How to Surf in CS2

CS:GO surf maps are an integral part of the popular online shooter, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Those workshop maps were invented by a legendary Steam Community member with the nickname ‘Mariowned’ two decades ago. Surfing has become viral since then, and today CS surfing maps retain their popularity, giving gamers a chance to switch-up their standard Counter Strike gameplay and hone their skills in the process.

But to make surfing really enjoyable each CS user has to first master the surfing skills. To help you to surf like a pro we have prepared a unique gamer’s guide. Thanks to it you can deeply improve your understanding of how to surf in CS 2 in 2024. Read it until the end! And very soon you will beat all your enemies in the competitive matches.

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What is CS Surfing?

Surfing is a mainstream game mode in Counter-Strike that allows users to enjoy CS in a completely different manner. The principle of CS surfing is quite simple, at least in theory. All you need to do is to gain speed as quickly as possible while hugging steep angles. When performed correctly, your character should slide down the slope in a smooth manner, gaining speed in the process. Although this requires some training in CS movement, skilled players can jump from slope to slope, effectively ‘surfing’ in CS.

Surfing also means a lot of fun. Of course, not everyone is keen to experience surfing. Especially if your interests are based on competitive shooting in Dust 2 or any other active duty maps. However, the CS surfing community is still large and very active, with many players regularly enjoying CS2 and CSGO surf maps, hosting servers, and even having their own surfing tournaments.

Getting Started with Surfing

To dive into the world of CS surfing, the first step is to find a surf server or map. You can easily do this by typing “surf” in the search bar of the CS Server Browser or by exploring the Steam Workshop for a variety of surf maps. You can find surf maps by selecting them based on difficulty levels and adjusting game settings for optimal surfing experiences. Once you’ve found a suitable surf map or server, launch CS and either join the server or load the map in training mode.

Before you start your surfing adventure, it’s crucial to tweak your CS game settings for the best experience. Open the CS:GO developer console and type in commands like “sv_airaccelerate 100” to increase the air acceleration value, which will help you glide more smoothly. Adjusting your mouse sensitivity can also make a significant difference in your control and precision. Using offline maps can be beneficial for practicing surfing techniques, as it allows you to manually adjust game settings to enhance your experience.

If you’re new to surfing, it’s wise to begin with beginner-friendly maps or servers. These maps are designed to be easy to navigate, helping you develop the necessary muscle memory and skills without overwhelming you. As you become more comfortable and confident, you can gradually move on to more challenging maps and servers. These advanced maps will test your abilities with longer jumps and more complex obstacles, pushing you to refine your techniques and improve your surfing prowess.

How to Surf in Counter-Strike?

CS surfing is similar to irl parkour. You need to overcome obstacles, jump over gaps, and reach the finishing point. Keeping stable on a surf map may be difficult for beginners, but with a little bit of training, you can easily surf in CS like a pro. Since it is a vastly different gaming experience compared to the typical CS2 match, it is crucial to start with beginner-friendly maps and gradually increase the difficulty level. Using the A and D keys for strafing left and right is crucial for maintaining speed and control on ramps. Small adjustments with these keys, combined with mouse movement, can enhance the surfing experience.

It is important to avoid using the forward key while surfing, as it can disrupt your momentum and control on the ramps!

Your main objective in CS surfing is to maintain your momentum as you propel yourself towards the end. While it may be tempting to perform complicated tricks and experience more advanced maps as seen on YouTube or Twitch, it is important to build on your fundamentals before working your way up into the more advanced surfing levels.

Here are some simple rules which explain how to surf in CS:

• utilize only ‘A’ and ‘D’ keyboard buttons, make sure you don’t move forward and break your momentum
• press and hold ‘D’ to jump onto the left side and ‘A’ onto the right side
• use your mouse to look around for your next ramp with ease
• spectate other players in surf maps just like how you could in a typical match to learn how to play

There is no preferred side as everyone has their ideal directions to pursue. Thus do not be afraid to surf on a side different from other players in the surf map.

Also, do ensure that you have picked up sufficient speed in order to travel from ramp-to-ramp without ever falling down completely. The key to gaining sufficient speed on ramps is your momentum on the map.

Best CS2 Surf Maps for Honing the Skills 

There are a number of popular surf maps among CS2 players. The list of the best CS2 maps for surfing includes:

• surf_beginner (for Beginners), 
• surf_utopia
• surf_kitsune
• surf_mesa (improve surfing skills).
• surf_fortum
• surf_summer

All of the above mentioned maps are fan-created. They are designed in such a way to motivate the players to overcome a wide variety of obstacles and ramps as they glide along them. Unlike typical CS2 scenarios, the physics in these surf maps are tweaked to ensure that players have no problem skimming across the map at higher speeds.

Conclusion

Although CS surfing is a radically different game mode from the traditional CS gameplay, it’s still a great way to practice shooting in motion, a skill that’s relatively difficult to master. Suring in CS can help you improve your aim, while being fun and refreshing in the process!