Revision - surfing - inZOI Wiki

Overview

Surfing is a recreational activity in inZOI that lets Zois grab a board and ride the waves along the coast. It has been available since the Early Access launch on March 28, 2025, making it one of the original water activities in the game. Surfing serves double duty as both a fun beach pastime and a way to build the Fitness skill. Zois who pursue the Fitness Master Ambition will find surfing especially rewarding, since it triggers the "Wants to Ride the Waves" Urge and earns Meow Coins.

A notable historical quirk: at launch, you could surf in inZOI but could not swim in the ocean. Ocean swimming was only added five months later with the Island Getaway DLC in August 2025.

Where to Surf

Surfing is available at two locations, both along the coast. The activity is only available between 9:00 AM and 6:59 PM in-game time. Outside these hours the Surf interaction option disappears entirely. A developer confirmed on the official forums that this time restriction is intended behavior, not a bug.

Bliss Bay

The primary surfing location is Bliss Bay, specifically along the western coastline near the Muscle Beach area and the pier. Surfboards are scattered across the sand in various spots. Only boards positioned close to the water's edge offer the full "Surf" interaction; boards further up the beach only allow practice options. The blue and white patterned boards near the shoreline are the most reliable for actual surfing. Boards near the amusement park have also been confirmed to work by multiple players.

Bliss Bay also features Posey's Surf Shop near the beach. Despite its name and description of offering "the latest surfing equipment and personalized surfing lessons," the shop functions as a career lot for the Cashier job rather than a player-facing store. You cannot purchase usable surfboards there.

Cahaya

The tropical island of Cahaya, added in the Island Getaway DLC (v0.3.0, August 2025), has surfboards on its beaches. Surfing was initially broken in Cahaya due to a bug, but v0.4.0 (October 2025) fixed the issue. There are two specific surfboards positioned near the ocean that support actual surfing (not just practice). The same Fitness Level 3 requirement and 9 AM to 7 PM time restriction apply.

Dowon is an inland city and does not offer surfing. Zois living outside Bliss Bay or Cahaya who want to surf need to Travel Between Cities to reach the coast.

Requirements

Two conditions must be met before a Zoi can surf. Surfboards on the beach are completely free to use, and there is no shop where you need to purchase a board.

Requirement	Details
Fitness Level	Must reach Fitness Level 3. Use gym equipment, fitness books, surfboard practice interactions, or other fitness activities to level up.
Age Stage	Must be a Young Adult or older (approximately age 20.5+ in-game). Teens and children cannot surf.
Time of Day	Surfing is only available between 9:00 AM and 6:59 PM in-game time.

Surfboard Interactions

When a Zoi approaches a surfboard on the beach, up to three interaction options may appear depending on the board's position and the Zoi's Fitness level.

Interaction	Fitness Required	Description
Practice Good Posture	None	The Zoi practices their stance and balance on the board while on the sand. Increases Fitness skill.
Practice Paddling	None	The Zoi practices the paddling motion on the surfboard on the sand. Increases Fitness skill.
Surf (Go Surfing)	Level 3	The Zoi picks up the board, runs into the sea, and surfs around in the water. The animation shows the Zoi riding the board and floating against the tides.

The two practice interactions are a great way to build toward Fitness Level 3 while already at the beach. Some players report that using a practice interaction first, then selecting the same board again, makes the "Surf" option appear more reliably.

Build Mode surfboards: Surfboards can be purchased in Build Mode and placed on lots, but Zois cannot use them for actual surfing when placed this way. They function only as decorative objects. There is no surfboard customization system in the game.

Building Fitness for Surfing

Reaching Fitness Level 3 is the main barrier to surfing. Fortunately, Bliss Bay offers a free open-air gym right next to the surfing area at Muscle Beach. The gym includes squat racks, barbell bench presses, free weights, and pull-down machines, all free to use.

