How to Progress from Intermediate to Advanced in the Mentawais
The Ments isn’t only for chargers and magazine covers. If you’re sitting solidly at intermediate—paddling in, trimming, laying down some cutbacks or working on your tube stance —the islands are a fast-track classroom. This is your surf progression Mentawais playbook: the waves to choose, the drills to run, and the mindset that keeps you frothing without frying out. Bring intention, keep it fun, and you’ll feel that next gear click in.
Technical Awareness & Analysis
Most plateaus come from surfing on autopilot. Start paying attention like a coach would.
Film and review: get a buddy or coach to capture a few waves each session. Watch yourself carve, bottom turn, stall, accelerate—then visualise how you want it to look next time.
Slim it down: fix one thing at a time: bottom-turn shape, speed generation, or upper-body rotation through the lip.
One goal per paddle-out: give the session a job—e.g., earlier bottom turn, deeper take-off, or holding rail longer.
Treat the ocean like a feedback loop: that’s real surf progression tips in action.
Wave Strategy: Pick Sections That Push Your Skill
Match the wave to the skill you’re building.
Forgiving training grounds: Burgerworld or Nipussi offer friendlier entries and playful faces—perfect for linking turns and dialing timing.
Step-up sessions: Once the flow’s there, graduate to faster, hollower spots. Kandui and Rifles will instantly expose what needs work (and reward you when you commit). These two spots will make or break you.
Use each zone as part of your Mentawai surf improvement guide: control and timing on the mellower walls, then speed, line selection, and commitment on the heavier canvases.
Photo credit: Clemintine Bourke shooting Micky Clarke laying some rail
Train Smart—On and Off the Water
Progress is part mechanics, part repetition, part imagination.
In the water
Create your own speed: compress down the face, decompress through the pocket—pump (but don’t over pump), don’t panic.
Paddle technique: deep, long strokes with high elbows = glide and fewer missed entries.
Rail-to-rail: connect transitions—no flat spots—so every section flows into the next.
On land
Surf-skate lines: that mimic your bottom turn and top-turn timing.
Pop-ups: quick pop-up “chunks” to build snap and balance.
Mental reps: run the wave in your head, turn by turn.
Practice these surf progression tips until they feel like instinct.
Push Your Limits
Fastest hack? Surf with people a level up.
Copy the good stuff: watch how they load the bottom turn, where they place the board, how they time sections.
Follow the lines: sit where they sit; learn take-off markers and reef cues.
Compete: lightly. Not aggressive—just committed. Put yourself in position for set waves and back your read.
This is where advanced surfing techniques for the Mentawai starts: better positioning, braver entries, and finishing turns with intent. Do it enough and your “new normal” is a step higher.
Mindset & Enjoyment Fuel Growth
Hot take: progress follows joy. If it’s all grind, you’ll tighten up and surf worse. Laugh off the blow-ups, celebrate small wins, and keep showing up.
If you’re wondering how to go from intermediate to advanced surfing, the secret sauce is consistency + curiosity. The Mentawais will humble anyone; meet that with patience and you’ll stick the leaps without burning out.
The Mentawai Improvement Sweet Spot (Why Driftwood Works)
Driftwood sits in the wave-rich Playgrounds zone—your ideal base for structured growth. Start on user-friendly peaks to hardwire timing, then boat into the heavier hitters when you’re ready. Think of it as your living Mentawai surf improvement guide with real reefs and real reps.
Want a simple track to advanced surfing techniques Mentawai style? Set a focus each day (e.g., earlier bottom turn), get a few clips, review at camp, repeat. It’s incredible how fast things click when your environment is doing half the coaching.
Progress here isn’t magic—it’s intention plus time in the water. Film, focus, pick the right waves, surf with rippers, and keep the stoke high. That’s surf progression Mentawais done right.
Are you an intermediate surfer looking to improve your surfing? This blog could help you do just that.
Book your stay at Driftwood Mentawai and take your surfing to the next level.