Uncle Bryan from Sunset Suratt surf school was chatting with a group of us one morning after a rather long surf session, and we got onto the topic of surf lessons and surf instructors. Passionate about the topic and the people who are involved in the sport of surfing, Bryan Suratt, a seasoned pro circuit coach and overall waterman, spouted a serious piece of advice for all beginner surfers: take a lesson from an expert and learn about etiquette and respect for the ocean, not just how to stand up and hoot and holler.

It’s all about learning that surfing involves a rather large spear attached to one’s leg when in a crowd of people, and yelling “Sorry!” is often not a good enough excuse for almost injuring another waterman out in the open ocean. To be fair, Bryan has seen almost all of it when it comes to surfing … as well as surfing accidents and fiascoes, so we tend to listen when he talks. From kooks to kings the sport of surfing is something he can talk on about for hours.

Lessons are about learning as well as having fun, but know that at your very first lesson will not be spending your time in the water catching barrels or hanging ten off your surf board. A good instructor will spend time with you on the beach going through water safety, reading the waves and the crowds, and paddling & pop-up techniques. Often times, beginners need to stop staring at the waves and focus on this par tof their learning stage, it is a necessary evil. The regimented memorization of these techniques often come in very handy when your tired brain and body need to rely on these skills out in the open water. As a surfer, you can start getting more ambitious once you’ve set a solid foundation of basic techniques.

The most valuable piece of advice to anyone who wants to learn how to surf is to get a surf lesson. Your first surf lesson will lay the foundation for many years of enjoyable surfing and will save you countless hours of frustration. However, if you take your first steps and cues from someone who has no real teaching background or is not a qualified waterman, then you have just set yourself up for years of heartache and frustration at the line up. So how do you weed out a good surf instructor versus a fly by night (only in the business for a quick buck) wanna-be-waterman?

Here are 3 tips to ensure that you get the best surf lessons from a surf instructor:

Find an Accredited Surf School or Surf Instructor : Just like buying anything else of value, do your homework and research! Ensure that the business is accredited with a national or state training program. It is not a fool prof guarantee that you’ll be ripping and shredding like Kelly Slater, but it will give you a decent chance that your first surf lesson is from an instructor that has been taught how to train students in a controlled environment, rather than someone that just knows how to surf and needs a job. Remember that a good surfer doesn’t always make for a good instructor.

Sign up for a Lesson with a Good Instructor to Student Ratio : Uncle Bryan is very passionate about this topic, for it makes or breaks a productive surf lesson! Too many students and the value of a surf lesson goes out the window. Even the best of instructors can only manage so many floating bodies and continue to be effective! A low instructor to student ratio is critical in ensuring that a beginner surfer receives good advice, adaptive correction, and effective coaching. Whereas most surf schools will paddle out with 5 to 10 beginners on a surfboard,  adult surf classes should not have more than 3 to 4 students per instructor due to the safety element. Lower ratios serve you better in that you ensure that you will receive attention. More attention and focus translates into more tailored feedback, and eventually quicker positive results. You may have to pay a bit more for personalized classes or smaller class sizes, but it may be well worth it to ensure good progress in learning to surf!

Try to get Multiples : Receiving instruction from a different instructor every time you go surf is like getting a new boss at work every time you show up for work … it simply hinders your progress and performance. When signing up for surf lessons, especially if you are serious about getting in the water and surfing long term, then make sure you can get the same instructor for multiple lessons – provided that you like the first lesson! Ask the instructor or the surf school if that particular instructor will be available for multiple lessons up front, you just may get a discount too!

Find a good surf school by talking to surfers, surf shops, and your friends … but don’t rush in to the first one you see, the closest to the beach, or the most readily available. Much like buying other things that will be with you for a long time, a surf lesson needs careful consideration!

…