One of the biggest challenges every beginner surfer faces isn't standing up on the board—it's getting out to the waves in the first place.

In this episode of the Calibunga Surf Lessons Podcast, professional surf instructor Lucas Coleman explains how to paddle through breaking waves safely, efficiently, and with far less effort. Whether you're taking your very first surf lesson in Santa Monica, learning to surf in Malibu, or simply trying to improve your paddling technique anywhere in Southern California, these beginner surfing tips will help you conserve energy, avoid common mistakes, and build confidence in the water.

Lucas covers how experienced surfers read wave sets before paddling out, why timing is one of the most important surfing skills, when to walk your board into the water instead of paddling, how to position your surfboard when approaching an oncoming wave, and why staying relaxed and controlling your breathing can dramatically improve your surfing.

You'll also learn how to identify safer opportunities to paddle past the break, understand the impact zone, and recognize when ocean conditions are simply too large for beginner surfers.

If you've ever searched for how to paddle through waves while surfing, how to get past the break, beginner surfing tips, how to paddle out on a surfboard, or how to surf in Santa Monica, this episode answers those questions with practical advice from years of teaching thousands of first-time surfers.

Whether you're planning your first surf lesson in Los Angeles, taking a surf lesson in Santa Monica or Malibu, or simply looking to become a better surfer, this episode provides the foundational knowledge every beginner should have before paddling out.

Calibunga Surf Lessons provides private surf lessons, beginner surf lessons, family surf lessons, and surfing instruction in Santa Monica, Malibu, and throughout the greater Los Angeles area. New episodes of the Calibunga Surf Lessons Podcast explore surfing fundamentals, ocean safety, surf etiquette, wave reading, paddling techniques, surfboard selection, and everything beginners need to become confident surfers.

Rip currents are the number one ocean hazard for swimmers and beginner surfers along the Los Angeles coastline — and most people have no idea what to do when they get caught in one. In this entry-level episode of the Calibunga Surf Lessons Podcast, we break down exactly what a rip current is, how to spot one before you ever get in the water at Santa Monica Beach, and the simple steps to escape one safely if you do get caught. No panic, no complicated technique — just the clear, straightforward knowledge every beginner surfer and beachgoer in Los Angeles needs. If you're planning surf lessons in Santa Monica or just heading to the beach this summer, this episode could save your life.