Beginner
HOW TO SURF | Take Off & Pop Up Perfectly Every Time
Coach's take: Clear, practical, beginner-friendly breakdown of the takeoff.
3.5
Takeoff timing
Surfing / Popular
Match paddle speed and timing to enter waves with control.
What coaches agree on
- As the wave lifts you, shift your weight forward and lower your chest toward the board so gravity helps pull the nose down into the wave.
- Keep glancing back over your shoulder while you paddle, since a wave can change shape fast and you may need to adjust your paddling or line.
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- Start paddling early enough, and hard enough, that you are already at full speed by the moment the wave reaches and lifts the board.
Common mistakes
- Easing off, hesitating, or popping up the instant the wave arrives, instead of paddling through a couple of extra strokes until it actually lifts and carries the board, is the most common way learners miss a wave or fall off the back of it.
Beginner
How To Surf | Take Off, POP UP & Generate Speed
Coach's take: Best of this batch for actually learning takeoff timing - clear framework and pro footage breakdown.
3.3
Beginner
Surf Simply Tutorials: Catching Unbroken Waves
Coach's take: Top-tier: explains the why and fixes the classic too-far-back mistake with clear cues.
3.3
Beginner
How to Catch an Unbroken Wave | How to Surf - Paddling into Green Waves
Coach's take: Thorough, well-structured green-wave tutorial (in Mandarin).
3.0
Advanced
Surf Basics: Steep Drops & Late Takeoffs
Coach's take: Great detail, compression explained brilliantly.
3.0
Intermediate
How To Surf | Positioning To Catch & Surf More Waves EVERY TIME
Coach's take: Great visuals for reading waves, if a bit abstract at times.
2.9
Beginner
How to catch unbroken waves
Coach's take: Practical, actionable takeoff cues — sit deeper, add strokes, chin down, stay compressed.
2.9
Intermediate
Surf Basics: The Perfect Takeoff Spot Is Already Too Deep #surfcoaching #learntosurf #howtosurf
Coach's take: Solid, practical positioning tip.
2.9
Intermediate
How To Catch More Waves | Improve Your Wave Selection
Coach's take: Sharp, well-organized coaching on reading a wave before you go.
2.8
Beginner
How to Practice you Take Offs at home | How to Surf | The Standard Pop Up and more.
Coach's take: Actually teaches you how to build the skill at home, step by step - good stuff.
2.8
Advanced
Surf Simply's Question Time: Taking Off On Steeper Waves
Coach's take: Solid takeoff-timing advice, though it wanders into unrelated tangents.
2.8
Intermediate
How to Catch More Waves with Less Effort | Positioning
Coach's take: Clear, experienced coaching with real on-water examples. Solid.
2.7
Beginner
How to Pop Up on a Surfboard | Beginner Take Off Technique
Coach's take: Clean, well-sequenced pop-up with a strong dos-and-donts list. Great for beginners.
2.7
Intermediate
How to Get to your Feet in the OPTIMAL Position - The Post Take Off Position - How to Surf
Coach's take: Excellent, practical takeoff coaching.
2.6
Beginner
How To Paddle Into Waves Like A Pro | Learn To Surf
Coach's take: Simple, specific fix that actually helps beginners catch more waves.
2.5
Advanced
WATCH: Surfers Fixing Their Take Off & Wave Entry
Coach's take: Good to watch a real coaching eye at work, though it's tailored feedback rather than a general lesson.
2.1
Intermediate
10 Angling the Take Off Mistakes | How to Surf
Coach's take: Ten common mistakes with fixes - tight and useful.
2.1
Intermediate
Surf Simply's Quick Tips: Fading the Takeoff
Coach's take: Fun and clear, a nice stepping-stone drill.
2.1
Beginner
Are You Struggling To Pop Up? Try This!
Coach's take: Clear cues on the pop-up itself, worth watching for form.
1.6
Advanced
Where Should I Best Position Myself To Takeoff On Unbroken Waves?
Coach's take: A few good points, buried in self-promo.
1.6
Beginner
Learn How To Surf In 10 Minutes
Coach's take: Useful groundwork, but you'll need a more focused video for timing.
1.5
Intermediate
5 steps to PERFECT POSITIONING in the surf
Coach's take: Light but sound takeoff-timing notes.
1.4