Surf Wise Level 6 Intermediate Surfer

Able to select appropriate, makeable wave and ride it effectively, demonstrating control and performing and linking intermediate level manoeuvres (bottom turn, top turn, cutback on forehand and backhand).

The surfers style, flow, power and speed is not yet fully developed.

• Beach break

• Peeling (spilling) waves when waves are 3 ft (1 metre)

• Free from rocks (submerged or otherwise)

• Rips may present

• Wind speed less than 20 kilometres per hour (approx. 12.5 miles per hour)

• Absence of a dumping shore break

• Free from hazards such as marine creatures, pollution, etc.

Surf Safety

• Able to swim 200 metres

• Able to tread water for 5 minutes

Surfing Environment

• Predict surfing conditions based on weather, swell, tides, wind direction/speed

• Identify how to read waves by understanding different water conditions, wave types,  and their suitability for surfing, left and right waves, wave frequency

• Identify 5 different types of surf breaks (breach, point, reef, river mouth, bombora)

• Select a surfing location for the intermediate surfer

Surfing Skills

Ability to select appropriate, makeable wave and ride the wave effectively, demonstrating control and performing and linking intermediate level manoeuvres (bottom turn and top turn on forehand or backhand, cut-back on forehand). 

Including: 

• Choose a suitable place for entering and exiting the water at different surf breaks

• Identify the different types of rips and how to use them to advantage

• Negotiate broken and unbroken waves using the duck dive

• Identify correct paddling out protocol

• Select appropriate, makeable wave (not closing out, suitable to ride, left or right)

• Identify the correct take off position.

• Understand how body weight and speed affect surfing

• Identify how to turn your board

• Identify methods to get off the wave

• Wipe-out safely at the intermediate level

• Demonstrate safe surfing etiquette

Equipment

• Read tide charts

• Identify how parts of your board affect performance

• Identify the different types of fins and fin systems

• Identify surfboard damage

• Choose a surfboard for the intermediate surfer based on personal style and the surfing conditions

• Identify surfing safety and assistance clothing

Surfing Manoeuvres

Perform intermediate surfing manoeuvres on forehand and backhand: 

• Trim 

• Bottom turn, with spray 
  (burying the back third of the inside rail, front outer rail at least 30 degrees out of water, part of the bottom of the board is visible from the shore)  

• Top turn, with spray  
  (burying the back third of what was the outside rail, part of the deck of the board is visible from the shore)

• Cut-back, with spray on forehand
  (from out on the shoulder / clean open face, directional change of at least 90 degrees, an on edge turn of at least 30 degrees to the water’s surface, generating spray)

• Linking the above manoeuvres 

• Demonstrate control of the surfboard 
  (making the take-off, completing the manoeuvres, not getting thrown off by whitewash or chop, or digging a rail, maintaining stance)

• Effectively ride a wave 
  (from start to finish, left or right, on the shoulder or near the curl)