1. Warm Welcome & Icebreaker
• Introduce yourself and get their names.
• Quick game or fun question to make them feel comfortable and excited.
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2. Safety Talk (Kid-Friendly)
• Explain “surfing rules” in simple terms:
• Never turn your back to the ocean.
• Hold the board on the side.
• What to do if you fall off (cover your head, look around).
• Show rip currents with drawings or hand signals.
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3. Beach Warm-Up
• Fun, playful warm-up: animal walks, beach tag, light stretches.
• Get them moving and laughing.
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4. Surfboard Basics
• Show the board parts: nose, tail, rails, fins, deck.
• Teach how to carry it safely (especially with wind).
• Show how the leash works and connect it to their ankle.
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5. Lying on the Board & Paddling (on sand)
• Demonstrate where to lie down (not too far forward or back).
• Practice paddling on land—turn it into a game or race.
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6. Pop-Up Technique (on sand)
• Use simple steps:
• “Hands under your chest”
• “Push up like a seal”
• “Feet jump to the middle”
• Keep it playful—imagine they’re ninjas or surfers on a mission.
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7. Practice Stance
• Teach the surf stance:
• Feet shoulder-width
• Knees bent
• Arms out like airplane wings
• Use a line in the sand to help them line up.
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8. Water Entry & Practice in Whitewater
• Walk out with them (you or another instructor holding the board).
• Start with them lying down, pushing them into small waves.
• Help with timing and stability.
• Celebrate small wins (just catching a wave = success!).
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9. Pop-Up in the Water
• Once they’re comfortable, encourage them to try standing.
• Assist with balance or guide the board if needed.
• Keep it fun—laugh through the wipeouts.
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10. Short Break & Encouragement
• Let them rest and hydrate.
• Talk about what they did well (“You caught that wave like a pro!”)
• Let them share how it felt.
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11. Wrap-Up & High-Fives
• Recap what they learned: “Today you learned how to surf!”
• Give a sticker, certificate, or “surf name” as a reward.
• Invite them back and talk about what comes next.
1. Build Rapport & Set Expectations
• Start with names, surfing goals, and an icebreaker (e.g. “What’s the coolest thing you’ve seen at the beach?”).
• Talk about what they’ll learn and how the session works.
• Keep the vibe casual but respectful—they respond well to being treated like adults.
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2. Surf Safety & Ocean Awareness
• Cover essential safety:
• Rip currents and how to escape
• Board control (don’t ditch it)
• Surf etiquette (don’t snake, right of way)
• Use visuals or real-time examples from the beach.
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3. Warm-Up
• Dynamic stretches: shoulder rolls, squats, lunges.
• Add surf-specific movement: pop-up drills, paddling motions.
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4. Surfboard Orientation
• Explain board types, fins, wax, and leash use.
• Let them handle the board, wax it, and leash up—build ownership.
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5. Paddling & Positioning (on the sand)
• Practice lying correctly (not too far forward/back).
• Teach efficient paddling—elbows high, deep strokes.
• Demo turtle rolls or duck dives if applicable.
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6. Pop-Up Technique
• Teach the 1-step or 2-step pop-up, depending on athleticism.
• Focus on:
• Hands under chest
• Explosive push-up
• Front foot under center
• Let them choose regular or goofy stance.
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7. In-Water Session: Whitewater First
• Start with whitewater waves to master:
• Paddling with timing
• Catching waves
• Standing up and riding straight
• Give live feedback after every wave.
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8. Progress to Green Waves (If Ready)
• Teach positioning outside the break and timing takeoffs.
• Encourage reading the wave, turning, and trimming.
• Introduce bottom turns and riding down the line for more confident surfers.
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9. Video Coaching (Optional but Powerful)
• Record clips and review with them on the beach or afterward.
• Point out technique improvements and celebrate their best waves.
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10. Cool Down & Recap
• Easy stretch and breathing to wind down.
• Go over what they learned, what they nailed, and what to work on next.
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11. Stoke & Next Steps
• Offer encouragement and praise improvement.
• Invite them back for the next session: “Now we can work on turns or catching bigger waves!”
• Bonus: give a shoutout on social media if they’re comfortable with it—teens love that.