Later in life beginners

[RonG]

I've had a few surfing friends tell me I should get a longboard skateboard and learn to ride, that it will do wonders for my surfing balance and turns. I started surfing this year at age 46 and my current thinking is "don't take up too many new sports after age 45 that involve high-speed collisions with very hard surfaces". Not that you can't learn or even become good at them, but the failure mode is a lot uglier, and the recovery time a lot longer than when you're 25. When I consider how many bumps, bruises, and sprains I've managed so far in the water, I hate to think what I could accomplish on pavement

[jaffa1949]

Stuff up a backside air like this on a skate board and you will be in traction

[Tassiedevil]

Glad to hear I'm not the only oldie out there . In my 20s with my uni mates I surfed quite often but since then have rarely touched a board for 20 odd years . Took the kids with their new softie to the beach 10 months ago caught one little 3 footer slid down the face for about 3 seconds before falling off and was instantly hooked again . Now I surf at least twice a week . a few changes I have noticed compared to my younger days . my endurance is gone , when I used to run to the water And paddle straight out now I walk to the water walk out as far as I can then paddle through the waves . I have had to change boards for increased volume . My short board has been placed by a 6-7 ft 7s fish . The extra volume makes paddling much easier and the fish tail increases catch ability which means I paddle less and still catch more waves . My flexibility is gone so after 2 or 3 waves of pushing straight to my feet I have to go knees 1st then up . Not that dignified but it works for me and keeps me out on the water . It has taken me about 6 months surfing 2 or 3 times a week to get back to surfing at a level I am happy with . The other thing with surfing at an older age the wipe outs these days really hurt , even the next day and the day after that some times . But the pain is definitely worth it . The other major change is that most of the time now I surf on my own . in our 20s surfing was the done thing so we used to surf in large groups . Now in my late 40s most of my contemporaries prefer more laid back hobbies so it is either surf on my own or with the kids on weekends

[stereoscope]

im 37 and just started last march. due to my being separated last summer and moving to the beach, ive had the opportunity to be in the water almost every morning before work. so far in that short amount of time, ive dislocated my shoulder, stabbed my foot with a fin, put a dent in one of my biceps (i didnt even know that was possible), and suffered some sort of rib thing that is going on a month now. ive got a very long way to go before i can say that i can surf well, but in that amount of time ive progressed a lot and really enjoy the challenge. i enjoy getting ragdolled as much as i do actually riding a wave (well not quite as much) for whatever reason, im obsessed and cant get out enough, and i cant say that about any other hobby or sport ive been involved in. surfing is something else.

[RonG]

im 37 and just started last march. due to my being separated last summer and moving to the beach, ive had the opportunity to be in the water almost every morning before work. so far in that short amount of time, ive dislocated my shoulder, stabbed my foot with a fin, put a dent in one of my biceps (i didnt even know that was possible), and suffered some sort of rib thing that is going on a month now. ive got a very long way to go before i can say that i can surf well, but in that amount of time ive progressed a lot and really enjoy the challenge. i enjoy getting ragdolled as much as i do actually riding a wave (well not quite as much) for whatever reason, im obsessed and cant get out enough, and i cant say that about any other hobby or sport ive been involved in. surfing is something else.

46, started in July of this year, lacerated the back of my head, broke and lacerated my nose, and wrenched my knee. And I also live at the beach and for some reason can't get seem to get enough of being in the water (glutton for punishment I guess).

[fdny2pa]

Reading all of these stories gives me hope - im 44 and hope to plunge in this year. I am planning on using the fall/winter to get into more reasonable surf shape - so any suggestions as to what to really make the center of focus? Thanks

[jaffa1949]

46, started in July of this year, lacerated the back of my head, broke and lacerated my nose, and wrenched my knee. And I also live at the beach and for some reason can't get seem to get enough of being in the water (glutton for punishment I guess).

That's great but something about all those injuries tells me that you may be riding your board upside down and using the fins as handles
Surfing's a great thing to do and I hope you and Stereoscope get to a good level before you harm or discourage yourself, but somehow I think you'll get it just from strong perseverance.
Said in admiration "you pair of bloody old frothers you."

Some out there would argue that a good surf is better than sex I won't take that any further.

[blueness]

fdny2pa --

I haven't changed my workouts specifically for surfing, but there are a few components of my workout routine (from before I started surfing) that I think have been important:
- Push-ups. You can also practice pop-ups.
- Flexibility. Wiping out can result in one's body contorting in odd positions or limbs being pulled different directions! I think having some flexibility can help prevent injury from these things.
- Cardiovascular fitness. Some capacity for endurance is helpful when paddling out through whitewater, but sprinting ability is (probably) also helpful! (I say "probably" because I'm not sure I have sprinting ability! I don't train for that...though now I'm thinking maybe I should!).
- Core strength. I think this is important because not only do core muscles stabilize you while you paddle and support you when you're standing on your board, but I think they help prevent injury. And by "core" I mean both ab and back muscles (sometimes I think people only focus on their abs).

