How to Score Better Waves by Surfing Smarter, Not Harder

If you've been following along, you know we’ve covered how to train for your spot and how to match your board to the conditions. If you missed it, you can catch up here. Now let’s talk about how to actually find the best waves once you're out there.

On a recent trip to a heavy beach break with peaks all over the place, I was reminded how important it is to do one simple thing before paddling out: watch the ocean.

The Most Underrated Skill in Surfing

Too many people pull up to the beach, see one good single wave break, and paddle straight to that spot—or they paddle straight to where the crowd is sitting.

Here’s the problem:

• That one good wave might’ve been random
  
• That crowd might have drifted from the best zone or new peaks may have formed
  
• Conditions shift—especially at beach breaks

So here’s what to do instead:

1. Watch the ocean—really watch

Take 15 minutes. Let a few full sets roll through. Notice where waves are consistently breaking, which ones are peeling clean, and how the lineup shifts with the tide.

2. Be willing to move

Once you’re out there, don’t get glued to one spot—especially at a beach break. If you’re not catching waves, try repositioning:

• Slide over to the next peak
  
• Sit inside for a bit and watch
  
• Try going deeper or wider

This isn’t guesswork—it’s active observation. You’re adjusting based on real-time info.

3. Think like a hunter

Treat the lineup like a hunting ground. You’re looking for that pocket that’s getting overlooked. Be curious. Look around. Don’t just follow the crowd—find the window they’re missing.

Final Tip

If you’ve been sitting out the back waiting for a long time and getting frustrated, once you catch a wave and ride it inside. Pause. Look around. Ask: Are there good inside waves going unridden?

Every surf is a moving puzzle. The more you observe and adapt, the better your wave count—and the better your sessions.

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