You’re motivated, the line-up is within reach – and yet every attempt to paddle out feels like a struggle. White water, shortness of breath, heavy arms.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
According to Brad Gerlach, many surfers don’t fail at turns or take-offs, but much earlier – on their way out to sea. The former pro surfer and coach has taken a close look and identified five classic mistakes that are made time and time again.
The good news is that all five can be avoided – with a little understanding, calmness and practice.
Mistake No. 1: Expectations are too high
It’s actually quite simple: thinking too much makes you prone to mistakes.
And that often starts with the first glance at the sea.
Instead of simply paddling out, an analysis is carried out:
How do I best ride the wave? What do I do afterwards?
After 20 minutes without success, frustration sets in – and the session falls apart before it has even really begun.
Brad Gerlach’s first rule is therefore clear:
Lower your expectations.
Relax. Enjoy paddling out, doing your first duck dive and simply being in the ocean. Good sessions rarely come from pressure – they come from openness.
Mistake No. 2: You overthink things
This mistake follows almost automatically from the first one.
Surfing is not a mental sport – surfing is feeling.
Those who constantly evaluate, plan or want to control lose their ease and flow.
Brad sums it up: Keep the fun and enjoyment in surfing – then success will often come all by itself.
The less you try to do everything right, the better it works.
Mistake No. 3: Your posture is wrong
Every sport requires a certain posture – when surfing, your back plays a crucial role. It is your control centre.
Our consciousness is located in our head, where our eyes are. And this is precisely where the problem lies:
our eyes automatically look down towards the water.
The result: our bottom rises, our body is positioned incorrectly on the board, and paddling becomes inefficient.
Brad Gerlach’s simple rule:
Head up – bum down.
Look up, keep your back active and stay stable on the board.
Mistake No. 4: You’re paddling with your arms
Many believe that paddling is purely about arm strength.
In reality, the movement does not come from the arms, but from:
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back
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body centre
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hips
The arms are just the tool. The real power comes from the centre of the body.
Those who understand this paddle more calmly, more efficiently – and significantly longer.
Mistake No. 5: You don’t accept bad days
Perhaps the most important point:
Everyone has bad days.
Sometimes nothing fits – no matter how hard you try.
Brad Gerlach says it clearly:
Accept it.
Instead of getting frustrated, get out of the water, grab a drink at the nearest beach bar, watch the sea and relax. That’s also part of surfing.
You can find out more about Brad Gerlach here.