Other ways to raise the Fitness skill include:

Method	Details
Beach surfboard practice	Practice Good Posture and Practice Paddling on the beach raise Fitness even before you can surf. Doing one or two practice sessions is often enough to hit Level 3 if you are close.
Muscle Beach gym	Free open-air gym in Bliss Bay with squat racks, barbell bench presses, free weights, and pull-down machines.
Home fitness equipment	Yoga mats, dumbbells, treadmills, barbells, and punching bags (purchasable through Build Mode).
Fitness books	Available at libraries, bookshelves, or on tablets. Look for titles containing words like "Running" or "Physical."
Idol career	Working as an Idol in Dowon includes fitness-related tasks that contribute to the skill.

Wants to Ride the Waves Urge

Zois with the Fitness Master Ambition can receive the "Wants to Ride the Waves" Urge. The in-game description reads: "Some Zois enjoy challenging nature and riding the waves." This Urge represents an endurance challenge fitting for a fitness-focused character.

To fulfill the Urge:

Travel to the beach in Bliss Bay or Cahaya.
Locate a surfboard near the water's edge.
Select the board and choose "Practice Surfing" or one of the practice interactions.
Wait for the Zoi to complete the practice session.
Select the same board again and choose "Go Surfing."

Completing the Urge rewards:

5 Meow Coins (the standard Urge completion reward)
Excited emotion, providing a positive mood boost
Progress toward the Fitness skill

Zois with the Life of Excitement Desired Life also request surfing more frequently. The Life of Excitement includes the Adventurer and Entertainer traits with the Chief Explorer Ambition, making it a natural fit for beach-loving Zois.

The Fitness Master Ambition has three levels that surfing contributes toward:

Level	Requirements
Level 1	Buy fitness equipment once, work out 3 times
Level 2	Read health books 10 times, achieve Fitness Level 6
Level 3	Work out 20 times while Concentrated/Focused, achieve Fitness Level 10

Benefits of Surfing

Benefit	Details
Fitness Skill	Surfing and the practice interactions all contribute to raising the Fitness skill, creating a positive feedback loop.
Fun	Surfing provides a significant boost to the Fun Need.
Mood	Fulfilling the Ride the Waves Urge grants the Excited emotion. Beach activities in general provide positive mood effects.
Meow Coins	Completing the surfing Urge earns 5 Meow Coins, which can be spent at the Meow Store on donut items.
Social	Surfing at popular beaches puts Zois near others, creating social opportunities.
Safety	Zois cannot drown while surfing. It is a completely safe activity.

Water Activities Comparison

Surfing was the original water activity in the base game. The Island Getaway DLC (v0.3.0, August 2025) added several additional water activities to Cahaya.

Activity	Location	Skill Required	Notes
Surfing	Bliss Bay + Cahaya	Fitness Level 3	Base game feature; 9 AM to 7 PM only
Swimming	Cahaya (pools + ocean)	Swimming skill	Added in Island Getaway DLC
Snorkeling	Cahaya (Barat Beach)	Swimming skill + equipment rental	Three gear tiers available
Diving	Cahaya (deep water)	Higher Swimming skill	Discover coral reefs, turtles, treasure
Fishing	Cahaya (pier + boats)	Fishing skill + rod	New skill added in DLC
Boating	Cahaya	None	Six boat types; weather-dependent for distance

Tips and Known Issues

Issue	Solution
Board does not show "Surf" option	Try another board closer to the water. The blue and white patterned boards near the shoreline are the most reliable. Boards near the amusement park also work.
Time restriction	Surfing is only available 9 AM to 7 PM in-game time. If the Surf option is missing, check the clock. This is intended behavior confirmed by developers.
Stuck underground bug	Zois can occasionally become stuck below ground level after surfing. Open the Psycat Guide menu (the book icon with a question mark) and use the "Emergency Rescue" option. This provides an X-ray view of the town to locate and respawn stuck Zois.
Interaction prompt vanishing	Some players report the interaction prompt disappearing when approaching certain boards. Moving away and returning, or trying a different board, usually resolves this.
Practice before surfing	Using a practice interaction first, then selecting the same board again, sometimes makes the Surf option appear more reliably.

Revision 5