Every surfer falls.
Beginners fall while learning to stand. Experienced surfers fall while attempting difficult turns. Professional surfers fall in waves they have trained years to ride.
A wipeout is not proof that you failed.
It is a normal part of surfing.
The important skill is learning how to fall without panicking, protect your head, avoid the ocean floor, and regain control of your board.
This guide explains what beginners should do before, during, and after a wipeout.
Accept that falling is part of the lesson
Fear of falling often makes beginners stiff.
They straighten their legs, lean backward, hold their breath, and make sudden movements. That tension can make falling more likely.
Before entering the water, accept that you will fall.
In small, appropriate beginner waves, wipeouts are usually brief. The wave passes, you return to the surface, recover the board, and try again.
Knowing what to expect makes the experience less frightening.
Learn about the depth before surfing
Never assume that the water is deep because the wave looks large.
Beach breaks contain shifting sandbars. A wave may break over water that is shallower than expected.
Before surfing, ask your instructor about the depth, bottom, and hazards in the lesson area.
Do not dive from the board until you know what is below you—and beginners generally should avoid diving from the board entirely.
Do not dive headfirst
The most important wipeout rule is to protect your head and neck.
Do not dive headfirst into unknown water.
The ocean floor may be shallow, uneven, or closer than it appears. A headfirst impact can cause serious injury.
When possible, fall away from the board with your body relatively flat rather than entering vertically.
In deeper water, you still need to protect your head and remain aware of the board.
Avoid jumping feet-first in shallow water
Feet-first may sound safer than headfirst, but a straight-legged landing in shallow water can injure ankles, knees, or the spine.
Try not to reach for the bottom.
In shallow beginner conditions, falling with a wider, flatter body position can spread the impact rather than concentrating it through the feet or head.
Follow the technique demonstrated by your instructor for the specific depth and conditions.
Fall away from the surfboard
When you feel yourself losing balance, avoid grabbing the board tightly or falling directly onto it.
Try to create separation between your body and the board without jumping toward another person.
The direction you can safely fall depends on the wave, depth, and people around you.
The board may continue moving with the wave after you enter the water, so be prepared for tension through the leash.
Do not kick the board away
Kicking or launching the board can send it toward another surfer.
A board moving with a wave can travel with significant force, and the leash does not guarantee that it will stop before reaching someone.
Maintain control for as long as it is safe, then fall away without deliberately projecting the board.
This is one reason beginners need enough space around them.
Cover your head
After entering the water, bring your arms around your head.
Protect the sides and back of the head with your forearms while you wait for the turbulence to decrease and return to the surface.
The board may be pulled back toward you by the leash. Another surfer’s board may also be nearby.
Continue protecting your head as you surface until you can see what is around you.
Stay relaxed underwater
A wipeout can feel longer than it is.
Moving water may tumble you, change your orientation, and fill your ears and nose with water. Beginners sometimes panic because they cannot immediately tell which direction is up.
Try to remain calm.
Avoid wasting energy with frantic movements. In small beginner waves, the turbulence usually decreases quickly.
Hold your breath, protect your head, and allow yourself a moment to feel the direction of flotation and leash tension.
Do not fight the turbulence immediately
Trying to stand or swim strongly while the wave is still moving you can waste energy.
Wait for the strongest turbulence to pass.
Once the water settles, move toward the surface while continuing to protect your head.
In shallow water, be careful about pushing forcefully against the bottom with your hands or head.
Surface with awareness
As you rise, keep one arm above or around your head.
This creates some protection if the board is directly overhead.
Open your eyes when practical and look for the board, other surfers, and the next wave.
Do not assume the wipeout is finished simply because your head is above water. Another wave may be approaching.
Find your board without pulling the leash cord
After surfacing, locate the board visually.
Do not wrap the thin leash cord around your hand or fingers. A wave can pull suddenly and cause a serious injury.
When possible, move toward the board and take hold of the rail or a safe part of the equipment.
The leash is designed to keep the board connected, not to serve as a rope for pulling the board through powerful surf.
Check for other people
Before climbing back onto the board, look around.
Make sure you are not in the path of another surfer and that your board has not struck anyone.
If a collision occurred, check whether the other person needs help and alert a lifeguard or instructor.
Do not immediately focus only on catching the next wave.
Safety comes before continuing the session.
Recover before paddling again
Take a breath.
