We see hundreds of beginners walk onto the beach at La Pared every year. And we love every single one of them. But almost everyone repeats the same handful of mistakes — and the good news is that all of them are easy to fix once you know what to look for.
1. Looking Down at the Board
This is the number one mistake. When you're learning the pop-up, the instinct is to look at your feet to check where they're landing. But looking down kills your balance immediately.
The fix: Pick a point on the horizon and keep your eyes there throughout the pop-up. Your feet will land in the right place — trust your body.
2. Paddling with Bent Arms
Paddling efficiency is everything. If your elbows are out to the sides and your arms are bent, you're using maybe 30% of your power and getting exhausted very quickly.
The fix: Keep your arms close to the board, reach forward as far as possible, and pull through the water in a straight line. Think of it like swimming freestyle.
3. The "Caterpillar" Pop-Up
Many beginners learn a two-stage pop-up — first push the chest up, then bring the feet forward. This creates a jerky movement and makes balancing much harder.
The fix: The pop-up should be one explosive, fluid movement. From lying flat to standing in under a second. Practice it on the beach repeatedly before entering the water.
4. Standing Too Far Back on the Board
If you're pearling (nose-diving), you might already be standing in the right place — it could be a wave selection issue. But many beginners stand too far back and stall the board.
The fix: Centre of gravity should be over the centre of the board. Mark the "sweet spot" with your eyes before you paddle out.
5. Stiff Arms and Locked Elbows
Surfing requires your upper body to absorb constant movement. Holding your arms rigid makes you top-heavy and easy to throw off.
The fix: Bend your knees, relax your arms out to the sides (like a tightrope walker), and let your upper body move fluidly with the wave.
6. Paddling Too Late
Timing is everything in surfing. Most beginners wait until the wave is right on them before paddling hard. By then it's too late to generate speed.
The fix: Start paddling hard when the wave is about 2–3 metres behind you. The goal is to match the wave's speed before it reaches you, so it can push you.
7. Not Committing to the Pop-Up
Fear makes people hesitate. A half-hearted pop-up almost always results in falling. Doubt leads to collapse.
The fix: When you feel the wave picking you up and you're in the right position — commit fully. Go for it. Hesitation is the enemy of surfing.
The best way to break all of these habits quickly is to get proper coaching in the water. An instructor who can see what you're doing and give immediate feedback will cut your learning curve dramatically. Book a beginner lesson at La Pared →