Bad waves are good for you. Or are they?

Would it be better to pick a surf spot with consistent waves for the weekend, or will a beach break with some whitewash do—so long as you just go out every day?

I posed this question recently—right after getting back from a really crappy surf sesh.

The waves in Venice and Santa Monica (where I usually surf in L.A.) aren’t what I’d call super beginner-friendly. Then again, maybe they are beginner-friendly enough—judging by the number of surf school vans in the parking lot. But they’re not ideal for progressing past the initial whitewater pop-up and that classic “woohoo, I’m surfing!” ride all the way to the beach.

I mean, isn’t there a reason why many of the greatest surfers come from places like Hawaii or Florida, where the waves are usually amazing?

Maybe.

But when I asked around, the consensus was clear: just go out.

Because the power of consistency beats that one-off, perfect three-day retreat where you felt like you could take on Mavericks.

Let’s unpack this

Going out is better than not going out—even if you don’t catch anything.
Surfing isn’t just about wave count, especially for beginners. Before you can consistently catch two or three waves from the lineup, there’s serious foundational work to be done.

So what if we started thinking about surfing as a holistic practice?

• Paddling
• Pop-ups
• Turtle rolls
• Wipeouts

They’re all valuable—even if you don’t catch a single wave.

“But Zuz, if I don’t catch a wave… is it even surfing?”

I hear you.

But I’d say: it’s the intention that counts.

Let’s say you paddled out one morning, and it went completely flat. If someone asked what you were up to, you’d still say: “I went surfing.”
You paddled. You showed up. That’s what matters.

As Kristen from Girls Who Can’t Surf Good says:
“Every single minute in the water is valuable.”

Even in shitty conditions? Hell yeah.

Especially in really shitty conditions.

It’s like going to the gym. You wanted a nice lifting session, but today it’s EMOMs with rope pulls and squats. Who comes up with these workouts?

Bottom line:
Less-than-ideal surf builds your surf muscles.

• You paddle stronger
• Turtle roll harder
• Become more ocean-aware
• Build resilience
• Develop adaptability

You’re no longer just a good-wave surfer—you’re a real surfer.

But wait—let’s be honest

It’s still tough to stay motivated.

Especially when your feed is flooded with reels of surfers at your level trimming along perfect tropical waves, looking like they’re having the time of their lives.

Meanwhile, you’re trying to squeeze into your wetsuit, pedal to the beach under grey skies, and the only waves you see are closing out or dumping whitewash.

That’s my life story.

Your local break might get worse

Hate to break it to you, but your surf break? It’s probably not improving.

I thought I was imagining things about Bay Street here in L.A.—that it used to be better. Turns out, I’m not alone. Debbie, who learned to surf there 50 years ago, agrees: it’s changed for the worse.

And it’s not just here.

Across the globe, sea level rise, coastal erosion, and unchecked development are reshaping our coastlines—and not in a good way.

Surfing now requires stoicism

To enjoy surfing today, especially at your local break, you need to develop a Zen-like mindset.
If you can’t make peace with the conditions, you’ll never be a happy surfer.

And if you can’t find happiness in surfing… well, what’s the point?

Start here: whitewater counts

Seriously, don’t be above surfing whitewash.

As Kyla put it:
“Surfing shite wash still counts as surfing.”

Make a plan, like Crystal Anne (yes, I love that it rhymes):

“Flat? I work on paddling technique and endurance.
Messy and onshore? I work on paddling power and safety.
I swear by those crappy days—they make you a great surfer.
And hardly anyone is out, so you get it to yourself.”

I’m sold.

Big thanks to everyone from Girls Who Can’t Surf Good who contributed to this post!