon as they can stand up on an unbroken wave classes themselves as that broad reaching category of "beginner-intermediate" AKA "advanced beginner". Surf schools and camps need some kind of system to base their lessons on and determine who gets in which bus to go to which break on a given day......generally seems slanted towards the beginner end but suppose that's natural as better, non-competitive surfers I would assume rarely seek out professional guidance after a certain point of their development.

I agree on the surfing schools definitions....was looking at one site and they had 10 different levels with sub levels in each so that achievement I assume can be quantified and paid for.....there were enough achievement requirements per level to keep a wallet open for awhile.......

I'm coming up on 2 years doing this and I generally just think in terms of can and can't.....either you can ride a break on a given day, take your waves and follow lineup etiquette or you can't.....is the kid who can shred a "better" surfer than the 60+ year old geezer on the 8ft single fin who never misses a wave and seems to have has a smooth, natural flow and magnetic attraction to the pocket?

I am striving for "can" on more waves than not.....working on the different skills as well but in the end IMO the bottom line is either you can take part or you shouldn't be there.....

[Big H]

I was on a break a couple of weeks ago with a surf school....I asked one of the instructors the level of the group....he told me they were intermediate & advanced.....well, 3/4 of the group, the "intermediate" portion I guess, 3/4th of them would wait lying flat like a wet towel on their boards for a wave while their instructors held the tail of their board, then would urge them to get up when the wave was on the way, and then would paddle weakly while the instructor put in a superhuman effort and pushed them into the waves......



....they caught a lot of waves and I'm sure that's well reflected on trip advisor reviews, notable omission of being pushed in......in the end the instructors made sure the group got waves and had fun irregardless of the "level" of the group.....I would say that is what it is all about....none of the group members were regular surfers anywhere and were doing well as it was.....

[Big H]

One last bit....I like surfing in the middle of the schools....I'm familiar with the instructors that frequent the breaks I do and they "get" what I do which is when their flock settles on a peak it effectively shuts the peak down as there are 10-20 heads grouped together and sharing only amongst themselves.....I sit up on the peak inside of an instructor pushing people in and take the same wave the student/camper next to me gets pushed in on......

...they can only go straight or fall off.....I sit inside enough not to freak them out but then take the wave while they shoot off into the flats.....


I observe first and make sure I'm not dropping in on someone who can turn....most can't but I watch them first and only do this for those who aren't going to surprise anyone with a bottom turn out of nowhere.......

Doing this I can surf continuously since the school effectively blocks the peak.....as long as I keep a little distance and drop in on pure straight shooters the instructors are cool with it and if anything enjoy watching someone get waves....

[oldmansurfer]

Aha! So you had a slower day than me

[Big H]

Hahaha....Good Friday/Public Holiday here....it's a split between this and costing recipes.....

[waikikikichan]

I think the scale would be way different than most people think if they considered what a "Average" surfer is. "Well I'm not a beginner cause I can stand up for 10 seconds". "Well I'm not a pro cuz I can't do a Rodeo Clown". But what does a "Average" surfer do ? Then it is easier to figure what level you are.

In Hawaii, I'm average. In Japan, I'm above average. So it kind of depends where you surf too.

[Tudeo]

I can understand determining the surfing level of someone can be handy for choosing the right group in a learning situation or buying the right board for ur abilities.

For me personally it's not so much in my system, sure I still want to ride a barrel or do a proper floater, or do hard(er) carving cutbacks and off the lips. But for me the real determinator is how I'm feeling during and after the surf that keeps me going. The stoke.

The stoke is not always there, it seems I must always push the boundaries a little. The action that gave me a stoked feeling last time doesn't do it next session. It has to be something new, different or bigger. This way I keep pushing myself, I guess my level goes up with it. I can surf waves and make sections now I couldn't a year ago.

My wave reading and timing is greatly improved the last year. Also I make less mistakes and don't spoil my energy so much anymore. But then there still are those overconfident moments where u hardly paddle for the wave, sure to catch it just by being in the right position. To see in horror the wave of the day escape u..

