How to Crowd Surf

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: July 16, 2024

If you have been to or watched a rock concert, you've probably seen some crowd surfing, where someone (either performer or audience member) is carried over the crowd by the hands of the audience. But how do you do it? Getting up in the air safely is important. Positioning your body to make it easy for the people under you to pass you along can guarantee you a smooth ride. Knowing how to get down safely is also important - you don't want to end your ride with an injury.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Getting in the Air

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If you’re unsure if you really want to be hoisted into the air, don’t try to crowd surf. You have to feel comfortable with what you’re doing and where you’re going, and if you aren’t or don’t, you won’t enjoy the experience.^{[1]
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The last thing you want is to lose your wallet or cell phone while you’re crowdsurfing. Ask a friend you trust to hold your stuff for you while you surf. You can also keep it in a small, airtight bag that you can hold while you’re in the air.^{[2]
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3
Ask a friend for a boost. It’s best to sit on their shoulders (or the shoulders of two people). When other fans see you in the air, they’ll know what you’re trying to do, and you’ll be able to tell if they’re ready for you.^{[3]
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- Don’t just have a friend cup your foot and throw you into the crowd – other fans might not catch you and you can get seriously injured – or seriously injure someone else.
Stage diving is very dangerous – you have to make eye contact with people in the crowd, read their body language to ensure they’ll catch you, and get off the stage before you interrupt the band. It’s also against some venues’ rules to stage dive, and you can get kicked out of the concert for trying it. It's best to just avoid doing it.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Surfing Safely

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Fast-paced, high energy songs are your best bet, because the crowd’s energy will be high and they’ll be more likely to pass you along. Slower sets aren’t great. Choose your favorite song, and be ready to go!
Once it’s clear other people will hold you while you surf, lean back until you feel people’s hands underneath you. You’ll need to be flat on your back to surf.
As you lay back, spread your arms and legs out like you're getting ready to make a snow angel. This gives the people under you more surface area to hold while they pass you along. Keep your back as stiff and flat as possible. A flat and stiff back makes it easier for people to move you and will also protect you from getting hurt.^{[4]
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If you thrash around too much, chances are you’ll get dropped. You can throw up an old-fashioned “rock and roll” sign, but don’t wave your arms or kick your legs too much.^{[5]
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Otherwise, you’ll kick people in the head. Don’t lift your legs too far, since this will prevent other fans from passing you along, but make sure your feet are pointed up and raised slightly.^{[6]
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6
Protect your head if you fall. Sometimes it happens – you’re crowdsurfing and you get dropped. If you feel yourself start to fall, lift your head up or cover it with your arms to avoid smacking it on the ground.
- If you think you’re seriously hurt, ask security for help.

Part 3

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Ending Your Ride

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If you’re ready for your ride to end, bring your legs in toward your chest. You should naturally fall to the ground, feet first.^{[7]
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You could pull them down with you and they and you can get hurt. Instead, make sure you’re prepared for the fall so you can catch yourself.^{[8]
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You’ll go all over the venue surfing, and you don’t want to lose the group you came with. Pick a spot you can meet and a time, even if the time is as soon as you’re done surfing.^{[9]
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Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Dressing Appropriately

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This includes zippers, chains, or loose jewelry. They can snag in someone’s hair or on someone else’s jewelry and seriously hurt the other person.
You don’t want to wear heels or big, heavy boots that can hit someone in the head and seriously injure them. Make sure the shoes fit correctly and aren’t loose – otherwise you might lose your shoes and have to spend the rest of the day barefoot!^{[10]
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Tops that can easily come off, like bathing suit tops, or loose skirts or shorts, give people in the crowd easy access to your body, and you can’t guarantee everyone in the crowd is a good person. Instead, wear clothing that fits close to your body and doesn’t give people easy access.^{[11]
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What are my chances of dying while crowd surfing?

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The chances are slim, but it's possible that you could fall and hit your head.

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I'm 12 years old.Will I be okay crowd surfing?

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If you followed these guidelines, you'd probably be fine. Remember part three and tell people where you're going.

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How much should I weigh to crowd surf?

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Use common sense. If it takes more than two people to easily lift you in the air, you're probably a bit too heavy for crowd surfing. (Though I've seen 300-pound+ guys manage it when they're the star of the show and have a dedicated fanbase.)

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Tips

If you are crowd surfing at a festival and you are up front near stage By crowd surfing you will be carried all the way back and you won't get your spot back.

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Try starting to crowd surf in the opposite direction of the stage, so people see you coming and can give you a hand in time. If you surf towards the stage, the people will see you to late (because they're looking at the stage and won't be able to hear you) so most of the times when you're crowd surfing towards the stage, you will end up with your face in the dirt.

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If the concert is over and the crowd isn't moving, don't try to crowd surf out. People will probably be less cooperative at this point.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If you do crowd surf, make yourself known to the people in front of you. Yell loud and announce that you’re coming their way to give them a heads up to catch you (and to protect themselves).
Try not to crowd surf more than once or twice. Usually the band has a strict no crowd surfing policy for liability reasons and venue security will grow tired of catching you.
Make sure you are nice to security when they catch you. Say thank you and try not to hurt them with your body.
If you are a girl, wear body-tight clothing. If you crowd surf with a loose top chances are it's going to rip.

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