Fall Surf Adventure for a Beginner

[dhovey]

So...I REALLY want to learn how to surf. I also REALLY want a vacation. In a perfect world, I would love to fly to a good starter location, get my bearings on surfing started, and hop on a boat to help crew while surfing and checking out new spots. I got really inspired after watching the documentary "180 South". I skate and snowboard already, so surfing is the next on my list to learn. From what I hear it is not easy, but I am ready to give it my all. I'm looking at starting this journey in the Fall. I am looking for suggestions for an itinerary, a good place to start, and how to get in touch with sailors looking for a crew. Where is there a good fall/winter surf season? Any previous experience you would like to share would be really helpful! Also, I am looking to do it on the cheap so advice in that category would be sweet too! I currently live in the mountains of Western North Carolina in a town called Asheville. Help me ride waves!

[jaffa1949]

Wow
You've got a Big Ask but it can be done.
Can you sail or do you have to learn the ropes? If you can't can you cook?
As a learner you would be quite a liability on any serious surf trip so IMO your best option would be to get to somewhere warm with a surf school and find exactly what you are letting yourself in for. You need to know about rips currents, water conditions tides.
Then as most surf/sailing to out of the way places is to get away from crowds and get to quality surf, under those conditions each surfer needs to be pretty self sufficient in the water.
Start off with some Florida surf schools or Puerto Rico surf school, but I think the days of cheap hop on a boat and learn my way around trips are long gone. I'd like to hope I'm wrong

[dhovey]

And to top it off I don't know how to sail. I am a pretty good cook though. I was thinking of maybe starting off in SoCal and finding places to learn there for a few weeks. Then I could slowly work my way down the coast. Like you said...I really hope the days of hopping on a boat haven't passed yet, because I want it sooooo bad. I'd be willing to fly somewhere else in the world to start, but that all depends on where has a good fall season with warm water.

[dhovey]

Hey jaffa...do you have suggestions on surf schools to check out this time of year?

[jaffa1949]

Dhovey , I can't comment about Californian surf schools, especially since I live in Australia , but the start of your plan seems almost good!
Some of the Californian crew might be able advise you!

Have a look for a book about Peter Troy an Australian shoestring surf traveller, might give you a few ideas.

[IMinCA]

And to top it off I don't know how to sail. I am a pretty good cook though. I was thinking of maybe starting off in SoCal and finding places to learn there for a few weeks. Then I could slowly work my way down the coast. Like you said...I really hope the days of hopping on a boat haven't passed yet, because I want it sooooo bad. I'd be willing to fly somewhere else in the world to start, but that all depends on where has a good fall season with warm water.

UCLA Marine Aquatic center has surf lessons for a lot cheaper than others, it's available to public.

[SwellSC]

Fall is a great time for learning to surf or for surfers here on the North Coast of the DR.

Were we are in Cabarete there's also a school that teaches sailing in Lasers and a 4 man open boat.

Kind regards
Swell

[jaffa1949]

I recommend surfing Puerto Rico highly!!! If you go there the Northwest in Rincon is the place to be. A good friend of mine- Ramse Morales is one of the most respected locals and has the #1 surf school on trip advisor for the entire island http://surflessonspuertorico.com

[jaffa1949]

oops mispelled fixed in previous post.

As a courtesy, why not post information in regard to the breaks around this area on the map and in a thread and seasonal information. The surf information would be more likely to convince a surfer to come than just your website address
Jaffa1949