Teaching a human of any age to surf is inherently frustrating. Throw the immaturity and vulnerability of a small child into the mix, and you could end up planting the seeds for some serious teen angst down the line. As a father with kids destined for surf greatness, it’s safe to say that Tom Curren knows a few things when it comes to introducing his offspring to the ocean. We rang the Santa Barbara legend for some advice on the best ways to get your grom out past the shore break and into the lineup, and keep them stoked while you do it.
Teaching someone to surf is never really easy. People get frustrated on both sides of it, but you can’t let it become a negative thing. You’ve got to be really, really patient. It’s got to be natural. You can’t force it. Once your kid gets the hang of it, I think one of the best things you can do is to take them down and let them surf with their friends where they’re comfortable. I think that’s the kind of environment where they’ll start to thrive, get the most out of it, and really take to it.
