If you surf and feel your progress has stalled, it is rarely a lack of talent. Most of the time you need clarity about what to train and in what order.
- Three reasons to know your level
- Level 1 · Beginner
- Level 2 · Emerging
- Level 3 · Intermediate
- Level 4 · Advanced
Prefer to watch? This video accompanies the article with practical examples.
01. Three reasons to know your level
Your level helps you choose the right peak, equipment and technique. It is not about being better or worse; it is about training what fits your current moment.
02. Level 1 · Beginner
You are building your relationship with the ocean. The priority is autonomy: passing the break, understanding currents and starting to catch formed waves.
Your level is a map, not a label. Knowing where you are helps build a better path.Isabela Sousa
03. Level 2 · Emerging
You can drop and run the face. Your first bottom turns and 360 attempts are appearing, but you do not always know why a wave worked.
04. Level 3 · Intermediate
You land 360s and rolls with some regularity. The next jump is adjusting stance, timing and line so you stop performing the manoeuvre despite your foundation.
Your level is a map, not a label. Knowing where you are helps build a better path.Isabela Sousa
05. Level 4 · Advanced
Your foundation works in motion and you choose your line on purpose. The challenge is repeating good surfing in different waves with control and consistency.
06. Your level is a map, not a label
Nobody can draw a path without knowing where they are starting. An honest diagnosis stops you from spending months training the wrong technique.
LEVEL QUIZ
Discover your true bodyboarding level
Answer 12 questions and receive a clear reading of your current stage, the typical mistakes at that level and the next steps for progress.
TAKE THE LEVEL QUIZNo judgement and no guesswork: just technique.
THE NEXT STEP
Want to progress with more direction?
Discover Bodyboard Pro: Flying and learn the complete PRO Protocol: foundation, wave reading, line, fear release, land training and flight.
DISCOVER THE TRAININGFrequently asked questions
How do I know my bodyboarding level?
By what you can solve technically, not by how long you have surfed. The main markers are autonomy, reading, functional stance and consistency in your manoeuvres.
How many levels are there?
I work with four: beginner, emerging, intermediate and advanced. It is a training guide, not an official label.
Will knowing my level limit me?
The opposite. It works as a map: it shows where you are and what to train next.
Can I move up a level by training out of the water?
Yes. Foundation, wave reading, line and visualisation can be studied and practised on land before taking them into the water.
ABOUT ISABELA SOUSA · AUTHOR
Isabela Sousa
Isabela Sousa is a five-time bodyboarding world champion. A Brazilian professional athlete, she spent 18 years competing on the world tour before developing the PRO Protocol taught inside Bodyboard Pro: Flying.