[RinkyDink]

I met surfer the other day who told me he had been surfing for ten years. I don't think he was lying. As I spoke to him further, I discovered he did not know the difference between onshore and offshore winds. In his world, there was just wind in general. I can't imagine surfing for 10 years and not knowing the difference, but I guess it can happen. My point is that there are a lot of different skills involved in surfing and it's difficult to determine what skills make a complete surfer.

[oldmansurfer]

Seriously speaking I guess it is good to strive to improve your surfing and labeling various skill levels may help with that. It is just that often when a surfer says they are whatever level it varies widely from surfer to surfer. Then when they come here we always have to figure out exactly what that means in order to help them. I certainly judge my own progress however all I need to keep the stoke is a chance of getting a good wave. I don't need to get it or if I do get it I don't need to surf extraordinarily well. I just need to have a chance to get a good wave. That keeps me coming back. I find often little things that I do that make me happy like my recent sideways foam climb. It's just a silly little thing but I enjoyed it and it made an otherwise blah wave really fun. It isn't really an improvement in my surfing because I don't know if I will ever try to do it again or if I did if I would succeed. It was a spur of the moment thing but lots of fun. I think as far as you skills reading waves and riding waves goes it is likely that you will make mistakes from time to time. The amount is totally related to how much you push your own limits. If you challenge yourself too much then it becomes a chore and you may give up. I don't push my own limits much because I only surf an hour a week and I don't want to spend that hour wiping out. A wipeout or two or three during that hour and it is all good so just a little bit. Makes for slow learning but more fun for me. So some may see a guy who never misses a wave or never falls down and think wow that guy is really good but to me I think that guy isn't pushing his limits at all. If I see someone falling down all the time then I think that person is going to lose interest if they don't improve. So you have to pick the level that keeps you happy.
@Rinkydink Surfing one day a year for ten years? What matter is the hours in the ocean not the years

[waikikikichan]

I met surfer the other day who told me he had been surfing for ten years. I don't think he was lying.

I had a customer tell me he'd been surfing for 10 years. I was confused when he asked for my recommendation on a rental board. I said "you should tell me", since at the time I hadn't surf as long as he said. Later the wife, whispered to me that he only comes to Hawaii for 2 weeks on vacation for the past 10 years, and that's the only time he ever surfs.

[Tudeo]

Starting in my late 20's and only wanting to surf in 'nice' conditions I stayed at the beginner level for about 15 years.. Living in a cold country I surfed maybe 15 weeks on holidays in those 15 yrs..

Then I moved to Bali to become a real surfer. Still working on that..

[RinkyDink]

I met surfer the other day who told me he had been surfing for ten years. I don't think he was lying.

I had a customer tell me he'd been surfing for 10 years. I was confused when he asked for my recommendation on a rental board. I said "you should tell me", since at the time I hadn't surf as long as he said. Later the wife, whispered to me that he only comes to Hawaii for 2 weeks on vacation for the past 10 years, and that's the only time he ever surfs.

Yeah, there's a lot of posturing out there. Unfortunately, that's the baggage that comes with the sport. If I were running a shop, I would just glad hand the guy, stroke his ego, and recommend the safest surf break/product/etc to keep him out of trouble. People oten just want to be validated as legit and part of what a lot of customers pay for is that validation.

[Big H]

I think as far as you skills reading waves and riding waves goes it is likely that you will make mistakes from time to time. The amount is totally related to how much you push your own limits. If you challenge yourself too much then it becomes a chore and you may give up........ So some may see a guy who never misses a wave or never falls down and think wow that guy is really good but to me I think that guy isn't pushing his limits at all. If I see someone falling down all the time then I think that person is going to lose interest if they don't improve. So you have to pick the level that keeps you happy.

This is gold!

[Big H]

Just for giggles.....here are intermediate surfer attributes as defined by two different programs....

#1
ASI
Intermediate Surfer - Knowledge and Skills
Overview
The ASI Intermediate Surfer is split into 3 levels (Level 4, Level 5, Level 6) to assist in skills learning and progression.

