“What’s my surfing level?” At Kalani Surf Academy, this is one of the first questions our future students ask us. And it’s a fundamental one. Knowing where you are on your path as a surfer is key when deciding where to travel, which waves to surf, and, of course, which surf camp in Fuerteventura to choose for your next vacation.

Some destinations and beaches offer conditions for everyone, but others can be too demanding for a beginner or not challenging enough for an advanced surfer. At our academy, we separate skill levels for a very simple reason: we want you to enjoy the experience to the fullest and boost your progress.

Our surf lessons are organized into small groups with surfers of similar abilities. Therefore, it’s very important to be honest with yourself when communicating your experience. This allows our instructors to plan your training, give you personalized advice, and accelerate your learning curve.

To help you assess your surfing level, we’ve prepared this practical and straightforward guide. Find out which group you fit into and what skills you’ll work on with us to reach the next level.

Level 1: Beginner Surfer (Initiation)

First of all, “beginner” is a much broader term than people think. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never touched a board or if you’ve already had several sessions. In this phase, the common factor is the need for assistance and a lack of autonomy in the water.

It’s crucial not to overestimate your abilities. Often, surfers who have taken a few lessons tend to consider themselves “intermediate,” but if you haven’t mastered the fundamentals yet, you’re still an initiation-level surfer.

You’re at the Beginner level if…

• You’ve never surfed before. We’ll start from scratch, and you’ll love it!
• You’ve taken a few lessons, but you’re still surfing in the whitewater. You still need help controlling the board and standing up consistently.
• You tried surfing on your own a while ago. You probably need a good review of the basic safety and technique concepts.
• You find it difficult to select, paddle for, and catch waves on your own, even in the whitewater.

In the Kalani beginner courses, we focus on building a solid and safe foundation: you’ll learn to paddle correctly, position yourself on the board, and perform your take-off, always respecting the rules of surfing from day one.

Level 2: Intermediate Surfer (Progression)

The main difference between a beginner and an intermediate surfer is autonomy in the water. At this stage, you no longer depend 100% on the instructor.

Intermediate surfers are comfortable paddling past the break to get to the “line-up” (the area where surfers wait to catch waves). You already have a basic understanding of how to turn on the wave face, which is the essence of surfing.

You’re at the Intermediate level if…

• You paddle with confidence and get past the break by yourself.
• You are able to catch green waves (waves that haven’t broken yet) up to shoulder or head high without assistance.
• You can angle your board and surf the wave face to the right (frontside) and to the left (backside).
• You understand a basic surf forecast and can make decisions about when and where to get in the water.

At this stage, we focus on refining your technique. With our intermediate surf course, you’ll work on selecting the best waves, improving your timing, trimming (gliding along the wave), and, above all, performing fluid turns like the bottom turn and top turns. We often use video analysis so you can see your mistakes and progress at an incredible speed.

Level 3: Advanced Surfer (Refinement)

At this point, surfing is already a part of you. You’ve been surfing regularly for several years and have developed your own style.

As an advanced surfer, you are completely independent in the water. You don’t just surf; you understand the ocean and can adapt to varied and more demanding conditions.

You’re at the Advanced level if…

• You select the best waves of the set and position yourself correctly at the peak.
• You perform powerful, linked turns (bottom turns, top turns, cutbacks) at good speed.
• You can execute more complex maneuvers and have full control over your board.
• You feel comfortable in sizable waves and in different types of breaks (beach breaks, point breaks…).

In our refinement classes, the focus is on coaching. We help you polish your style, add new maneuvers to your repertoire, and surf with our local knowledge of the best surf spots in Fuerteventura.

A Final Piece of Advice from Kalani

Learning to surf is a journey, not a race. It’s essential not to rush and to enjoy each stage. Taking small steps ensures you master the fundamentals and don’t develop bad habits. This will help you advance to the next level faster and, most importantly, in a more enjoyable way.

No matter where you are on your journey, there’s always room for improvement. If you’ve identified with any of these levels and want to take your surfing further, take a look at our surf lesson prices or contact us directly. We’ll be happy to find the perfect course for you.

See you in the water!