Even with all of that, if I take a couple of weeks off of surfing, I feel weaker when I get back to it, and really tired the day after. That tells me that the main thing I need to do to be in shape for surfing is surf! Alas, that is not always possible. I think my regular workouts basically function the way cross-training does for any sport -- it can help significantly, but there's no substitute for actually doing the primary sport.

[jaffa1949]

Blueness covers surf fitness very well and although I poke fun at us older guys surfing the key to it for me is surf as much as your circumstances allow, do the pop up practice and burpee type exercises and doing something like Yoga or Pilates to get the deep core muscles and the para spinal muscles stabilised and strengthened is important, Rib injuries and lower neck stress is common as the muscles don't normally get the sort of work out yo place on them in surfing. Cross training is great and I would recommend to a swimming and in water stretching program and in your surf sessions have shorter but more frequent sessions if posible, ( doing the exercise part of surfing until you are tired leads to overuse syndromes especially in the shoulders.

I would also suggest warm up for surf and then warm down after. BTW I'm 62 have surfed for over 50 years and I maintain a certain level by doing all of the above and if I am injured, I see some of my health professional colleagues who surf ( non surfers have difficulty understanding ) and follow a complete rehab routine until I am ready to surf again.
I also have great respect for appropriate limitations of what sort of surf I tackle , and usually the bigger stuff comes over a gradual increase in size over time.
I've been humbled too many times by letting my ego take me out beyond my ability for the day.

[Tassiedevil]

Have to agree with Jaffa 1949 especially as you get on in years size really does matter .

[RonG]

46, started in July of this year, lacerated the back of my head, broke and lacerated my nose, and wrenched my knee. And I also live at the beach and for some reason can't get seem to get enough of being in the water (glutton for punishment I guess).

That's great but something about all those injuries tells me that you may be riding your board upside down and using the fins as handles

You'd think!

Actually none of my injuries (thus far) have been from the fin. Back of the head was early on, when I couldn't paddle for a wave without pearling, and going off the front of the board, not covering up quickly enough, and taking the nose to the back of my head. Knee was trying to abort a super late takeoff, and going over the falls still sitting on the the board. Nose was just a couple weeks ago, trying to paddle out on a day not suitable for a long board or my skill level, and getting clobbered by the shorebreak when I tried to turn tail and head in.

I feel my surfing is at the very least a service to the local shore casters. With all the blood I've left in the water, they've probably caught a few sharks from the beach

[jaffa1949]

Some out there would argue that a good surf is better than sex I won't take that any further.

Have to agree with Jaffa 1949 especially as you get on in years size really does matter .

Waves or surfboards You Tassie devil you

[Tassiedevil]

The waves Jaffa , the waves .
When we were young we went out in some crazy conditions .I can remember broken boards , fins , and some pretty nasty fin cuts . These days I'm older and hopefully smarter so not too proud to sit out the bigger days . My only major injury recently was a torn groin muscle ( bit embarrassing ) from trying to catch that one last wave when the body was saying it had had enough .

[jaffa1949]

So I take it Shipsterns and the west coast are out

[Tassiedevil]

Have seen some great pictures/ videos of shipstern but you would never ,get me out there . Love the west coast on the days the waves arent as big as houses and the winds arent gale force

[kasabian]

I started at age 39 and still at it 7 years later. I now ride a 5'10 twinny and can confidently surf overhead waves and manage 3 hour sessions. Age is definitely no barrier. State of mind and fitness is everything though.

[IMinCA]

JohnG, where exactly in Malibu? I've been going to Venice and some days the waves are treacherous.

[Afrosurfer]

Hi,
Started surfing at fifty (a young fifty that is!!). Love going with my seventeen year old son as I started this love affair with surfing because of him, West Wittering in Sussex is our main patch so hopefully will branch out into Europe this year maybe northarn Spain.

Love the gym, that' s what gives me the energy for this great sport. Look forward to Cornwall in 2012 and beyond.....

Afrosurfer.

[APH]

Same story for me Afrosurfer. Got into it by taking my oldest daughter to a lesson, and I came home more stoked than her. She doesnt come as often but love the time on the water with her when she does. Adds another enjoyable aspect to surfing, being out there with your kids. Lots of smiles and laughter, usually at my expense

[Cape Town Kook]

Greetings,

First post. I'm 62 and just started surfing last week. The kids wanted to take lessons and to be kind to the Old Geezer, asked me along. To show them I still had it and was still plenty cool, I accepted. Had a Blast. Got in touch with my inner surfer, but not with my inner get-your-balance-and-stand-up. Yet.

I've been renting boards while I look for a used long board. I've also been trying to get into shape. I thought I was in shape as I go to the gym twice a week, but evidently the human body has muscles that are only used for surfing.... Something about left-over Neanderthal strandloper DNA. ("Dude, how do you think they crossed the Bering Sea? By swimming???")

Anyway, nice to read these comments and I'll keep you updated with progress.

"Not a Mid-Life Crises, Just a Second Childhood."