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Wave selection

Surfing / Popular

Read sets, peaks, shoulders, and wave quality before committing to a paddle.

What coaches agree on

  • Look for a darker, higher section of the approaching swell — that is where the wave will break first, and it tells you which way the shoulder will peel.
  • What makes a wave worth catching depends on your level: beginners want soft, already-broken whitewater, while more advanced surfers want steeper, unbroken waves with room to turn.
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  • Watch where the better surfers in the lineup sit and which waves they go for — it is a reliable shortcut to finding good waves yourself.

Common mistakes

  • Paddling for a closeout — a wave that breaks all at once with no shoulder — wastes the wave, since there is no open face left to turn on.