Set up a CS2 surf serverSurf maps, air acceleration and timer

Published on August 3, 2026 · last updated on November 4, 2026

Add surf maps

Surf maps come almost exclusively from the Steam Workshop. There are two big categories: skill surf (pure gliding with stages and bonuses) and combat surf (surfing plus fighting). Add a single map via host_workshop_map <id> or a whole +host_workshop_collection for automatic rotation.

The right movement cvars

For surfing to feel smooth, air acceleration is the decisive factor above all. Common starting values (to be adjusted depending on map and community):

• sv_airaccelerate - the central surf value; higher values make air control more direct. Skill surf servers often use considerably higher values than the standard game.
• sv_accelerate - ground acceleration.
• sv_gravity - the default is 800; some bonus maps expect their own values.
• sv_maxvelocity - the upper limit of speed.

The cleanest way is to store these values in a surf.cfg of their own and load it via exec surf. Many surf maps also come with their own recommendations.

Timer, ranks and checkpoints

What makes a surf server is the timer: it measures times and manages checkpoints and leaderboards. For CS2, there are timer solutions as CounterStrikeSharp plugins (e.g. SharpTimer). For this, first install Metamod and CounterStrikeSharp and put the timer plugin under addons/counterstrikesharp/plugins/. Larger surf communities benefit from more slots - on our CS2 plans, they are unlimited; for 32+ players, a larger package is recommended because of the RAM requirement.

Tier structure: which maps in which order

Surf maps are divided into difficulty levels, the tiers. A server that only runs tier 5 maps loses every newcomer in the first minute - and a pure tier 1 server bores the regulars. The mix decides whether someone comes back.

• Tier 1-2 are entry maps with wide ramps and plenty of leeway. They belong in every rotation, even if experienced players run through them quickly.
• Tier 3-4 are the actual core - demanding but doable. This is where most players spend their time.
• Tier 5-6 are for the few. Good as a goal individually in the rotation, unsuitable as a focus.

A proven split is roughly half tier 1-3, a third tier 4 and the rest above. This is easiest to maintain via a Workshop collection, to which you add and from which you remove maps without touching the server configuration - see Workshop maps & collections.

What the timer stores - and where

A surf server lives from its leaderboards. That is exactly why data storage is the point where you should think ahead: times, checkpoints and ranks end up in a database that the timer plugin creates. If it is lost, your community's entire history is gone - and with it the reason why people come back.

Backups are self-service throughout with us. Fetch the database file from the plugin directory regularly via WebFTP or SFTP, especially before every plugin update. It takes a minute and is the difference between an incident and a fresh start.

Also plan for timer plugins failing briefly after a CS2 update - they depend on CounterStrikeSharp, which has to catch up every time. The stored times are not affected; only recording pauses.

Common mistakes during setup

Three things almost always go wrong with a first surf server:

• The movement cvars are reset. Values you set while running do not survive a map change. They belong in the server.cfg or in a config that is loaded at every map start.
• The timer runs, but nobody sees ranks. Then the database connection in the plugin config is usually missing. The plugin loads anyway and only reports the error in the console.
• Players fall through the map. A sign that the map was not ported to CS2 but still dates from CS:GO times. Not every surf map was carried over.

For checking while running, RCON is the most useful tool: css_plugins list shows what is loaded, and a direct map change saves restarting.

Frequently asked questions