First time surfing, next week hawaii. grateful for tips

by **Guest** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 3:07 pm

Sounds good doesn't it?
Ive been doing a bit of thinking and internet searching, and so far this is my plan-like thing.

going to arrive and check in at a cheap hotel in waikiki next week.
then gonnapick up some sunblock, a pair of sandals, and head of to a beach (wearing shorts of course) to search for a cheap and good instructor (though i dont have a clue how to find a good one). Then after one day of lessons, I'm going to learn by myself on a beach with small waves. Naturally I have a lot of questions, from the most trivial to the more serious. If anyone is in a samaritan mood, I would be grateful for any answers.

- sunblock: im very pale, due to my norwegianness, somebody told me that 30 something was the least i should use.
- instructor: should i just pick one at random, or is there any whos better than others. how much is reasonable to pay for a half a day lesson?
- ive heard waikiki is overcrowded,maybe learning on a different beach would be better?
- after my learning day, i will try to go of on my own. is there any calm beaches with small waves and not that many people on oahu?
- i will also have to rent a board (and maybe a wet suit? or a rash guard at least?), any cheap places for this anyone know about? whats the normal fee to pay for a weeks rent?

Got many more questions, but im gonna hold on to them for a littlewhile more, just not to piss anyone of.

Uh. Im also looking for a place to rent or buy a cheap tent for some camping.

Thanks! 8)

**Sponsor**

by **Jerv_Norway** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 3:12 pm

this is me by the way. was sure i was logged in.

by **Kaus_1974** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 8:51 pm

I just moved to Waikiki and I think that Hans Hedemann's surf shop has good surfing instructors. I haven't been there myself but I've heard. I've been shopping around for the same thing.

by **Guest** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 7:09 pm

thanks. i will check it out on wednesday.

by **Jerv_Norway** » Fri Feb 27, 2004 6:59 pm

Now starting day 3 in Hawaii. Have been checking around and found a what i think is the cheapest lesson around Oahu, only $21 (w. discount cupon) on Waikiki beach. Hans Hedeman is about $50 (also cupon) for the same amount of time, and I'm not sure it's that much better, so Im opting for the cheap one. Later.

by **Guest** » Mon Mar 29, 2004 9:22 pm

I live in Hawaii and have tried surfing in Waikiki, it is very populated, but most of those in the water are newbies like me and you so as long as you can not aim for people you should be alright. The "good" surfers can aim and get out of your way, and the locals are usually very nice, they even say sorry when I get in their way.

Anyhow can I ask what place you saw for $21? and how long is that lesson for.

Also does that include the renting of the board or not?

I usually rent them on the beach there, the 11 footers for like 10 bucks for 2 hours.

by **surf patrol** » Wed Mar 31, 2004 2:07 pm

is this post - a couple of surfers chatting about learning to surf in Hawaii - there are a lot of jealous surfers reading this post

(sorry I don't have anything more constructive to post but good on ya guys!, surf as much as you can and remember how luck you are)

by **freaky_welsh_chick** » Wed Mar 31, 2004 8:15 pm

yes, there's one jealous surfer right here!

by **eesalou** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 12:07 am

eh, i'm not too jealous......i learned to surf(just a week ago) in maui..... that was awesome!!

by **merrickflyer** » Thu Apr 15, 2004 4:57 am

Sorry, but It is NOT possible to learn how to surf in one week. I mean maybe you were standing up on an 11 footer for a few seconds, but that is not really surfing. You still gotta learn the bottom turn, turning in general, cutbacks....etc. I'm not trying to be mean it is just anoying to work hard at it for years to get good at surfing, and then have someone who claims they learned in a week try to BRAGG that they "learned" in Maui. So many people do that crap! Sounds like a poser to me. You will learn quickly that people talk alotta crap in this sport, especially the people who cant surf. Hey, just be honest, and you'd be supprised at the surfers who would be glad to teach you, I being one of them. So dont be offended by this. Take it as constructive criticism. :wink:

by **freaky_welsh_chick** » Thu Apr 15, 2004 3:17 pm

but he did learn in maui... you learn every time you go surfing, he didnt say he's gone pro or anything, but he'd done some learning, lol. you can't call him a poser for that, thats just progressing.

by **Merrickflyer** » Fri Apr 16, 2004 8:22 pm

ok then, if that's the case, he should've said "i'm learning" not "I learned".
It just isn't physically possible to "learn to surf" in such a short time.
I hope I didnt hurt his feelings though. Do you think I was a bit harsh?

