Redefining success in surfing: why “fun first” eliminates performance anxiety (and helps you learn faster)
Beginner surfing gets intimidating the moment “success” becomes looking competent.
Standing up. Catching clean waves. Not wiping out. Not being “in the way”.
But surfing is a chaotic, moving classroom. If we measure success only by wave-riding ability, we accidentally turn every session into a performance review.
At Club Shakas, we redefine success as enjoyment + participation: showing up, paddling, trying, laughing, learning.
When the pressure drops, curiosity goes up. And that’s when real progress happens.
Try this reframe for your next session:
Instead of: “Did I stand up?”
Ask: “Did I participate fully?”
Because in surfing, participation is the win (and the fastest path to confidence).
If you want to experience “fun first, surf second” in a women-only space built for beginner-to-intermediate surfers, come join us:
Lombok retreat (22–28 March 2026): the confidence accelerator
Byron Bay retreat (10–13 April 2026): the stress-free surf escape
Surfing isn’t a tidy classroom. It’s a moving, unpredictable environment—so when we treat every session like a pass/fail test, beginners don’t just feel worse… they often learn slower.
Here’s the shift that changes everything:
Performance-based success sounds like:
“I stood up.”
“I didn’t fall.”
“I didn’t embarrass myself.”
That creates evaluation pressure (your brain reads it as threat).
Process-based success sounds like:
“I paddled out even though I was nervous.”
“I tried 10 times.”
“I learned one new thing.”
“I laughed through the wipeouts.”
“I’m coming back next session.”
That creates reps + resilience (how surfing actually works).
At Club Shakas, this is the heart of our approach: fun first, surf second—in a women-only environment designed for beginner to intermediate surfers.
A simple reframe to take into the ocean this week: Instead of: “Did I stand up?” Ask: “Did I participate fully?”
Because participation is the real win—and the quiet confidence tends to follow.
If you’re ready for a supportive reset, we’ve got two beginner-friendly women’s surf retreats coming up: Lombok (22–28 March 2026) and Byron Bay (10–13 April 2026).
