Reading Waves and Conditions
Choosing a surf spot that suits your ability
How to judge a surf spot's bottom, wave size and shape, crowd and access before paddling out, so you pick a break that matches your current skill level.
The collection
Reading Waves and Conditions
How swell, wind and tide shape the surf, how to read a forecast and a break from the shore, and how to choose a spot that suits your current level.
Reading Waves and Conditions
How swell, wind and tide shape surf conditions
See how swell, wind and tide each change a wave, when they work together and when they work against each other, and why the same beach can break differently from day to day.
Reading Waves and Conditions
How to read a wave before you paddle out
Learn to identify a wave's peak and shoulder, watch several sets from the beach and choose a line that suits your ability before you paddle out.
Reading Waves and Conditions
Mistakes people make when judging a break from shore
Watching from the beach is useful but misleading in predictable ways. Learn the common errors in judging wave size, sets, crowds and currents, and how to correct each one.
Reading Waves and Conditions
Reading a surf forecast: height, period and direction
Learn how swell height, period and direction shape a surf forecast, why the height on a screen is not the wave you see, and how to combine all three.
Reading Waves and Conditions
Recognizing when waves are too big for your level
Learn the warning signs that surf is above your skill level, how to scale a session down safely, and why choosing a smaller break shows good judgment.