Surf levels - what level surfer am I?
Updated 2026-10-11 · Unkook surf coaching
Level 1: First waves
You can:
- Lies in the right spot on the board
- Catches white water with a push or on their own
- Has tried standing up
To reach the next level:
- Pop up in one motion on land (no knee)
- Stand up in the white water a few times per session
- Paddle into white water without help
Level 2: White-water rider
You can:
- Stands up most of the time in white water
- Rides straight towards the beach
- Catches white water alone
To reach the next level:
- Pop up in under ~1 s, hands off as feet land
- Chest up, knees bent - eyes forward, not on the board
- Start paddling for small unbroken waves
Level 3: Green-wave starter
You can:
- Paddles into small unbroken waves alone
- Pops up before the wave breaks
- Rides it for a few seconds
To reach the next level:
- Angle the take-off left or right instead of straight
- Look and lean down the line
- Pick waves earlier, sit in the right spot
Level 4: Riding the face
You can:
- Rides along the open face left and right
- Controls speed by moving weight forward/back
- Knows basic etiquette and priority
To reach the next level:
- A real bottom turn: bend low, look, rotate shoulders
- Generate speed (pumping) on slower sections
- Read sections and choose a line
Level 5: Turning
You can:
- Linked bottom turn and top turn or cutback
- Generates speed reliably
- Surfs a range of conditions
To reach the next level:
- Carve from the rail, not the arms
- Surf closer to the pocket
- Commit to steeper, bigger waves
Level 6: Advanced
You can:
- Committed, flowing turns in the pocket
- Comfortable in overhead surf
- Adapts to any board and spot
Next:
- Refine style and specific manoeuvres with a coach
How long each level takes
It varies with how often you surf, your board and the waves. See how long it takes to learn to surf for typical timelines.
How to find out your level
Send a video of one of your waves to Unkook and you'll get your level, the evidence for it, and the next steps, updated every time you send a new wave.
See what you're doing on your own waves. Send one wave to Unkook and get it broken down moment by moment: slow motion, arrows on what to fix, and one thing to practise next session.
Analyse my wave freeFAQ
What is an intermediate surfer?
Usually someone who paddles into unbroken waves on their own and rides along the face left and right (levels 3–4), and is starting to turn.
Am I a beginner if I can stand up?
If you stand up mostly in white water and ride straight, you are a beginner (level 2). Catching unbroken waves on your own is the step to intermediate.
What level should I be before buying a shorter board?
Around level 3: when you can paddle into small unbroken waves alone and pop up before they break. See beginner surfboard size.