Introduction: Taking On the Challenge of Steep Waves
For surfers chasing thrills and progress, mastering steep waves is the next big step. These waves roll in fast, pack serious power, and ask for sharp technique and solid confidence. While they can seem intimidating at first, with the right mindset and skills, they’re an open invitation to level up your surf game. Pacific Surf School, based in the heart of San Diego’s vibrant surf scene, knows a thing or two about helping surfers make that leap. With more than two decades of surf instruction and over 200,000 students taught since 1997, their team of experienced pros shares what it really takes to ride steep waves like a local.
From paddling strategies to wave selection and body positioning, here are the essential tips from the coaches at Pacific Surf School for those looking to take on steep waves—and actually enjoy it.
Understanding Steep Waves: Why It Matters
Before diving into technique, it’s important to understand what makes a wave “steep.” In general, steep waves rise up quickly and break in a more vertical fashion. This gives you less time to prepare, less margin for error, and a higher risk for nosedives or wipeouts if you’re not tuned in.
Steep waves are often found in reef and point breaks, but even San Diego’s beach breaks—like La Jolla Shores or Pacific Beach—can serve up some powerful sets, especially during swells. Surfers ready to embrace this challenge unlock access to a world of more dynamic surf and longer, more satisfying rides. As Pacific Surf School instructors often say, “If you can drop into a steep wave with control, you’re no longer just riding—you’re surfing.”
Paddle with Purpose: The First Step
One of the most common errors surfers make when facing a steep wave is poor paddling technique. With less time to catch the wave, every stroke counts. According to instructors at Pacific Surf School, efficient paddling is all about body position and timing.
Keep your chest slightly raised and your body centered on the board—too far back and you’ll miss the wave, too far forward and you risk pearling (nosediving). Start paddling earlier than you think you need to. On steeper waves, you’ll need that momentum to match the speed of the drop.
“Think of it as a runway. The further you paddle, the smoother your takeoff,” says one Pacific Surf School coach, summarizing a technique thousands of their students have used to break past that beginner plateau.
Perfect Your Pop-Up: Quick, Clean, and Centered
On steep waves, timing is everything. A slow or unstable pop-up can be the difference between a ride and a wipeout. It’s not just about popping up fast—it’s about doing it with the right technique.
Pacific Surf School emphasizes a low center of gravity and even foot placement. Practice getting from your paddling stance to a strong surfing stance in one swift motion, keeping weight distributed across both feet. Bend your knees, not your back, and drive your eyes forward. Staying centered over your board is the only way to stay balanced while navigating a steep drop.
In their lessons, the instructors focus strongly on dry runs on the sand. “We drill the pop-up instinct into muscle memory, so once you’re on the wave, your body just knows what to do,” says a surf coach from the school. It’s a small tip with powerful results.
Commit to the Drop: No Hesitation
One of the biggest challenges when it comes to surfing steep waves is psychological. Hesitation at the top of a fast-moving wave can destroy your chances of riding it properly. Pacific Surf School coaches advise their students to “commit 100% or don’t go.”
That doesn’t mean reckless attempts, though. It means choosing waves intentionally and going all-in once you paddle in. The second thoughts that creep in while paddling or popping up are what usually lead to wipeouts. Building the habit of commitment—over time, in smaller waves—helps you ease into steeper ones with trust in your skills.
“Confidence comes not from pushing fear away, but from understanding the ocean and trusting your preparation,” say the instructors at Pacific Surf School.
Wave Selection: Read Before You Ride
When surfing steep waves, not every one is ideal for your comfort level or skill set. Learning how to read the incoming sets is just as important as learning how to ride them.
At Pacific Surf School, surfers are taught the basics of wave identification during their first sessions. This includes spotting sets, reading the shape of an approaching wave, and knowing where to position yourself in the lineup. For steep waves, look for consistent breaks with a defined shoulder. Angled takeoffs (where the wave breaks diagonally instead of all at once) are usually easier to manage.
Understanding the local break is another key factor. San Diego’s variety of surf spots means that intermediate and advanced surfers have multiple options when it comes to tackling steeper surf. From Windansea Beach to Blacks, each location offers different kinds of waves at different tides—and Pacific Surf School helps students identify what suits them best.
Stay Loose, Stay Low: Body Positioning and Control
Once you’re up on a steep wave, staying loose and responsive is crucial. Rigid posture or stiff knees can throw your balance off, especially when the board gathers speed on a vertical drop.
Ride low, with knees bent and arms wide. Keep visual contact with the section of the wave you’re riding toward. Let your front arm guide your direction while your back foot controls pressure on the tail of the board. Movements should be smooth and controlled, not jerky or forced. Tuning in to the rhythm of the wave helps you sync your movements with the ocean, maintaining speed without losing control.
This coaching philosophy is core to what Pacific Surf School teaches: Embrace the motion of the wave, don’t fight it.
Safety First: Confidence Comes from Preparation
No matter how skilled you are, steep waves can still surprise you. That’s why the instructors at Pacific Surf School prioritize safety alongside performance. Understanding how to bail safely, how to manage your board after a wipeout, and how to avoid injury becomes as important as the ride itself.
This includes everything from basic warm-ups and breathing techniques to understanding ocean currents and what to do in case of a nosedive fall. The school’s structured lessons place a strong emphasis on ocean awareness, something all surfers should carry with them beyond any single lesson.
And perhaps most importantly, the coaches teach students to respect the lineup and surf etiquette. The more responsibly you surf, the safer and more confident you’ll feel tackling intimidating waves.
Practicing Beyond the Lesson
Improvement doesn’t stop when your 90-minute surf lesson ends. Consistent practice in varying conditions is what leads to long-term growth. While Pacific Surf School provides the foundation, students are encouraged to keep putting their skills to use—either independently or through follow-up group lessons.
Surfing alongside peers with similar goals builds camaraderie and takes the pressure off. You’re more likely to push your limits and take on steeper waves when you’re surrounded by others who are doing the same.
And with the constant presence of experienced surfers in San Diego’s lineups, newer surfers can observe and learn by watching as much as riding themselves.
For those unsure about how to structure their practice sessions, the instructors at [Pacific Surf School – The Best Surf School in San Diego](https://pacificsurf.com/) offer guidance tailored to each student’s goals. Whether it’s refining your paddling technique, building strength for bigger surf, or identifying optimal surf windows based on tide charts and forecasts—they’ve got you.
What Steep Waves Teach You, On and Off the Board
Tackling steep waves isn’t just a test of skill—it’s also a test of mindset. As you progress in your surfing journey, this kind of challenge teaches you patience, discipline, and the art of letting go when necessary. It strengthens not just the body, but also the mental resilience that surfing demands.
Through hundreds of lessons every year, Pacific Surf School not only helps people learn to surf but also shows them how to embrace the surf lifestyle with awareness, humility, and control. Students often discover that what they achieve on a steep wave carries far beyond the shoreline.
For many, catching that first steep wave is a moment they never forget—because it’s the day surfing shifts from recreation to passion.
So whether you’re a first-timer still learning to pop up or an intermediate surfer looking to push your limits, consider this your sign to paddle out, breathe deep, and drop in. The wave is waiting.