Still struggling with takeoffs, turns, or reading waves—despite surfing for years? What if the problem started with your very first lesson?

In this episode, surf coach Linton Fafie from Surfing Australia's High Performance Centre breaks down why so many adult intermediates hit frustrating plateaus. From debunking the "pop-up" myth to explaining how poor fundamentals in wave timing and body awareness hold surfers back, Linton offers insight every progression-focused surfer needs to hear.

• Learn why most surf schools create bad habits that can take years to undo.

• Discover how proper whitewater training builds real wave-reading skills that translate to the lineup.

• Understand the importance of body connection, rail setting, and slowing down to finally unlock smoother turns and better positioning.

Press play to unlearn the hype, fix your technique at the root, and finally surf the way you've always wanted—with control, style, and confidence.

Key Points

• Teaching beginners to stand up straight away is considered one of the worst things to teach them, as it bypasses fundamental skills and creates false perceptions.

• Linton Fafey emphasizes the importance of teaching beginners how to catch waves in the whitewater to develop fundamental skills and timing.

• Linton Fafey discusses the importance of understanding the momentum and feeling of being on a moving object for intermediate surfers to improve their skills.

• Linton Fafey explains the misconception of the 'pop-up' in surfing, emphasizing that it's more about pushing down into the wave rather than popping up.

• Linton Fafey highlights the importance of setting the rail on takeoff rather than focusing solely on getting to one's feet quickly.

• Linton Fafey discusses the difference between a surf school experience and actual surf lessons, emphasizing the importance of learning fundamentals for serious surfers.

• Linton Fafey explains that there are no shortcuts in surfing and that coaches' role is to keep surfers on the right track, emphasizing the importance of fundamentals.

• Linton Fafey shares his experience of learning to surf without a leg rope initially, highlighting the importance of not having a false sense of security in challenging conditions.

• Linton Fafey discusses the challenges of intermediate surfers who may not have the fundamentals right, leading to frustration and the need to revisit basic skills. 

www.surfmastery.com 

Check Linton's website:

https://nextlevelsurfcoaching.com/

Follow his Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/nextlevelsurfcoaching/?hl=en

DNS Episode:

https://surfmastery.com/podcast/050-dns

Life Coaching:

https://surfmastery.com/mens-life-coaching

For the passionate surfer—whether you're a weekend warrior, a surf dad, or an older surfer—this podcast is all about better surfing and deeper stoke. With expert surf coaching, surf training, and surfing tips, we’ll help you catch more waves, refine your paddling technique, and perfect your pop up on a surfboard. From surf workouts to handling wipeouts, chasing bigger waves, and mastering surf technique, we’re here to make sure you not only improve but truly enjoy surfing more—so you can get more out of every session and become a wiser surfer. Go from Beginner or intermediate Surfer to advanced.