Last Updated on April 17, 2025 by SA Surf Tours
Topic: Surfing Styles
When it comes to having style in surfing, a few key factors contribute to looking good out there. And no, it’s not about having long blonde hair, a six-pack, or a chiseled jawline. Sure, those physical traits might add a couple of points to your appeal, but true style in the water is more about your stance, your flow on the wave, your ability to generate speed, and keeping solid balance.
When I think of the most influential style surfers of our generation, names like Mikey February, Craig Anderson, and Asher Pacey come to mind. Of course, there are loads of guys on the CT who are as stylish and powerful as it gets – but they’re professional competitors, performing at the top of their game all the time. The guys I mentioned stand out because they’ve built entire careers just from free surfing, making a living purely by looking damn good while riding waves of all shapes and sizes. Their effortless speed, flow, and control make them captivating to watch.
Surfing Styles: What gives you style in surfing?
Is it about the angle of your knees? The way you crouch when tucking into a barrel? The distance between your feet on the board? Or is it all of those things combined? Maybe none of them really matter?
I think having style in surfing mostly comes down to one thing: confidence. Just like in other areas of life, when you’re confident in yourself – your skills, your strength, your stamina, your ocean knowledge – you naturally project a positive self-image. You begin to visualise how you want to look while riding a wave, and that helps you develop a more attractive, stylish approach.
Let’s break down some of the key elements that can help improve your style and move you a little closer to riding like Mr. February himself:
1. Confidence
Confidence in the ocean doesn’t come overnight. The surfers I mentioned have spent most of their lives in the water. They’ve taken beatings, learned hard lessons, and gained deep knowledge through experience. The more time you spend in the ocean, the more you’ll get to know it – how to read a lineup, where to position yourself, how to catch waves smoothly. All of that builds confidence, and with confidence comes better style.
2. Skill Set
Whether you’re surfing for fun or aiming to go pro, you’ve got to build your skills from the ground up. Maybe you were lucky enough to grow up in a surfing family, or maybe you picked it up later in life – but everyone starts somewhere. Start with big boards, small waves, and practice popping up cleanly. The more waves you catch, the more progress you’ll make. Filming yourself helps too – it’s easier to improve when you can see what you actually look like out there.
3. Strength & Power
This one’s key. You don’t need to be in the gym every day lifting crazy weights (and to be honest, I’ve never seen a bodybuilder look stylish on a surfboard). But you do need functional strength: the ability to pop up cleanly, stay balanced, and move fluidly. Push-ups, burpees, and core work like planks can go a long way in helping your surfing look and feel more powerful.
4. Stamina & Surfing Styles
Surfing demands a lot of upper body endurance. Just paddling to the backline can leave your shoulders and chest on fire, especially when you’re starting out. You might be gassed before you’ve even caught a wave. But the more time you spend in the water, the easier it gets. Still a challenge, sure – but it becomes manageable. Just don’t give up. The best way to build stamina? Keep paddling.
5. Ocean Knowledge
Growing up near the ocean gave me a head start, but even then, it took years to truly understand it. My dad was a spearfisherman and couldn’t wait to hand me a speargun. But as a kid, I was terrified – especially after a harmless gully shark swam under me in a rock pool when I was eight. That thing was my size, and it scared the hell out of me. For years, I stayed away from the water.
Eventually, I got back in through my school’s surfing and bodyboarding team. It wasn’t easy at first – duck diving, reaching the backline, and landing spins or rolls took time. But I stuck with it. I took beatings, braved some gnarly conditions, and learned to read the ocean. Rip currents, wave shapes, timing, duck diving – you name it. That knowledge made transitioning to stand-up surfing so much easier.
Experience builds confidence, and confidence builds style.
Style vs. Substance: The Science Behind Why Style Matters in Surfing
Beyond looking cool, having style in surfing actually impacts how effectively you ride a wave. A 2018 study published in the Journal of Sports Sciences explored the biomechanics of elite surfers and found that “movement fluency and aesthetic expression” directly correlated with better wave performance scores in judged events. In simpler terms, surfers who moved with style didn’t just look better – they surfed better too.
According to the study, those with smoother transitions, confident body language, and consistent postural control were rated significantly higher by judges – even when compared to surfers executing similar manoeuvres. This highlights that style is more than just flair; it’s tied to your efficiency, fluidity, and mastery of movement on a wave.
Kinematic fluency was positively associated with higher aesthetic and technical scores in competitive surfing.” – Journal of Sports Sciences, Routledge
Read the study here
Whether you’re aiming to impress on a free surf or score higher in a heat, investing in your style pays off not just in looks, but in performance too.
Final Thoughts
Watch as many different surfers as you can – riding all kinds of boards in all kinds of waves. Some styles will stand out to you. You’ll be drawn to them, kind of like you’re drawn to someone you’re attracted to. Copy what you like. Monkey see, monkey do. And over time, you’ll naturally shape your own style – unique to you, like your fingerprint.
Be patient. Be stoked. Be grateful you even get to ride waves. Keep working on your craft and refining your flow. One day, someone from the beach might shout, “Ah, that was sick bru!” or “Man, that was stylish!”—and trust me, that kind of comment can boost your confidence big time.
Keep those knees bent, keep shredding, and look sexy as hell on your piece of foam wrapped in fiberglass.
Topic: Surfing styles
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