Surfing in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is an enjoyable way to improve your movement skills and familiarize yourself with Valve’s engine. Check out our beginner’s guide to surfing to get you started on the ramp!
For many, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO) might seem like your typical first-person shooter game. However, Valve’s unique approach to community development has allowed members to create their own game modes. One of the most beloved community-created game modes has come to be known as “surf.” These tricky obstacle courses require the player to navigate smooth, winding ramps through a series of stages. The goal is to complete the course in one run and has sparked an active competitive community.
Not only are surf maps an enjoyable way to kill a few hours, but the skills cultivated while surfing can improve your movement in other game modes. Typically, Kreedz Climbing (KZ) and bunny-hopping (b-hop) are the go-to game modes to enhance movement in CSGO. However, KZ and b-hop can be intimidating to new players. On the contrary, the vast majority of surf mechanics and maps are new-player friendly.
If you have never surfed before, now is the perfect time to start! Our guide breaks down the basics of surfing and will have you on your way to completing beginner-level maps!
In standard game-modes like deathmatch and match-making, the mechanics of “strafing” serve a different purpose than in surf. Typically, you press A or D to move, or strafe, to the left or right. Similarly, while surfing, you will use strafing techniques to position yourself onto the side of a ramp. The basics of surf strafing are pressing A or D, depending on which side of the ramp you are gliding. If you are on the right side of the ramp, you will continuously hold the A key. Likewise, to glide on the left side of a ramp, you will strafe to the right by holding D.
In our tutorial video above, you will see that when a player jumps off the platform onto the ramp, they are gliding on the right side of the ramp. At this point, you would be holding down your A key. If you wanted to zoom along the left side, you would conversely hold down your D key.
As you progress through different stages of the map, you may come across a point where you have to transition from one side of the ramp to another. For example, on one ramp, you are gliding on the right side, then on the upcoming ramp, you notice that you have to switch to gliding on the left. In this case, you need to smoothly transition from clicking your A key to your D key.
Above, you can see an example of a smooth transition between ramps on a classic surf map, Utopia. When you start, you might notice that you change keys too early or too late and can not make contact with the ramp. Try to practice timing your strafe changes to just before the end of the ramp. As you progress in your skill, you will master strafing in the air and skipping ramps entirely.
Try your hand at turning once you are comfortable making contact with the ramp, gliding, and ramp transitions. At first, turning can seem confusing, and for a good reason! Turning is difficult to master because it is a culmination of crosshair placement, proper strafe techniques, speed management, and ramp position. However, you will want to first focus on making simple turns around corners and on-ramps at a beginner level.
The main mechanic behind making turns lies in crosshair placement. You always want to “look” in the direction of your upcoming turn. For example, when you are getting ready to make a left turn from the right side of a ramp, slowly transition your crosshair hair to the left. I always say to guide your crosshair “along the ramp.” Guiding your crosshair along the ramp ensures you do not make abrupt changes that affect your speed or ramp position.
While moving your crosshair to the left, you are still holding on to your A key to glide on the right side. When you are leaving the ramp, to turn left, you will hold the A key to continue strafing left in the air. All the while, you are still guiding your crosshair to the left.
If you are on a ramp winding around a corner, you will turn differently than if you were turning around a corner. To stay on a turning ramp, you need to change your strafe in the middle of the ramp or wherever the turn occurs. This is counterintuitive at first, but the more you practice, the easier it will become. The video below shows an example of turning around a bend while still on a ramp.
To achieve this turn, you will guide your crosshair along the ramp, as mentioned before. Again, this ensures a smooth transition between strafes and stabilizes speed. As you glide on the right side of the ramp, you will time a strafe change from A to D as the ramp winds around the corner. It is unnecessary to change your keys as soon as the ramp winds; it is a bit easier to strafe slightly earlier than you would think. You will know that your strafe timing is incorrect when you have an abrupt change in speed or slide off the ramp.
Now that you have a good understanding of surf basics, it is time to get out there and start having some fun! Finding a surf map is simple, and you will do so by using the “Community Server Browser.” Once you have opened your community browser from the main menu, search “surf” in the search box.
Voila! There are now hundreds of surf servers at your fingertips. Fortunately, many of the servers indicate their skill level. You can see the current map on the right side of the browser under the “map” column.
Finding a starter-friendly surf map can be intimidating, especially when you are new and do not recognize any of the maps in the server browser! Never fear though, we have compiled a list of classic surf maps that are beginner-friendly. Keep your eye out for these maps, and have some fun!
That wraps up our beginner-friendly surf guide! Did our guide inspire you to get out there and surf? Let us know on Twitter! As always, stay tuned for more Counter-Strike: Global Offensive guides here at Dignitas!
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