White Belt to Black Belt

1. White Belt

   • Spot a rip current from the beach and know how to escape one Guide →
   • Learn the basic rules of the lineup Guide →
   • Do 10 clean pop-ups in a row on the sand Guide →
   • Paddle and catch whitewater on your own Guide →
   • Stand up and ride whitewater all the way to shore
   • Check a surf report and pick a beginner-friendly day Guide →

2. Blue Belt

   • Paddle out past the breaking waves (turtle roll or push-through)
   • Catch an unbroken, green wave
   • Angle left or right instead of going straight
   • Sit in the lineup, wait your turn and read the sets
   • Know how tide and wind change your local break Guide →
   • Surf 10 separate sessions

3. Purple Belt

   • Trim down the line along the open face
   • Make a controlled bottom turn
   • Duck dive or turtle roll through bigger sets with confidence
   • Kick out cleanly at the end of a ride
   • Surf a new break after scouting it from shore first
   • Feel comfortable in 4 ft surf

4. Brown Belt

   • Generate speed by pumping down the line
   • Link a cutback back toward the breaking part of the wave
   • Hit the top of the wave with a top turn or snap
   • Surf overhead waves within your limits
   • Surf on a trip somewhere new

5. Black Belt

   • Link three or more turns on one wave
   • Pull into a barrel (making it out counts double)
   • Read and surf a big day safely, or know when to sit it out
   • Help someone else catch their first wave
   • Give back: a beach cleanup, a lesson, or a board passed on

This is a fun way to track your own journey, not a certification or a lesson plan. Learn with a qualified instructor, surf within your limits, and always check conditions with local lifeguards. Your ticks are saved only in this browser.