How To Catch Unbroken Waves, Part 1

How to go from white to green.

All our beginner students start in the same way: in the whitewater on a board that's about 3 foot taller than them. If you're unfamiliar with the term whitewater, it means the waves which have already broken, or the "cream cheese" area of the ocean. Students walk out with their board until they're in about waist or chest depth water, and they catch waves from there. After about 3 or 4 days of whitewater practice many students are ready to paddle out deeper and catch the unbroken, green waves.

However, it is a big transition to go from white to green; so in this video we aim to demystify the process and give you strategies to help you catch waves.

Here are some video highlights to check out:
0:51 Positioning is everything, learn how to be in the right place at the right time.
2:21 How to catch waves in the 'magic zone' so that you don't hurl yourself into imminent doom
4:00 Be more like Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator. But not in the sense of world destruction, you just need to be watching the waves around you and analyzing what's going on. Also the 3 vital questions to ask about the waves you spot.
6:00 A special note for women surfers, we need to be a bit more intuitive and observant about the conditions around us
6:32 Always use landmarks to stay in a good position

We hope these tips will get you on your board and on to great adventures at Pura Vida Adventures—or anywhere else the waves take you! If you're looking to rekindle your playful passion for life while learning how to surf, come visit us at Pura Vida Adventures in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. Pura Vida offers all-inclusive surf and yoga retreats where beginners can learn to surf in a welcoming and relaxed environment, and those who know how to surf can continue refining their craft.

Inspiring women since 2004, founder Tierza Eichner has created the perfect women's retreat that you will never want to leave… an adventurous blend of surfing, yoga, fresh healthy meals, and daily activities with an amazing group of women. Special coed retreats are open to men as well, who also rave about our incredible surf instruction (visit our website for more details!).

To catch all of the latest videos and news from Pura Vida, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

[positivelybeautiful]

Ms. Helen is an outstanding instructor! I’m 55 & just a beginner. I’m learning now to catching the green waves & this video explains very well. Good videos too. Most, I love her style & use of idioms. All the videos are very helpful! Thank you!

[kirstenroche]

Listening to her describe catching waves in the impact zone has me laughing out loud- "it's like looking over the edge of a cliff, " "it will feel like an avalanche breaking on your shoulders."
Recently took a lesson, then spent two days just practicing with a rented board, nose diving over and over again.
The descriptors she's using and the videos of people nosediving are just too perfect.
Very real.
Great tips in this video, thank you so much for posting it!!

[Courtney.C.Coskun]

Ive seen so many videos regarding this subject....this is the best one yet. Thank you!

[HarryProudlove]

This is such a good tutorial, deserves way more views! I like the memory bank idea as well.

[SkyexEcho]

Thank you for this in depth instruction! I love the visual aids and your thorough explanation of the wave "zones". Now let's have fun out there!!

[mjackson]

Thanks! I feel embarrased trying to catch a wave for an hour and all I had are wipe outs. Lol

[LEAHBENYOSSEF-lhex]

Hey girl you are so sweet that was really helpful I am dreaming of surfing I remember catching a wave whilst body surfing when I was really young and that feeling was so cool.

[bobxooolulugod]

Im mostly struggling of finding good spots and waves and actually paddling past the impact zone where i keep getting knocked over by big waves crashing in.

[TheHumanSpirit]

I've watched other channels. Your style is different. You instruct with less assumption and better clarity. I like it. Subscribed.

[aspena]

OMG this helped so much! I have been trying to catch my waves in the impact zone which is why I have been eating it! My dad is really good at surfing but really bad at explaining the fundamentals lmao!!!

[theaogrie]

I just want to thank you! After watching this video I had my best surf session ever!!😍

[AlexanderTheGrateful]

Excellent video,
You explain everything, and the visuals really help too

Thabk you

[JasmineWay]

7:25 outsmart everyone! NIICE~ HIGH FIVE

[susanh]

You speaking about the degree angles really helped me understand thank you 🙏🏻! Plus how it's more of a chill experience :) ... I've caught green waves but this helped lessen some of the confusion on how to choose waves (much to learn). --Thank you 🙏🏻!

[breeclark]

I caught my first green wave today and I said to my mum it felt like the wave lifted my board to 45 degrees

[whollymary]

It Never helps me to go over what not to do but in this case it is helpful because if I find myself in one of the undesirable positions I can dedicate myself to more practice doing it the right way on my bedroom floor

[anastasiiafedorova]

Cool video with a good theoretical information! I didn't thought about it earlier that you constantly have to move to find the perfect spot for taking off. Thanks!

[mariahhommelhoff]

Love your videos! So helpful for a 30yo woman learning to surf 🏄‍♀️ on my own! Damn those 20 something agile fellas 😂

[apachewolfscout]

Like the names of different wave stages, makes it clearer. Very good explanations....so far I've watched and think I've understood most of What's said in Many videos, but when I get out there it tends to go to pot and it's a lot of wipe outs, misses and messiness. Mainly stuck in white water or just breaking. Lack of regularity in surfing is part of it definitely so my aim is to try and get a holiday beside a good beginner break with warmish water and get out everyday probably two or three times and for once get some lessons or get it filmed because it's difficult to be objective with yourself. Anyway, it may just click like bike riding or circular breathing on didjeridoo but it is complex the art ( I mean infinitely more complex and challenging than skate boarding, fun as that is.) but it's got to be worth a crack eh!! Thanks for the vid.

[mickb]

That turn around at 4:55 though. How are you even doing that?! I'm about to start work on isolating paddling technique, turtle rolling, and turning around like that