Tips for Set Waves | Where to Sit in the Lineup to Catch Waves, not Wipeouts

By Rick Bickerstaff 
Have you ever been sitting in the lineup and waiting for a set when, out of nowhere, a giant bulge of water comes at you like a miniature tsunami? You're in line for a normal set, but this is something different, breaking farther out and bigger; and so you have to make a split-second decision to either paddle and beat the wave, or sit and duck dive six feet of white water, a real life choose-your-own-adventure.

Standout approaching! (photo: @jinheejoung)

Tips for Surfing Backside | Nailing Backside Waves

By Rick Bickerstaff

Ever show up to a spot where the waves are only breaking backside...but you don't know how to surf backside?! You paddle out anyway, only to fumble around trying to stand up, as thoughts of spending the day riding switch-foot run through your mind. Well, worry no more! Below are some standard backside riding tips for the next time you find yourself in this situation.

The Dangers of Surfing Alone | Huntington Beach Pier

By Athair Baer

It would seem the days of every other season bring about the same invigorating bliss and care-free enthusiasm that the warmer months of the year trend in contempt of how bright the sun may not actually be. One can’t help but be envious of people who live anywhere else when the dead of Winter bares the light as bright, the deep sand warms your feet, and the breeze kisses your cheek just enough to ignore the near 90 degree temperature. The Orange County beaches of Southern California really are my personal heaven. 



sunrise surf session on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier

Bottom Turn Tips for Surfers for Longboards, Shortboards and SUPs

By Natasha Hamilton

Bottom turns are  the first step in taking your surfing or paddling from the rookie stage to pro status.   Bottom turns are critical to successful trick transitions.  Mistiming this maneuver causes a loss of speed and forfeited opportunities.   Drops, barrels, reentries, floaters, and aerials are all reliant on a solid bottom turn.  So here is what you need to know about nailing bottom turns.

photo: SurferMag.com

First Surfboards for Beginners | the Wavestorm Foam Surfboard

By Rick Bickerstaff

I bought one of these surfboards for my wife a few years back and, on a smallish day, I took it out instead of my short boards. I have to say I was blown away by how good this 8-foot piece of Taiwanese foam actually rides...

It's the $100 Wavestorm from Costco, and though it takes a certain lack of self-consciousness to ride one, I can't deny its prowess, though I'm pretty sure that was an accident on the manufacturer's part.

Surfboards for Beginners | Buying Your First Surfboard | Longboard, Foamboard, Funboard, Fish

By Zac Heisey

For starters, taking a surf lesson at the closest beach will give you a great idea of the type of surfboard you should be riding as you building your surfing skills. Another good hint is to pay attention to the surfers who frequent your home break and keep a mental note of the boards they have strapped to their car racks. The guys who rip are likely to have wafer-thin, high-performance thrusters, while the less-skilled surfers will probably have much longer, wider boards. As with all things, there are always exceptions to the rule, and sometimes even top-notch surfers will elect to ride something other than a high-performance short board. In general, however, it is recommended that beginning surfers choose longer, wider, thicker boards to provide a stable platform for learning the proper techniques and fundamentals of surfing. Below are four types of surfboards that are great for those just getting their feet wet in the sport of surfing.

The Wave that Got Away | Conquering Your Fear and Surfing Big Waves

By Rick Bickerstaff
It was a rainy day after Thanksgiving, and a friend had tipped me off to an incoming swell that would hit our home break. I didn't expect much, though, as the beach we often surf is rarely outstanding, but surfing sounded better than Black Friday shopping, so I headed to the beach.

Apparently my fear of water is greater than my fear of people's opinions, because I ended up grabbing my sister's NSP (I like to call it the Butterfly Racer - pictured below). It's wider than my short board, which helps in smaller waves, but still responsive enough to do some carving. I wouldn't advise you to go out and buy one by any means, but I've been surprised at how much fun I've had on this thing.

Riding the "Butterfly Racer" at Trestles...don't judge me.

6 Sins of Surfing | Unwritten Rules of Surfing

By Zac Heisey

Learning proper surfing etiquette is a major part of becoming a true surfer. It’s amazing how easy it is to spot offenders in the line-up once you know the rules. While slack should be given to beginners who are just starting to pick up the admittedly complex and sometimes fluid list of surfing do’s and don’ts, there are some surfing faux pas that won’t be tolerated. Below are seven of the more egregious offenses in surfing. If you can’t learn to follow these, then it’s probably best to keep your board stored safely on your surf rack.

How to Duck Dive | 5 Tips for Learning How to Duck Dive

By Zac Heisey

Once you’ve upped your surf game to the point where you are comfortable taking on some larger waves, the difficult skill of duck diving becomes a necessity. Learning to properly execute a duck dive makes it easier to get outside on larger days, allowing you to test your skills in some bigger surf. While a certain amount of strength is necessary in order to duck dive, especially if you have a larger or thicker board, the most important part of successful duck dive is proper technique. Here we will discuss the basics of proper duck diving technique.

Photo Credit: Costa Rica Surf Institute