new surfers agree?

[eastcoastie]

First of all, i gotta say i was pretty stoked to find a forum that wasn't exclusive to the beginner surfers.
Just a few weeks ago I finally tried surfing, and it was fantastic. Okay, so it was also incredibly humbling...but hey, out of all the time i spent in the waves, the times i remember the best are the times i stood up (rather than that one perl! )

I learned on a shortboard (not really my preference but it's all good)
as soon as i got in and found all the right positions...you guys may think i'm crazy, but i found it not too difficult. I guess i expected it to be harder... however, the thing i found the most difficult is all the surf "traffic". Surfing is sposed to be fun...but in water jam packed with surfers and barely any space to call your own, it becomes frustrating. Maybe I'm not as confident as i should be, but i really felt like being surrounded by great, seasoned surfers, i was intimidated and i think if there weren't so many others around, i know i would've stood up more, etc...is that totally lame or do any of you other newbies agree? Of course, there's a first time for everyone...and looking back on my mistakes, i'm ready to get back in as soon as i can and work on em. The feeling you get when you're on top of a wave is addicting! as i'm sure you all know!
cheers

[surferdude_scarborough]

i know what you mean about the traffic. im not a newb but i dnt like havin to surf round people coz its hard. last sunday a kid on a bodyboard didnt even try to get out of the way n i had to bail before i stood up n took a fin to the ankle. ive been limping round everywhere since.

[tadwablue]

it definlatey makes life a lot more dificult to learn when you have to look out for everyone else around you. Its a huge safely thing more than anything. But you gotta be respectful of locals and obvious there is almost aways going to be someone better than you that will be calling you off waves thats going to drive you nuts. I don't bother going out if its to bad..to worried about losing my nerve and getting run over. Went up to snapper rocks on east coast of OZ and i wouldn't even bother going out i break 300 people anytime any day of the week ..weather its 1 foot slops or barreling...well i wouldnt go out yet not until i'm more confident anyway

[dondiemand]

im feelin u guys, went to salt creek at dana point last weekend, that beach is hella crowded, but it was fun!!

[junioroverlord]

You know, I went out for my first time yesterday and had a blast. I didn't try to get up at all, but just took the opportunity to practice paddling and catching waves.

Anyway the fun for me ended once everyone and his brother got out there and crowded the line up and then I started just getting in the way. God I hate people! Heh heh, I'm just kidding.

But seriously, being around a bunch of "real" surfers can be intimidating, but I'm not going to let that get me down.

[dweebohh]

yeah i tried surfing on friday... it was fun even though it was tough for me to get up... i was very optimistic and psyched about it... but yeah... all those people around you... i kinda felt weird... like i was around the people that's been surfing all there lives... but i had fun... even though i didn't get to stand up... this guy told me that once i catch my first wave... "YOUR HOOKED... it's addicting wanting to catch the next one or the bigger one..." i just want to see how that would feel like... i can't wait to get back out there next week...

[jennie]

i know where you are coming from on that one......i love surfing sooooooo much and have got to the point where i always wanna be in the line up, and yea i find a large group of better surfers very intimidating.....and especially as im a female and im usually the only one out there, its like everyone will take my wave even if im on it!!!

Its not all bad though, i started asking for advice on how to improve my surfing while i was out there and most of them seemed quite flattered....even got a few phone numbers out of it!

[tautologies]

..so you can surf around London? Just wondering as London might be part of my long term plans

A.

[jennie]

ha ha ha ha i wish u could surf around london!

There is no where that close to london, but if u travel about 3-4 hours by car there are some really good breaks. I live just south of london so its not too far but its still a bit of a mission....

[PapaW]

Plenty of breaks withing an hours drive on london.. Kent/east anglia plus the south coast. trounble is they are inconsistant and you have to be on the charts to know when to go. But thats all part of the fun right ! :) Who wants to be spoon fed.

