How to SURF in CS2: A Step-by-Step Guide

SURF in the Counter-Strike series has long become more than just entertainment—it's a whole sporting discipline. SURF competitions have been held for many years with sizeable cash prizes, and the number of participants and spectators grows each year.

The history of SURF began with the release of Counter-Strike 1.5, which was created on the GoldSrc engine. Thanks to the features of this engine, game elements such as SURF and Bhop appeared, becoming distinctive features of the series.

In 2003, players considered some engine features to be temporary glitches that developers would soon fix. However, the developers were in no rush to eliminate these so-called bugs, while Counter-Strike enthusiasts were setting up thematic forums dedicated to SURF.

The SURF community quickly developed, though without any official statistics—the game was played on private servers or through local networks with friends. In the end, Valve did not eliminate these "errors," which over time became a feature of the game.

Currently, in Counter-Strike 2, you can find thousands of servers for Surf in the "Community Servers" tab, and people actively play on almost all of them.

But what is SURF, and why is it needed in Counter-Strike competitive matches? We will look in detail at how to master the waves of SURF in Counter-Strike 2 and how this skill can help you win in competitive matches.

Where can you SURF in Counter-Strike 2?

Let's start with the fact that new players may need from one to five hours of practice on special CS2 SURFl maps to master the skills. This guide will ease your first steps in the exciting mode of SURF.

So, how do you get to the map for surfing? It's simple: in the "Community Servers" menu, enter the word SURF, and the system will display a list of suitable servers closest to you.

Don't want to play SURF online? No problem! You can download maps for SURF to play offline or solo right from the Steam Workshop.

Initially, you need to select "Counter-Strike 2" in Steam, then use the search bar and enter "SURF." A world of maps developed by players will open before you.

It's important to remember that SURF maps have different difficulty levels:

• Tier 1 is intended for beginner surfers.

• Tier 2 has a low difficulty.

• Tier 3 is for experienced players.

Choose Tier 1 if you are trying SURF for the first time, regardless of how much time you've spent in Counter-Strike.

So, you've found a suitable map for surfing in Counter-Strike 2 and added it to Steam. After that, start the game, select the map, and enter the following console commands:

• "sv_cheats 1" gives permission to use cheats and various console commands in the game;

• "bot_kick 1" frees you from bots that can interfere with your practice;

• "sv_accelerate 10" sets the rate of speed increase during your movement—a higher value than the standard 5.5 is preferred for surfing maps;

• "sv_airaccelerate 800" adjusts air acceleration, which significantly facilitates control while surfing;

• "sv_staminajumpcost 0" and "sv_staminalandcost 0" remove the loss of stamina during jumps and landings;

• "sv_autobunnyhopping 1" and "sv_enablebunnyhopping 1" activate automatic bunny hopping.

Currently, especially popular among beginner surfing players are such maps as:

• surf_rookie_fix, an excellent start for beginners, offering routes with gradually increasing difficulty;

• surf_mesa, a wide map with various sections, which is suitable for honing surfing mastery;

• surf_utopia_njv, a wonderful spatial map with a pleasant color scheme and complex elements.

Starting at the map's starting position, you're ready to embark on an exciting journey through surfing levels. And to start with, it's best to do the basics – take the first steps and put into practice the knowledge you've acquired. 

Tips for Beginners on SURF in Counter-Strike 2 

At the start of most SURF maps in the game, you typically find yourself in front of the starting ramp. It’s tempting to rush into battle and soar to the clouds, right? But first, you need to learn the basic principles of movement down the slope:

• Speed increase in the air does not work.

• To accelerate, you should move down the slope of the ramp. However, don't forget to plan your route in advance.

• Forget about the W and S keys. Flights and maneuvers in air are controlled by the A and D keys.

• To reach distant points or rise to a higher ramp, you need to push off from its upper part.

• If the goal is to descend or speed up, start from the bottom part of the ramp.

• To continue moving in the same direction, the middle part of the ramp would be ideal.

Having mastered the basic rules, let's move on to further steps. Surfing in Counter-Strike 2 is oriented towards intuitive control.

When the ramp is to your left, press A and direct the movement with your mouse. When sliding from the right side of the ramp, use D, guided by mouse movements to navigate the model.

How to control your model in the air?

In Counter-Strike, air strafing is the ability of gamers to direct the fall of their character. This gameplay element allows players to change their trajectory mid-air. Once in the atmosphere, the movement is preserved. To perform a strafe, start with moving forward (the "w" key), make a jump, and then immediately release "w". Then, work with the "a" or "d" keys and rhythmically turn the mouse in the respective direction.

Remember, during surfing, any extra movements only harm. The goal is to glide as smoothly and straight as possible, as this significantly affects the final result. Unnecessary turns increase the passage time or reduce speed, which is critical for surfing. So the more precise and economical your actions, the better for the game.

You can feel the sharpness of air maneuvers in SURF mode, as after the end of the ramp, you have to find the way to the next one, which often does not lie directly in front of you.

How to gain speed in SURF?

The ability to quickly accelerate is important for beginners in the SURF mode of Counter-Strike. There are several methods:

The most straightforward is to descend the slope of the ramp from top to bottom. This way, you can develop extremely high speed, only limited by the length of the ramp and the angle at which you press against it. The greater the angle between your view and the surface of the ramp, the sooner the speed will increase.

Another method is air strafes, which allow you to accelerate even in flight. You need to alternate rapid pressing of the A and D keys while making small mouse movements. Mouse movements should be very slight—on the order of a few centimeters along the mouse pad.

How to use SURF in Premier mode?

Everything is quite simple: in premier mode matches, you can now effectively use SURF to move on inclined surfaces in the game, such as the walls at Monster on the Overpass map.

By using these surfaces for SURF, you can quickly cover distances, which can catch your enemies off guard. However, don't forget that when using SURF, shooting becomes less accurate due to the increased spread.

For example, on the Overpass map, instead of running through the swamp, you can quickly reach the canal by sliding along the wall using SURF.

Additionally, SURF is also applicable to more unusual structures, as on the Nuke map, where you can descend from a height onto the upper plane of Main almost silently.

Conclusion

CS2 surfing is not only an exciting activity, but also a useful skill that can bring advantages in competitive matches, allowing you to move quickly and unexpectedly, creating an element of surprise for your opponents.

Remember that practice is the key to mastery. Whether you use SURF skills for fun, to improve your personal technique in the game, or to participate in competitions, don't be afraid to experiment with different maps and look for new ways to use surfing to gain an advantage in the game.

Continue to develop in SURF, build up your skills, and soon you will see a significant improvement in your gameplay. Good luck finding your wave in the world of Counter-Strike 2!