Wave pool surf lessons a ton of fun

“Three, two, one — go!” Ben shouts as he gives me a firm shove, sending both me and my bright green softboard onto an oncoming wave.

My heart races as I shoot through the cold water. I’m told the temperature is about the same as the ocean, though I wouldn’t know. The nearest beach is a good 30-minute drive from here.

I’m learning to surf at URBNSURF Melbourne, Australia’s first artificial surf park, located just a stone’s throw from Melbourne Airport.

To get from lying flat to standing, I need to follow a series of movements that Ben — my surf coach — demonstrated on land earlier.

With that in mind, I press my hands beneath my shoulders, lift my chest slightly and slide my right knee forward into an awkward, frog-like pose.

Turns out, learning to surf is a lot like trying to rewire muscle memory that doesn’t exist yet — every action feels clumsy and unfamiliar.

And, as is the case when learning a new skill, things don’t quite go as planned when I attempt to “pop-up” into a low squat.

All of a sudden my board slips out from under me and I plunge face-first into the water. When I resurface, I notice my leg rope has come undone and my surfboard is drifting helplessly at the far end of the wave pool.

Undeterred by my first attempt, I grab my board and paddle back out to rejoin the other beginners in today’s class.

There are four of us in today’s session, which starts with 30-minute introductory lesson on land, followed by an hour-long session in the water.

The pool itself is divided into two main sections, with seasoned surfers riding big barrelling waves out the back, while us rookies try our best to stay upright on friendlier two-footers in the “bay area” near the front.

At the heart of it all, a wave generator hums along like a well-oiled machine, spitting out a set of 10 pristine waves every three minutes, which is great because it gives us endless opportunities to practice and improve during our time in the water.

And although my first and second attempts at catching waves were complete flops, I manage to refine my approach by my third go and actually stand up.

You’re given the time and space to make every mistake in the book, without feeling like the ocean is conspiring against you

I have to admit, it’s exhilarating and addictive feeling the board move through the water, even if it is only for a split-second.

But that’s the beautiful thing about learning to surf here, you’re given the time and space to make every mistake in the book, without feeling like the ocean is conspiring against you.

What’s more, if you do fall off your board, you can simply paddle back out, get some helpful hints from your qualified surf coach and try again.

Towards the end of our session, I find myself glancing over at the more experienced surfers on the bigger waves out the back, who are doing all kinds of impressive tricks in the water. While I know I’m not quite there yet, I am proud of myself for learning a new skill today and managing to stand up a total of three times — even if I did look like a wobbling baby giraffe while doing so.

For first-timers like me, there’s no better place to learn how to surf than somewhere like this.

You get consistent waves without the fear of rips dragging you under, or rogue waves blindsiding you when you’re least prepared. And best of all, there are no sharks lurking in the water beneath you.

Instead, every wave is engineered for predictability, which means you spend less time floundering and more time actually mastering the basics.

fact file

+ Learn to Surf classes last 1 hour and 30 minutes. Classes can accommodate up to eight people per coach, with a maximum of 16 participants if two coaches are present. The lessons are designed for beginners, providing a controlled environment for first-time surfers.

+ Board and wetsuit hire is available through the Surf Academy at URBNSURF and is included in lessons. There are also spacious changing rooms, equipped with hot showers for a post-surf refresh.

+ After working up an appetite, guests can head on over to Three Blue Ducks, which is located within the URBNSURF Melbourne complex. It serves a variety of dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with both dine-in and grab-and-go options.

+ Surf lessons and sessions vary depending on the time of week. Off-peak pricing applies on weekdays, while peak pricing is in effect on weekends and public holidays.

+ Group and private surf lessons are priced between $99 and $199, based on the type of lesson and the level of instruction.

+ Surf sessions range from beginner waves to more advanced categories like Expert, Advanced, Advanced Turns, Intermediate and Cruiser sessions, with prices starting at $99 and going up to $151.

+ For frequent visitors, URBNSURF offers multipack deals and annual memberships, which come with significant savings on surf sessions and other perks.

+ Families and groups can enjoy Surf In The Bays, Boog In The Bays and Swim In The Bays from $39.

+ URBNSURF Melbourne is open daily from 6am to 10pm in summer. Winter hours vary but are typically from 7am to 6pm. The park is closed on Easter Friday, ANZAC Day morning, Christmas Day and for occasional winter maintenance.

+ For more information, visit urbnsurf.com

Penny Thomas was a guest of URBNSURF. They have not influenced or read this story before publication.