Surfing for the First Time – My Most Powerful Mistakes

Or: How I let go of perfection in Waikiki

Not Your Typical First Surf trip

My first real surf session didn’t happen on some carefully planned surf retreat or guided beginner camp.
It started in Waikiki – in the heart of the surf world – and honestly? I had no clue what I was doing. I’ve made every mistake possible – and learned from each one.
In this post, I share my most powerful mistakes and how you can avoid them as a beginner surfer.

I never do things unprepared.
Usually, I’m the kind of person who deep-dives into everything before even thinking about trying it – watching hours of tutorials, reading every article, comparing gear, obsessing over every detail. I like to know what I’m doing. I like to do things well.

But surfing? Surfing didn’t get that version of me.

It got the barefoot, wide-eyed kook version. And honestly – maybe that’s exactly what I needed.

Let me tell you the story of how I fell in love with surfing and how it taught me to let go of perfectionism.


A Dream That Lived Quietly within Me

Growing up in Europe, surfing always felt like something that belonged to a different world – a world of sun-bleached hair, salty skin, and endless summer. I watched shows like Blue Water High, Alien Surf Girls, and H2O: Just Add Water religiously. They didn’t just entertain me – they planted a seed.

I used to stare at the ocean on family trips, watching surfers dance across the waves with an ease that seemed almost supernatural. I admired them from the shore, never thinking I could be one of them. It was a distant dream, quiet and patient – waiting.

And then came Hawai’i.


The Day I Just Went for It

During my semester abroad in Honolulu, I lived only five minutes from the beach. Five minutes from the birthplace of modern surfing. Five minutes from something that had been quietly calling me for years.

And one day, I finally listened.

I grabbed my roommate’s sun-faded softboard, barefoot and unsure, and walked down the sunlit pavement. I still remember that the winds carried this one specific smell – if you’ve been to Hawai’i, you know what I mean. It’s sweet, tropical, almost like plumeria and salt and something ancient in the air. My friend joined me and we laughed our way toward the break, knowing full well we had no idea what we were doing. I didn’t check the surf report. I didn’t even know how.

We just… went.

No lessons. No plan. No idea about tides, etiquette, or what I was even looking for.
Only this inexplicable urge to paddle out and not be so freaking scared and hesitant anymore. And boy was I nervous.

That was the moment everything changed.


6 powerful lessons for every beginner surfer

Looking back, I’m grateful for the spontaneous magic of that day – but there’s a lot I’d do differently now.
Here are my most powerful mistakes and the lessons I’ve learned since then:

1. Understand Surf Etiquette First

At the time, I didn’t even know what a “line-up” was. Yes, there’s hundreds of people surfing in Waikiki – at all surf levels, which means that you won’t be the only person not knowing or following the right surf etiquette. But that doesn’t make it any less important. I unknowingly dropped in on people, paddled into the wrong spots, and probably annoyed a few locals.

Now I know: learning the basic surf rules is crucial. Respect the line-up, don’t snake waves, and always look both ways before taking off.

2. Choose the Right Spot

Waikiki is beautiful, but it can be crowded and too big in the summer months. I went out at a random break without knowing if it was beginner-friendly or not. I might have learned how to slalom-surf right from the start, but only because I didn’t want to crash with the crowd in front of me and hurt myself or others.
Today, I’d research the spot, check the swell, and look for mellow waves and enough space perfect for learning. This might be too complex as a beginner though and asking the people at the surf-site might be more reliable – plus, you’ll always get some extra info.

3. The right Board Handling

Good board handling might not sound exciting, but it’s a game-changer for beginners. Holding and positioning your board the right way can save you so much energy and help you avoid awkward wipeouts or accidentally hitting someone. I’ve seen firsthand how many surfers get injured because of poor board handling, which is why I honestly think it’s one of the most important things to learn right from the start. If you skip this step, you’re not just making it harder on yourself – you’re putting others at risk too.

