Beginners, shortboards and catching waves WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!

[IdRatherBeSurfing]

After getting my shortboard about a month ago... and spending the last 3 weeks looking like a total prat playing about in the mush Today I caught not one, not two, but THREE waves. Almost got round to popping up lol but was just enjoying the speed that that board gives!!

WWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

It was like having your first orgasm

Was beginning to despair So my advice to any beginners who want to learn on shortboards is to stick at it ; dont get disheartend by all your mates on mini mals who seem to be doing way better than you are


Decided to get outback as far as possible today, past the mush and onto some bigger waves - and thats where I caught them.

Totally stoked

[Driftingalong]

That's great! Stick with it. I'm an "advanced" beginner on a shortboard. It can be frustrating at times, but I love it. I do feel that I get better everytime I go out.

[fletcher]

[quote="Driftingalong"] I'm an "advanced" beginner on a shortboard[quote]

I like that it sounds cool
i suppose thats what i would be

[easty]

No doubt I will be in the same boat , in the next few weeks

R

[TokyotheKid]

you didn't stand up??

[sebastiansurfer]

i love my shortboard even in shorebreak
its crazy fast

[crepuscular]

i'm actually better with shortboards than using a minimal, lol...

[sebastiansurfer]

i have a feeling i would be too
considering i get too lazy and just sit on it whilest catching waves!

[uglystick]

While i learnt to surf on a shortboard, i wouldnt advise it if you had the choice between a long and a short board.

1. Long boards allow you to develop quicker because the board is more stable and you sit higher on the water making paddling easier.

2. You can generally surf longer rides on a long board which is better for development.

3. Learning on a short board kills your style and can become to jolty. Long boarding helps to develop flow.

i always swap between boards depending on the conditions and how my surfing is feeling. When i start to loose some flow ill jump back on the long board and draw out my truns with nice big smooth archs.

[Rico]

I dont think that learning on a Sb kills your style, because I did and I still believe that it is the best way to start if you want to shortboard in the future anyway.

and it is very possible to succeed this way, if you got the physical ability. Sure, if you're a weak paddler and in trouble with everything, you should go for a minimal... But longboards are for longboarders, I like the style and it's fun, but no option for me (concerning the way i like to surf and the fact that i have to travel to waves).

I started with a real narrow shortboard and got my first wave on the first day...yeah it was only a 3 or 6 sec ride but hey, thats enough to get hooked.

I tried a longboard last summer and felt more like being pushed around by the waves and hardly getting out.. so what they say about paddling a shortboard maybe true but its even harder to get a real longboard to the lineup on a big day than the narrowest pro potato.

[uglystick]

surfing is about using the waves flow, curve and push. Longboarding develops this because you need to use your legs alot more to drive through your turns, which has major benefits for your short board surfing.

with long boarding you do get pushed around alot more due to the size of the board. Learn not to fight the wave but flow with it.

Ratsa's style is a good one to look at, you may see what i mean.

[pkbum]

wow in 3 week? dang it took me at least 3 month just to turn and do some trick that i suk at. Dang. people are fast learner

[Rico]

wow in 3 week? dang it took me at least 3 month just to turn and do some trick that i suk at. Dang. people are fast learner

notice that he didnt stand up