Aim
Demonstrate ability to control the surfboard and link intermediate level surfing
manoeuvres (top and bottom turns, cut-backs and re-entries on forehand and backhand) in surf up to 3 feet (1 metre).

Career
Outcomes
Assistant surfing instructor or outdoor activities assistant within the surfing industry or outdoor recreation industry.
Industry job roles that require surfing knowledge (e.g. sales rep, retail).

Conditions
Peeling (unbroken) waves of 3 feet (1 metre). Short or long board.


Outcomes:
Level 4 Intermediate
Surfer


Pre-requisite: ASI Level 3 Beginner Surfer

Access surfing conditions-weather, swell, tides, wind direction, speed
Identify how to read waves by understanding different water conditions, wave types, and their suitability for surfing, left and right waves, wave frequency
Identify 5 different types of surf breaks
Select a surfing location for the intermediate surfer
Choose a suitable place for entering and exiting the water at different surf breaks
Identify and use the different types of rips an
Negotiate broken and unbroken waves using the duck dive
Identify correct paddling out protocol
Choose the correct waves to ride,
Identify the correct take off position.
Correctly ride the wave by understanding how body weight and speed affect surfing
Identify how to turn your board
Identify methods to get off the wave
How to wipe out safely at the intermediate level
Surfing Manoeuvres

Trim on forehand and backhand
Perform top and bottom turn (fore-hand)

Outcomes:
Level 5 Intermediate
Surfer
Pre-requisite: ASI Level 4 Intermediate Surfer

Identify how parts of your board affect performance
Identify the different types of fins and fin systems
Identify surfboard damage
Choose a surfboard for the intermediate surfer based on personal style and the surfing conditions
Identify surfing safety and assistance clothing
Surfing Manoeuvres

Top and bottom turn (backhand)
Cut-back (forehand)
Re-entry (forehand)
Linking manoeuvres

Outcomes:
Intermediate
Level 6

Pre-requisite: ASI Level 5 Intermediate Surfer
Experience surfing at a:

beach break
reef break
point break
river mouth
Surfing Manoeuvres

Cut-back (backhand)
Re-entry (backhand)
Linking manoeuvres


#2
Pro Surf Bali (school next to my home break)

Intermediate 1
Able to catch and stand on broken waves more than 60% of all attempts.
Fairly comfortable with take offs, balancing and standing up on small waves
Having difficulties timing and take off on green waves most of the time
Unable to do basic turns and ride the waves face or trim


intermediate2 smallIntermediate 2
Able to catch green waves less than 60% of all attempts
Want to refine timing and take off, mid face, bottom turns and riding the waves face
Non regular surfer


intermediate3 smallIntermediate 3
Able to catch green waves more than 60% of all attempts
Able to do mid face turns and ride the waves face
Some difficulties with bottom turns and linking manoeuvres
Develop top / bottom turns to basic cut backs
Understand and control short board

[oldmansurfer]

I found a page that gives the following level from the highest to the lowest

Level 7 - Soul Surfer (the highest level attainable)

Level 6 - Whore

Level 5 - Amateur

Level 4 - Weekender

Level 3 - Professional

Level 2 - Rich Amateur

Level 1 - QuiverBaiter

There is also lengthy descriptions of what these levels of surfing signify here is the page http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/7surf.htm (It's satirical)

[billie_morini]

Hey, I resemble that remark!

[drowningbitbybit]

There is also lengthy descriptions of what these levels of surfing signify here is the page http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/7surf.htm (It's satirical)

Ha! Ken Rockwell is a very famous photographer in his own right, but he's most well known for reviewing everything to do with photography. If ever I'm about to buy a new camera/lens/whatever, I always check the Ken Rockwell site first, but it was a surprise to see a review of surfers on his site!

[drowningbitbybit]

QuiverBaiters

Oh god yes... the photography/surfer thing completely crosses over here. The number of "photographers" I have to deal with that turn up with $15,000 worth of equipment in their hand but have simply no idea about how to take a photo beyond point-and-shoot makes me weep