Learning to surf at Crescent Head

If you’ve ever wanted to learn to surf, Crescent Head is about as good as it gets. The wave that made the town famous is the same wave that makes it perfect for beginners.

Why the wave suits beginners

The Crescent Head point is a long, mellow right-hander — a National Surfing Reserve that peels slowly off the headland and runs a long way toward Killick Creek. That’s exactly what you want when you’re starting out:

• Slow, gentle waves that give you time to get to your feet — no fast, heaving drops.
• Long rides that let you actually practise once you’re up.
• A forgiving, sandy-bottomed point rather than shallow reef.

It’s a longboarder’s wave, which is the friendliest kind of wave to learn on.

Where to start

On smaller days, the inside of the point and the front beach are ideal for first-timers — whitewater to practise standing up, then graduate to catching the green waves as you find your feet. Local surf schools and board hire operate in town through the busier seasons; a lesson or two will shortcut the learning curve enormously.

Gear: a big, stable foam longboard (“foamie”) is your friend. Through the cooler months a 3/2 wetsuit; in summer a spring suit or boardies.

Best conditions for learning

You want small, clean, light-wind mornings. Dawn is usually the glassiest. Avoid the bigger swells (great for experienced surfers, intimidating for beginners) — check the forecast and, if in doubt, ask at a surf school or in the line-up. Everyone at Crescent is pretty friendly.

Make a surf-learning weekend of it

The best way to improve is back-to-back sessions: a dawn surf, breakfast at Barnett’s, a rest, then an evening go when the wind drops. Staying seven minutes’ walk from the point makes that easy — rinse the board on the outdoor shower, dry the wetsuit on the rail, and you’re back out in minutes.

When the surf’s flat, there’s plenty else to do; when it’s on, you’ll be glad you’re this close.

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