Why the F am I slipping off my board?!

I am paddling out, everything feels fine, and then… boom— I’m slipping off my board like someone greased it with coconut oil. Again. Or I finally catch a wave, I’m buzzing, and the board just… vanishes out from under me like it hates me.

You know this story? It’s maddening. “What am I doing wrong?” you may ask.

🤷‍♀️ It’s not just you

First of all: it’s not you—well, it’s not just you. This isn’t some rare freak thing. Loads of beginners report the same issue—and even some intermediates get the occasional slip-n-slide when conditions or gear aren’t on their side.

You’re thinking it was the foam board. Or maybe it’s what I’m wearing. Or how I’m lying on it. Spoiler: it was none of the above entirely. It’s a mix of factors.

🧽 Foam boards = slippery soap bars

Let’s start with the obvious one.

Foam boards (a.k.a. foamies)—especially the kind used in surf schools—can get super slick over time. All that use, sun damage, no wax, plus sunscreen, sea grime, and 1,000 beginner butts… yeah, it’s like trying to paddle on a bar of soap.

And some foam boards are randomly more slippery than others—even the same make and model, same size. Just older or weirder.

🕯 Wax that thing

We all assume that the foamies shouldn’t or don’t have to be waxed. They don’t come with a bar of wax, nor the instructions to wax them.

But yeah, wax that thing. Yes—even on foam boards. Rub it up with some wax and you should have no issues. Even just a quick layer will give you way more grip. And yet—some surf schools don’t wax their boards on purpose. Why? Because they’re teaching knees-first pop-ups and want you to slide around “smoothly.” 🙃

Not cool. Not helping.

🧍‍♂️ Where you lie matters

Slipping isn’t just a gear issue—it’s also about where you are on the board.

Paddle too far back? Your nose is up, board tips back, and yep—you slide off.

Too far forward? You nosedive.

Just right? Goldilocks zone, baby.

Use this test: Lie on your board and look at the nose. It should be about 1–2 inches out of the water. If it’s poking straight up like a periscope, scoot forward.

💪 Core engagement = Connection

Now about that core engagement. I can literally tell when I’m not lying on my board correctly because it feels, for lack of a better word, unglued.

You don’t need to go crazy here—just engage your abs slightly, keep some gentle pressure through your chest and hips into the board. Imagine that you’re hugging the board with your body.

🧴 Rash guards, sunscreen, and slippage

If you’re slipping when catching a wave, that’s definitely a no-wax or too-little-wax issue. There’s no grip.

And yes, you should be able to surf on a foamie with no wax on it, but if you wear a rash guard or you’re in a bikini and covered in sunscreen, slippage is more or less guaranteed.

🏄‍♀️ Final tip

Let me leave you with this gem: beginner instinct is to lean back when the board goes too fast. But that sends the board flying forward without you. So, lean slightly forward instead.

Counterintuitive? Totally. But it works.