Common Mistakes Beginners Make When Learning to Surf (and How to Enjoy Them Anyway)

Learning to surf in Morocco is an adventure: equal parts excitement, fear, frustration, and pure joy. It pulls you completely out of your comfort zone — and that’s exactly what makes it so special.

At Arima Surf House in Tamraght, we’ve welcomed beginners from all over the world. Everyone’s journey is unique, but most people run into the same mistakes. Today we want to share them — not so you avoid them, but so you live them with more awareness, patience, and a smile on your face.

1. Thinking you’ll stand up on the first day

It’s a common fantasy: riding a wave like a pro on day one. The truth? You’ll fall. You’ll swallow some seawater. You’ll paddle endlessly. And that’s okay. Surfing is not about quick results — it’s about learning to flow at the pace of the ocean.

2. Comparing yourself to others

You see someone already standing. Another surfer gliding like it’s effortless. Your instructor making it look easy. Suddenly, you feel clumsy. At Arima we say: “Your wave is yours. No one else can ride it for you.” No rush, no competition. Just the ocean and you.

3. Believing a surf trip is only about surfing

Surf is the heart of the trip, but the real magic happens outside the water: sharing tea with strangers who become friends, sunset yoga that reconnects you to your body, a creative workshop that awakens your artistic side. Surf is the thread, but what surrounds it is what makes the experience unforgettable.

4. Ignoring the ocean (and your body)

The ocean speaks with tides, currents, and moods. Learning to surf means learning to observe. The same goes for your body: if you’re tired or sore, listen. Surfing is not about forcing; it’s about reconnecting with yourself.

5. Measuring progress only by standing up

What does progress really mean? Waking up excited for another surf session even if you didn’t catch a wave yesterday. Smiling after five wipeouts. Sometimes progress is standing on the board, and sometimes it’s standing tall within yourself.

🌊 In summary…

Surfing isn’t just a sport. It’s a way to be present, to surrender, to move with what is. And yes, you’ll make mistakes. But if you live them with ease and curiosity, you’ll walk away with something far deeper than a wave ridden.

 Ready to learn to surf in Morocco?

At Arima Surf House in Tamraght, our Surf & Yoga Packs are designed for beginners: daily surf lessons with certified instructors, sunset yoga on the rooftop terrace, homemade meals, and a creative, family-like atmosphere.

https://www.arimasurfexperience.com/en/packs