Don’t skip the smaller days!

The thought of surfing in 1-2 foot onshore conditions might seem uninspiring, but it’s actually the perfect opportunity to work on your skills. With fewer people in the lineup and more waves available, use these sessions to fine-tune the fundamentals that will prepare you for success on those bigger, better days.

Improve Your Wave Reading – Small waves can be tricky to take off on because, with less power in the wave, the take-off zone is much smaller. This makes them a great opportunity to practice the art of positioning. Before you paddle out, find where the wave is breaking, and once you’re out there in the right position, identify reference points on land that you can use to ensure you get back to the right spot after every wave.

Stay in the Pocket – The power of bigger and cleaner waves can often mask inefficiencies in our surfing. However, in smaller, lumpier conditions, you can't simply charge down the line, as you’ll run out of wave quickly. These conditions teach us to stay close to the power source, where we can access the wave's energy and generate the speed and control needed to perform more critical maneuvers, whether the waves are big or small.

Improve Your Paddle Power – When it’s smaller, it’s generally much less busy, allowing you to catch more waves. Use this opportunity to build your paddle strength and endurance by quickly returning to the take-off zone and catching as many waves as possible. This will condition your body to handle stronger currents, longer paddle-outs, and more demanding conditions as the size increases.

Surf Smarter Not Harder – Don’t hesitate to reach for a bit of extra foam or size when the waves are less than optimal as these will make it easier to catch waves, stay on them longer and give you more opportunities on the wave.

So next time the surf forecast shows 1-2 foot onshore conditions, don’t skip it—embrace it. These are the days that can transform your surfing and set you up for success when the magic happens.

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