Reposition the leash if necessary. Check that the board and fins are intact. Notice whether you are still in the intended lesson area.
If you swallowed water, feel dizzy, have pain, or are unusually frightened, signal your instructor and return to shore.
There is no value in rushing into another wave before you are ready.
What if the leash wraps around you?
Remain calm and avoid pulling violently.
The leash may briefly touch or loop around an ankle, arm, or the board. As the wave loses energy, create space and gently clear it.
Never wrap the leash around your hand.
If you cannot free yourself quickly, signal for assistance and prioritize keeping your airway above water.
Proper spacing reduces the chance that one surfer’s leash will become involved with another person.
What if the board hits you?
Leave the water and assess the injury.
Head pain, neck pain, confusion, dizziness, vision changes, unusual sleepiness, loss of consciousness, significant bleeding, or difficulty moving require immediate attention from lifeguards or medical professionals.
Do not continue surfing simply because you want to finish the lesson.
Even a soft-top surfboard can cause injury when moved by a wave.
When should you stop surfing after a fall?
End the session and seek help if you experience:
- A significant impact to the head or neck.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Dizziness or confusion.
- Severe pain.
- Difficulty breathing.
- A deep cut.
- Possible broken bones.
- Persistent weakness or numbness.
- An inability to control the board safely.
You should also leave if fear or fatigue is affecting your decisions.
Falling in whitewater versus green waves
Beginner whitewater wipeouts usually happen closer to shore and at lower speeds.
Green-wave wipeouts may involve steeper drops, more board speed, deeper water, and stronger turbulence.
Skills developed in whitewater—remaining calm, protecting the head, managing the leash, and checking the surroundings—prepare surfers for later progression.
Do not move to more powerful waves until you can manage falls in beginner conditions.
Falling near other surfers
Crowded water changes the safest fall.
You may have less open space and a greater risk of hitting a board or person.
This is why beginners should avoid crowded lineups. No wipeout technique can eliminate the risk created by too many boards in a small area.
Before taking off, check your path and leave enough room for the full ride and possible fall.
How to become less afraid of wipeouts
Fear decreases through controlled exposure.
Start in small waves with an instructor nearby. Learn how the wave moves your body. Practice resurfacing, recovering the board, and resetting calmly.
Do not force yourself into larger waves to “get over” fear.
Confidence grows when your experience repeatedly shows that you can respond safely.
Learn safe wipeouts with Brooklyn Surf Club
Brooklyn Surf Club teaches falling and board recovery before asking beginners to stand on waves.
Students learn about water depth, protecting the head, avoiding headfirst entry, managing the leash, and creating space around other surfers.
Brooklyn Surf Club received the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Award for “Best Surf School.” With only Maui Surf School in Hawaii ranked ahead, Brooklyn Surf Club is the top-ranked surf school on the East Coast, in New York State, and in New York City.
Learn to fall before trying not to fall
Once you stop treating every wipeout as a failure, surfing becomes more enjoyable.
You become willing to stay low, commit to the wave, and try new movements because you know how to recover.
Book a Brooklyn Surf Club lesson at Beach 67 to learn wave riding and wipeout safety together. Equipment is included, and each paid lesson helps support free surf classes for kids across New York City.
FAQ
What is the safest way to fall from a surfboard?
Avoid diving headfirst or landing vertically in shallow water. When possible, fall away from the board with your body relatively flat, protect your head with your arms, and remain calm until the wave’s turbulence decreases.
Should I jump feet-first from a surfboard?
Not in shallow or unknown water. A vertical feet-first landing can injure your ankles, knees, or spine. Ask your instructor about the depth and use a flatter falling position when appropriate.
Why should I cover my head after a wipeout?
Your surfboard may be pulled back toward you by the leash, and other boards may be nearby. Protecting the head with your arms while underwater and as you surface reduces exposure to impact.
Can I pull my surfboard back using the leash?
Do not wrap the leash cord around your hand or fingers. Sudden wave tension can cause injury. Locate the board, move toward it when conditions allow, and hold the rail or another safe part of the board.
What should I do if my surfboard hits my head?
Leave the water and tell an instructor or lifeguard immediately. Headache, dizziness, confusion, vision changes, loss of consciousness, neck pain, or unusual sleepiness require prompt medical evaluation. Do not return to surfing after a significant head impact.