Last week, I had the pleasure of doing a surf coaching session with my dear friend Sol. She’s a yoga and fitness expert and has been surfing for a while, riding both longboards and shortboards. We’d often chat about surfing, and one day, she asked me to help her refine her skills on the shortboard, especially when it comes to handling bigger waves. We set-up a session, and although it wasn’t easy, it was a transformative experience for her.

Getting Started: The Theory and the Paddle Out
Before hitting the water, we spent some time going over the basics—wave positioning, the proper surf stance, and reading the ocean. Sol is a strong, dedicated surfer, but like many, she had areas she wanted to improve. Our first challenge was the paddle out. It was tough that day, with solid 2-meter waves, and it took some serious effort to push through the strong currents. But Sol was determined and kept going. There’s something special about the resilience of a surfer who just won’t give up.

Finding the Right Wave
Once we made it past the break, the real challenge began. We found ourselves in the lineup, scanning the horizon for the right wave to ride. The swell was big, and the currents were strong, making it tricky to find the right position to take off. After some waiting and working through the shifting lineup. Sol spotted her wave, started paddling and caught a 1,5 to 2 meter wave, made a clean drop, and fell of while the wave was closing-out.

However, the ocean was unpredictable that day; there was some current, the set-waves came in after  5, 10 or sometimes 15 minutes. What made the best take-off zone and positioning hard to spot. After some time, another big set came through, but Sol had slightly misjudged her position and got caught inside, being sent back to the beach.

Back on the beach, we took a moment to debrief. Sol was understandably frustrated with herself, and she was hard on her performance. But I couldn’t have been prouder. She had made the drop, she had paddled out through challenging conditions, and she had pushed her limits. That’s the kind of determination that really defines her as a surfer.

The Turning Point: A Fresh Approach
We still had about 50 minutes left in our session, and instead of calling it a day, we decided to walk down to a spot that’s usually a bit smaller. The waves looked clean, peeling left and right at about 1 to 1.5 meters—perfect for a second round. With a fresh mental approach and no expectations, Sol was ready to take on the ocean again. This time, the results were incredible. She caught wave some nice waves, with more control, her positioning was spot on, and she seemed to have found a new sense of flow. It was beautiful to watch as she gained more confidence with every ride.

We got lucky when our good friend Sergio, an amazing photographer, was out in the water that day. He managed to capture some stunning shots of Sol carving through the waves. It was a perfect end to an inspiring session.

Sol, I can’t tell you enough how proud I am of you. Your courage, determination, and growth as a surfer were so clear during this session. It’s a true pleasure to coach someone so dedicated, and I’m beyond happy to see you regain your confidence in the water.
I’m already looking forward to our next session together!

Conclusion: The Power of Surf Coaching

Surf coaching isn’t just about learning new techniques or improving performance. It’s about pushing through moments of frustration, building resilience, and ultimately rediscovering confidence in the ocean. Sol’s journey is a reminder that every surfer has their ups and downs, but with perseverance and the right mindset, those downs can turn into incredible ups.

Are you ready to take your surfing to the next level? Join Wibi Surf for personalized coaching that will help you conquer new challenges and ride the waves with confidence. Click this link for more info