Hey eesalou, sorry dude! I'm sorry if i offended you. I didn't mean it in a mean way. The best advice i can give you about learnin to surf: find someone who's been surfing for years (prefferably an adult) to help you with finding the right board, and teach you all the secrets.
peace!

by **merrickflyer** » Fri Apr 16, 2004 8:27 pm

oh yeah and i wasn't calling you a poser. I was talking about the people who talk all the crap. Peace!

by **jray** » Fri Apr 16, 2004 10:12 pm

dude you need to calm down I just think he was trying to say that he wasnt jelous cuz he had already dun it. But anyways just dont be so uptight about stuff. 8)

by **eesalou** » Sat Apr 17, 2004 2:58 am

eh, don't worry about it!!

i don't mind....i know that i'm not really surfing and that i am sitll learning....i just wannna get better

and i will take your advice and try and find someone who knows how to surf and get them to help me.....would it be stupid to ask someone who was out surfing at the same time i was to help me with a little thing? i mean, would i be infringing on their sufing time or something?

by **Merrickflyer** » Sat Apr 17, 2004 4:16 am

Hey eesalou!
Wassup bro? thanks for takin' it so well. sorry I was kinda in a bad mood when I wrote that first post. :roll: but yeah find a "mentor" i guess you could say. I owe all my surfing ability to my mentor. He was wonderful. He was 46 and still an avid surfer(and still is). He was my 11th grade Sunday school teacher. We used to go surfing every sunday morning before church. We would meet at the beach at 6 am and surf for a couple hours, then go home, shower, get dressed, and go to Sunday School at 9:30 am. I still do that and occasionally he joins me. So If you could find someone you already kind of know or a good friend of your's could introduce you to or something like that. If you cant find anyone that way, then I guess It couldn't hurt to ask a surfer out in the water,just try someone older, they may have more patience or be friendlier than a grom. Oh and if you think you are in their way or feel like you may be taking their surfing time, you could always wait till they leave the water for the day. Then approach them on the beach and ask them a question(or questions). Just try to look for them next time you go out, and the next time,and try to build a friendship with the person.
Hey you can always ask me Questions too! :D feel free to ask. I'd be glad to help you. I may not be able to tell you as much as the experienced old guys, but hey I'll do what I can!
Oh by the way, my name is Josh, I'm 18, and I live in Jacksonville, Florida USA. What's your a/s/l? Peace out Bro![/b]

by **eesalou** » Sat Apr 17, 2004 8:47 pm

that's awesome!!! it's cool that you went surfing with your sunday school teacher before church!! that sounds like a lot of fun

I won't be able to go surfing THAT often, mainly when ever we get up to our cottage,a nd the waves will most likely be pretty small......but that's fine with me.

thanks a lot for the advice, and i'll be sure to ask you any more questions i may have

My name's Lisa and i'm 14 and live in Michigan

by **SBW** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 10:40 am

No, go for it! I asked this guy last time I was out and he was really cool about it (though yes, he did laugh when I kept wiping out but I waould have laughed too if I was him!). Yeah, he was really nice.

by **Merrickflyer** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 4:38 am

sorry essalou! I assumed you were a guy, I kept saying "wassup bro" and stuff like that! I feel so dumb now! but yeah, go for it, ask! :) and dont forget you can ask me ne thing too! :D so what kinda board you got? I am so excited! I just got a new 6'4" Al Merrick 'Flyer'! Hey do you have an AOL instant messenger screen name? I have a friend that lives in Michigan!, her name is Dyanna. Hey,you got any pics of you or your board? If I can figure out why my scanner isnt working I'll send you a pic of me and my board. Well, it was good to hear from you again! see ya! -Josh

by **eesalou** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 3:48 pm

no problem that you called me bro and stuff....I don't mind!!

well, i haven't got a board yet, but i've been dropping hints to my parents that my birthday is coming up in the summer and that's when we're gonna be at the cottage and stuff like that, so i'm hoping to try and get one for my birthday...... i'm thinking about a minimal, cause i won't be able to go out often,and the waves are pretty small here.

well, i do have pics of me.....even of my fist time surfing, and i do have AIM-its the same as this sn.

and i noticed that last time i didn't say the city i was from. well, i'm from midland, which i right by saginaw or bay city-where does your friend live?
oh, and what's your AIM sn?

well, it was good to hear from you again too! c ya!
-Lisa

First time surfing, next week hawaii. grateful for tips

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