Preparing to learn to surf

[Babybeluga]

I'm going to be moving closer to the coast in a few weeks time and would really like to learn to surf. I have a balance trainer which is basically exactly like an indo board, I've also been practicing popping up everyday, as well as doing workouts from YouTube that supposedly help paddle technique. I was just wondering, if I continue to do these every day for the forthcoming weeks, how much of an impact will it really have when I'm learning to surf? Or will it really not benefit me that much

[jaffa1949]

It will help slightly, paddling timing reading the waves and the beach are real life real time skills and then there is surf fitness, 90 % or more of the whole thing and needed for paddling, but you are minor steps up in the game!
Have fun and don’t be lured short!

[waikikikichan]

I was just wondering, if I continue to do these every day for the forthcoming weeks, how much of an impact will it really have when I'm learning to surf? Or will it really not benefit me that much

As a surf instructor, I would say " 0 " or not much at all. If anything, it will make things worse. You will be going into your lesson with preconceived ideas/theories and pre-developed muscle memory that will work against what the surf instructor is trying to tell you. I would rather have someone come "straight off the sidewalk" who's mind is fresh and open versus someone that's been learning from Youtube.

I had a student that was having a hard time popping up, she had been surfing two times before with her boyfriend. I soon figured out she had learned to pop up Regular, when in actuality she was Goofy footed. Now she has this bad habit crawl up pop up, since she's inclined to put the wrong foot forward at first.

[Babybeluga]

I have had a few lessons before, but it was a while ago. I can't afford to get lessons this time though, I'm gonna be teaching myself with YouTube

[waikikikichan]

What size board will you buy or rent ?

[oldmansurfer]

Fitness in cardio and paddling muscles will help in my inexperienced opinion

[Babybeluga]

I've already got a board from last time I was learning, it's a 7'6 roger cooper mini mal

[Babybeluga]

I've also got an 8ft epoxy board lying around though, so I figured I'd use that the first few time until I'm consistently catching green waves

[Babybeluga]

Throughout July, August and September, I'm not gonna have anything to do, so if I can I will be in the water a couple of hours a day. I'm hoping those first few weeks will give me a good foundation

[waikikikichan]

If you not on green waves yet, you need to learn on a board 3 feet over your head. Once you start to catch green waves and begin to traverse across the face of the wave, then you can get something 2 feet over your head. 7'6" is way too small.

But depending on the circumstance, size of car, size of room, availability, etc "A" board, even if it's too short, is better than "no" board.

If you are so wanting to learn, learning on a bigger board will make things much easier and so less frustrating.

[Oldie]

One of the many limiting factors will be surf fitness. What should help a bit is training, especially shoulder and core strength, and HIIT training. No heavy equipment needed. Push-ups, Pullups, Planks, Burpees and a bit of stretching every day should help to slightly reduce the fatigue vs non-training. Try to find a a good school for the start but look for some recommendations - the one lesson I had in the US (HB) was my worst ever.