There’s always an element of risk involved in any aquatic activity, but you can substantially reduce your chances of becoming injured by understanding basic safety practices. Nowhere is this more important than at surf schools, where first-time surfers can protect themselves by practicing sound judgment and listening to their teachers’ advice. Here’s what you should know before hitting the waves.

Safety Tips to Know Before Heading to Surf School

1. Get Fit

Surfing, even at a beginner’s level, requires high levels of basic fitness, with the emphasis on upper body strength. Surfers rarely need to be able to lift heavy objects or run long distances. Instead, they must have well-developed shoulders, backs, and upper arms to enable them to paddle their boards against strong currents. Strong leg muscles are also important, since leg strength will enable you to maintain balance while standing on your board.

The best way to prepare for surf school is by swimming and focusing on strength-building exercises such as chin-ups, pushups, squats, planking, and basic weight-lifting. These will also strengthen your swimming ability, enabling you to swim out of harm’s way in rough waters.

2. Wipe Out Safely

At some point, surfers of all skill levels will wipe out, or be flung from their board by a forceful wave. This is when the majority of surfing injuries occur, so learning how to protect yourself when this happens is crucial to your safety in the water.

As soon as you feel yourself falling, try to direct yourself in such a way as to fall away from your surfboard. In shallow water, try to land on your back with your arms extended to avoid striking the bottom. In other situations, cover your head with your arms to protect it from impact with the water, your surfboard, and other surfers.

3. Pay Attention to Local Conditions

Perhaps the most important element of surfing safety is understanding local weather and water conditions. Every time you head to the beach, first check the local forecast. Weather conditions can change very quickly on the water, so it’s wise to stay as well-informed as possible to avoid any mishaps.

If you’re interested in learning how to surf during your next trip to Maui, get in touch with the surf school at Sea Maui Surf in Lahaina, HI. They offer group and individual lessons for surfers of all skill levels. To schedule a lesson, call them at (808) 732-6284, and visit them online to learn more.