[sinistapenguin]

If it came to always having good waves when I went to the beach I'd LOVE to be spoon fed!!

[drowningbitbybit]

..so you can surf around London? Just wondering as London might be part of my long term plans

London hasn't really got any good breaks

But is surprisingly well served with a bit of travelling - four hours to devon, a couple of hours to the east coast, and 90 mins to the south coast. The south coast is a fickle thing, but there are a few good spots

[tautologies]

although Your island is bigger than this one, I guess it really isn't that big right? ..but that means no session after work kind of thing. May have to re-think my plans then
But I guess you have to wear wetsuits and all (brrrr).

Still, it would be interesting to check out since I guess England really isn't the first place that comes to mind when thinking of surfing.

A.

[poopalover]

I hear the Thames is "Gnarly" to surf. I live in london and have to travel, but as i've just started and its winter all the beaches i've been have been empty, i'm told you should not surf on your own but its that or walking around london thinking about surfing. But as an ex pro skater, you would be surprised that better skaters than you are willing to teach you and understand that they were beginners at some point to. I would of never of become a pro skater if it wasnt for hanging with people better than I. I presume its the same with surfing. Not only that but they actually get quite exited and proud when you pull a trick off you've not been able to do before. Think of them as your dad. (?????) yeah don't know about that bit.

[Forfeit]

Well, hi guys, I want to start surfing, but instead of opening a new post, I´ll use this one if it isnt a bother.

Do you guys think skating really makes you improve a lot? I mean, I´m 22. I dont think I´m old enough for surfing, but I do think I´m too old for skating.

Should I just go to the beach and start from scratch, or just get a skate and go around looking like a dumb kid goofing around?

Thanks.

[PapaW]

although Your island is bigger than this one, I guess it really isn't that big right? ..but that means no session after work kind of thing. May have to re-think my plans then :-)
But I guess you have to wear wetsuits and all (brrrr).

Still, it would be interesting to check out since I guess England really isn't the first place that comes to mind when thinking of surfing. :-)

A.

Thats mainly cause we've got over 300miles of contnental shelf to screw up the swells.

[Driftingalong]

Do you guys think skating really makes you improve a lot? I mean, I´m 22. I dont think I´m old enough for surfing, but I do think I´m too old for skating.

Your definately not too young to start surfing. A lot of people start when they're 8 or earlier. Some might say you're too old , but forget about that. Check out a used board and a lesson and see if you like it...

[sinistapenguin]

but that means no session after work kind of thing.

If you live in London, then definitely not! - The other thing about the UK when compared to the US (I'm not sure about Hawaii, cos I've never been there) is that the way the country has evolved means that city plans are very different:

NEW YORK:


LONDON:


US Cities tend to be built on a 'grid' system, whereas places like London were built up over an enormously long period of time, roads are twisty and often badly signposted, so if you don't know where you're going, it's much easier to get lost!!

This means that getting from A-B tends to take a long time. If you wanted to get out of London after work, it'd probably take you a good 1 -2 hours, just to get out of town!

I live 11 miles from work, but it takes me 45+ mins to get here!

The island may not be big compared to the states, but getting around it takes a long time!

Plus with Gas at around US$6.5 per gallon, it's expensive too!!

Cheers

Sinista

[Forfeit]

Do you guys think skating really makes you improve a lot? I mean, I´m 22. I dont think I´m old enough for surfing, but I do think I´m too old for skating.

Your definately not too young to start surfing. A lot of people start when they're 8 or earlier. Some might say you're too old , but forget about that. Check out a used board and a lesson and see if you like it...

Well man, thanks

Dunno, I dont want to be on my 40´s, get a mid life crisis and start surfing. Better do it now.

[sinistapenguin]

Forfeit - to answer your question about skating - it'll help with balance etc, but you have to remember that 90% of surfing is Paddling! You need to be able to paddle for a long time and well before you even get to your feet, which is when any skating would help!

Cheers

Sinista