Double Your Wave Count in 2025
Want to double your wave count this year? The obvious answer would be to surf twice as often—but let’s be honest, that’s not always possible. It's probably more realistic to 20% more often and catching 50% more waves per session.
Let's say you surf once a week right now, 20% more sessions would only be 10 extra sessions over the course of a whole year. Then comes the subject of catching 50% more waves each time you paddle out...
By fixing a few things about your surf approach, you can easily go from 6 waves per session to 9, or 10 waves to 15.
These 4 things will help you measurably improve your wave-count each time you paddle out:
1. Ride the Right Board for the Day
We talk about this one a lot, but one of the most primary things you can do to improve the quality of your surf session is to match your board to the conditions of the day.
2. Improve Your Wave Selection
The ability to read waves and predict where they are going to break is what separates mortal surfers from Kelly Slater. He seems to have an uncanny ability to read and predict what the ocean is going to do. Think like Kelly—be a student of your local surf break and you will dramatically improve the quality and frequency of your waves.
3. Paddle With Power & Purpose
Efficiency matters more than speed.Use long, deep strokes instead of short, frantic ones. Keep your chest up and eyes forward. And when a waves comes your way, paddle with purpose—hesitation means missed waves.
4. Surf Smarter Sessions
Maximize your wave count by picking the right conditions: Go at off-peak times—early morning, late evening, mid-week. If you want more waves, don't go to the most popular spot on Saturday morning at 8:30 am... find the lesser known spots where you can take your pick of the waves that come through instead of being 30th in the pecking order.
Why? Because More Waves = More Progress
Honestly, the best way to improve your surfing is simply catching more waves. Even if you can’t surf twice as often, small tweaks in board choice, positioning, wave reading, and paddling will massively increase your wave count.
So get out there, be intentional, and double your wave count in 2025.
Cover photo credit: Brett Rand
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