Surf Wise Level 4 Intermediate Surfer

Overview

Level 4 marks your transition from beginner to early‑intermediate surfer. At this stage, Surf Wise identifies the skills that show you’re ready to move beyond small, simple waves and start surfing with more intention, awareness, and control.

Aim

Perform bottom and top turns on your forehand and link manoeuvres in 3ft surf.

Locations and Conditions

• Beach break

• Peeling (spilling) waves, 3 ft (1 metre)

• Free from rocks/reef

• No dumping shore break

• Rips may present

Equipment

• Beginner softboard with soft fins

• Leash

Knowledge & Skills

Surf Safety

• Able to swim 200 metres

• Able to tread water for 5 minutes

Surfing Environment

• Predict surfing conditions based on weather, swell, tides, wind direction/speed

• Identify how to read waves by understanding different water conditions, wave types, and their suitability for surfing, left and right waves, wave frequency

• Identify 5 different types of surf breaks (breach, point, reef, river mouth, bombora)

• Select a surfing location for the intermediate surfer

Surfing Skills

• Choose a suitable place for entering and exiting the water at beach breaks

• Identify the different types of rips and how to use them to advantage

• Negotiate broken and unbroken waves using the duck dive

• Identify correct paddling out protocol

• Choose the correct waves to ride

• Identify the correct take off position.

• Correctly ride the wave by understanding how body weight and speed affect surfing

• Identify how to turn your board

• Identify methods to get off the wave

• Wipe-out safely at the intermediate level

Perform Surfing Manoeuvres

• Trim on forehand and backhand

• Bottom turn (forehand)

• Top turn (forehand)

• Link manoeuvres