Thankyou Sinista Penguin!

[Surf babe wannabee (!!)]

Hey Sinista,

I just wanted to say thanks for all the great advice and stuff you post on here...! I've just started surfing (ie: only had one lesson so I prob. can't say I'm "surfing" yet!!) but I loved it sooo much and I really wanted to find out about how to do turns, duck diving etc and you relly help! So now whenever I'm stck I'll know who to ask (that is if you don't mind helping me out ocassionally?!)

Thanks!

PS: you sound like you're kind of expert-y so I was wondering if really good surfers would think I'm really dum if I wipe out/ask their advice/generally look like I can't do it?!! I am only 16...!

Anyway, thanks a lot :) x x

[eesalou]

hey, your not the only one lesson person on here!!

I've only had a lesson, and sinista has helped me too.......and i also was wondering if other surfers thought i would be dimb if i looked like i couldn't do it and stuff........i'm three years younger than you, surf babe wannabee!!!

[surf babe wannabee (SBW)]

Hey eesalou

Good to know I'm not the only one who worries about these things...! Oh well, if we look stupid, we look stupid, right?! That's the only way we'll learn and one day we'll be good at it...hopefully...with lots of practice...!

At least I know that other people worry they look stupid too, now! Thankyou! x S.B.W

[eesalou]

no prob

just thought i would make you feel better!

[sinistapenguin]

Hi and thanks

Of course I don't mind answering any questions I can! I wouldn't describe myself as an 'expert' - I don't know everything, but I think surfing is such a great sport/ way to spend your time that I have respect for anyone who gives it a go. A lot of what I post here is theory, the only real way to get better is to practise, a lot of surfing is about feeling what is happening and reacting to it.

As for asking other surfers for advice, I would like to say that most people are willing to offer advice to anyone, most surfers remember when they were starting out and are glad to help.

That said, you do get some idiots who think that beginners are a 'pain in the backside' and have some bad attitude. I think though, as long as you respect the 'don't drop in' rule, try and get out of the way when they are surfing towards you and apologise if you do get in the way then most people will be fine.

Let me know how you get on - Did you manage to get up on your first lesson?

Thanks again and keep it up.

Sinista

[S.B.W.]

Hey!

Thanks, that's great! It's very nice to know that! Did I magage to get up...?! Interesting question - does knees count?!! I screamed very ludly the first time I actually caught a wave and that was embarrassing to say the least! That was only cause the guy teaching me insisted that I tried to catch this wave that was about twice the height of me! Needless to say that was not a good idea as it pinned me to the bottom of the ocean! (after I had felt what it was like to be inside a washing machine!!) But yeah, he rescued me and it just made me even more determined to wanna do it well! (Almost drowning was kinda fun in a weird way...!) So then I carried on and by the end of two hours I could just about stay in my knees but I think I will do better on a day when the sea is calmer - I think my instructor was...er...testing how much I wanted to learn or something! Obviously it didn't put me off or I wouldn't be asking you questions about stuff you no doubt find really easy!

Anyway, next time I'm stuck (..which will prob. be very soon..!) I'll know who to ask!

Thankyou soooo much for this! Later x

[eesalou]

on my first time, i got up on every wave! ( and that was my only time) i thought that happened to everyone....huh. oh well, but yeah, i got on everywave, and we had like, 20 good ones. well, i just remembered that one guarantee of the surf school i went to was that you would surf a wave or its free! It was the goofy foot surf school in Lahaina, Maui....and it
s really great well, that's about all i have to say for now!

[SBW]

Huh! Thanks a lot! I think you should know the waves he made me start on were roughly 7 feet high, which was WHY i found it slightly hard!! When he told me it was a bad day to go surfing, I didn't get why until I got out there (I thought the waces were SUPPOSED to be that big!!) lol, anyway, yeah - so not everyone gets up on their first time! (or is it just me?! oh, you've got me all paranoid that I'm really bad now!! help!)

But ANYWAY, it's ok now because I've got up a couple of times and 'll do it again, damn it! lol :) SBW

[sinistapenguin]

Normal learning conditions should be about 1 - 1 1/2 ft. If it's any bigger you should just catch the whitewater.

7 ft is a little bit much.

Not everyone gets up first time. I did, but I know loads of people who didn't and have gone on to be really good.

It also depends how long your first session is! If you have a 1 hour lesson and don't stand up you'll say 'I didn't get up on my first go'

If you have a first session that lasts 6 hours (like mine did!) then you've got much more chance of getting up on your first go!

Cheers

Sinista