4. Invest in Proper Gear

  • What to wear? Sunburned, scratched up, and slipping off the board – all because I thought a swimsuit was enough. To be fair the water temperature in Waikiki was warm enough so I didn’t need a wetsuit, but let’s just say I’ve since learned the magic of a good spring suit. Especially if your whole session will consist of whitewater surfing and the good old ‘washing machines’.
  • Do I need sun protection? YES! Even though I wasn’t sunburnt, not everyone is that lucky. Spring suits, Wetsuits or Rash guards do the magic and can be a real lifesaver. Don’t forget to put on sunscreen and use zinc for the more crucial parts – it lasts longer, and it’s better for the reef. Some folks even use cute hats to protect the head. Oh, and if you’re foolish enough to think it’s cloudy and you don’t need sunscreen, trust me – you definitely do!
  • Which surfboard to choose? The right board will make or break your session. Don’t overthink it and get a typical 8’’ softboard aka foamie aka softtop surfboard. It was made for beginners and will elevate your surf level in no time. The bigger the size, the easier it will help you stand up stable on the board – 8’’ is the perfect go-to for everyone though.
  • What else do I need? Even though softboards don’t always need wax, I would’ve taken the time to prep the board properly. Buy some wax yourself or ask the nearest surf rental if you can borrow some – and never ever forget the leash for your surfboard!

5. Get a Lesson – or at Least Watch Some Tutorials

A simple lesson would’ve helped me tons. Even watching YouTube videos on pop-up technique, paddle posture, or how to read waves would’ve saved me so much frustration. I thought other surfers were “stealing my waves” – not knowing that I was probably in the wrong spot or paddling too late. I didn’t know what clean surfing even looked like.

The best advice I can give you? Sign up for a surf lesson! – not just anywhere, but in that specific spot. Learning from someone who knows the local conditions makes all the difference – while making friends with and respecting the locals.

Oh, and in case you want to be able to walk the next day, please do a warm-up before entering the water. The right guide or tutorial can work wonders, thank me later.

6. Stay Humble and Open

Back then, I thought surfing would be easy – like riding a bike on water. But it’s hard. It takes time.
If I had known that progress is slow and wipeouts are part of the fun, I would’ve enjoyed those first days even more.

But back then, I didn’t know any of the above.
And in a strange way, I’m glad I didn’t.
Despite all the mistakes, that day in Waikiki changed my life forever.


The First Thing I Ever Did Badly – and Kept Doing Anyway

Surfing was the first thing in my life I let myself be truly bad at.
And I stayed.

I wiped out. A lot.
I got frustrated and I got humbled by the ocean every single day.
But I kept going back. Not because I was good – but because something deep inside me lit up every time I tried.
If I’d known how long it takes to really learn this sport – how humbling and slow the process can be – I might’ve talked myself out of it.

But I didn’t know.
And because I didn’t, I gave myself the freedom to fall in love with it.


The Magic of Not Knowing

There’s a strange and beautiful freedom in not knowing what you’re doing.

Not knowing how it’s “supposed” to be done.
You’re not chasing perfection – you’re chasing feeling. And surfing is all feeling.
It pulls you fully into the present moment. Just you and mother nature.

In the line-up, I wasn’t thinking about anything. I wasn’t trying to be anything. I was just… there. And those pauses – the quiet moments between sets, sitting on my board, sun on my face, watching the ocean breathe – were some of the most peaceful I’ve ever had.
Those were the moments I felt most connected to nature. To something bigger than me. To myself.
The wave riding was exhilarating, but the stillness? The floating, the waiting, the silence wrapped in salt and sky? That was the real magic.

That day in Waikiki, I caught maybe half a wave. I stood for a second. I fell weirdly and drank a mouthful of seawater. But the sun was setting, the sky was painted in every color you can imagine, and for a brief moment, I felt completely, wildly, blissfully free.

I wasn’t a surfer yet. But I knew I’d found something I’d never be able to let go of.


Final Thoughts

Looking back now, it truly feels like the universe brought me there – to that exact place, that exact moment – just so I would finally begin this journey. Everyone starts somewhere – and often that “somewhere” is messy, awkward, and full of mistakes.

If you’re about to go on your first surf trip: don’t overthink it but do your homework.
If you’re standing at the edge of something new, afraid to try because you don’t feel ready: do it anyway.
You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to begin.

What was your experience that made you fall in love with surfing or what did your first time surfing look like?
Tell me your story – I’d love to hear it.

Respect the ocean. Stay curious. And most of all – enjoy the ride.

– Julia

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