I'm a special case. need advise

[DreamSurf]

The thing about surfing is......you need the waves too....look at that surf report; there aren't a lot of great surfers coming out of the benelux for a reason.....not a lot of top snowboarders in South Carolina either or downhill longboard skateboarders in Kansas.....

this waves just arent powerfull enough.(im really not blaming them tho) i remember with bodyboarding in mundaka it would go sooooooo hard that i could see myself on the very end of the curve bringing me to shore. but hey the northsea is weak. but it is a good playground for a beginner i think.

what you said there are not many good surfers from benelux.
i see a challenge there. but there arent many moroccans as well. cause surfboards are expensive for them. and the interest lies more in marrying and taking care of a family.
but i like to dissaprove this. maybe i will and maybe not. one can only die trying LOL

[Oldie]

Yesterday was good enough at the North Sea to have good fun. At your stage cannot blame the lack of power for anything. But you also need to understand the spot and where and why the waves break. Where are sandbanks? Is it better at high tide, low tide or in between? Better at incoming or outgoing tide? Those factors make a huge difference in the quality of the Waves. If there is only shorebreak, maybe there is already too much water. If this is a popular surf spot - are there others out? If not, there is probably a good reason.

[DreamSurf]

Yesterday was good enough at the North Sea to have good fun. At your stage cannot blame the lack of power for anything. But you also need to understand the spot and where and why the waves break. Where are sandbanks? Is it better at high tide, low tide or in between? Better at incoming or outgoing tide? Those factors make a huge difference in the quality of the Waves. If there is only shorebreak, maybe there is already too much water. If this is a popular surf spot - are there others out? If not, there is probably a good reason.

really the only thing there is is the shorebreak. and i fear constantly the breaking of my fins. but hey it wasnt for nothing i was paddling back to back and duckdiving with or without waves. i told my wife this isnt going to satisfy the surf lust. i have 3 destinations allready dotted mundaka , mughait and maybe bilbao which is next to mundaka. if i go to mughait i will probably also go to rmillet and tahadart and tazaghout since its on the way. i have some spots i rather leave undiscovered i used to hug dolphins there. but when im that good ill pm you to come by if you feel like.

anyways the pro movie LOL. is almost finished i need to upload it. i cut a lot since i didnt want to bore you paddling. i paddled to the sailors and they were looking at me like what are you doing here. anyways if i really want to have good proper waves in the deep like you guys have i need to at least go half or south france. but i do not like the france culture. i skated with them. they fight over spots and im sure they do the same with surfing.(it cant be different) no worries tho and no generalising. its just a common impression i have.

the other really annoying thing was you couldnt really tell when the deep is felt. you walk and walk and walk and then a hole deep full of craps and then heeeey its undeep again. even at the sailors which was very deep i could find some non deep ground to stand on. but only waves at the shore unfortunately. but really oldie im happy just to be there. wheres there is a will there is a way in this.
but one thing is sure tho i got so many new questions. and i can not help but to blame the condition of waves as well.

surely i wouldnt be better. but hey taking of and having fastness gives you more time. cest la vie.
i take a challenge in that. i have a road to walk and i want to reach it. damn sure. you were at the north sea as well? doesnt it give you that feeling like you couldnt do enough. i had angry moments really. are we in a good place? honestly if you love this sport once a month wont make you good enough. no doubt you have to migrate. ok time to upload.

[DreamSurf]

[dtc]

nice video - one thing that came to mind straight away is that when you are paddling for waves (ie trying to catch them), even in the white water, you need to paddle harder. You need to 'match' the speed of the wave so that you are being pushed in front of the wave/white water - if you just wait until it catches you, then you end up in the white water itself, which is all bumpy and frothy and no power.

[RinkyDink]

Nice video. I'd recommend that you give yourself more room. You're too close to the shore. Paddle out a little bit and catch the whitewater from waves breaking farther outside.

[oldmansurfer]

those waves look like they are good enough for a shortboard. Going to another break probably won't help you unless there are people there to tell you what you are doing wrong. Basically the ultimate goal is to ride the unbroken face of the wave. There are several places there that look like a better surfer could surf those waves on a shortboard. If you want to ride a shortboard there you need to get onto the unbroken face of the wave because the whitewater doesn't have enough speed or power to support you. Another way to do it is to catch the wave lying down and turn it so it goes down the line on the unbroken face of the wave then try to stand on it. The bigger the board the less speed and power the waves need so a long board can probably ride that whitewater much better. The most power from a wave is right in front of where the wave is breaking, once it breaks the power diminishes so by the time you stand it is too weak to keep you going on a shorter board. I love watching the excited boy going to the beach. He is stoked.

[benjl]

Like what DTC said, it looks like a few of the waves were passing you by before you got up to your knees to ride them.
Once you match the speed of the wave then you will get the push along without it just hitting you and going over the back.

Also, it looked like there was a bit more power in the waves about 20-30m further back than where you were.
If you're comfortable going out a little bit closer to those waves give them a try- their whitewash will have a bit more power to push you along

[Big H]

Yesterday was good enough at the North Sea to have good fun. At your stage cannot blame the lack of power for anything. But you also need to understand the spot and where and why the waves break. Where are sandbanks? Is it better at high tide, low tide or in between? Better at incoming or outgoing tide? Those factors make a huge difference in the quality of the Waves. If there is only shorebreak, maybe there is already too much water. If this is a popular surf spot - are there others out? If not, there is probably a good reason.

This is one of the things that a new surfer needs to learn and understand....choosing where and WHEN to surf is a large part of success or failure.....I was at my local yesterday in the morning and it was amazing....came back by running errands in the avro and took a look....super low tide and unsurfable......some breaks only work a few times a year when all the variables add up....some patches of ocean arent meant to be surfed at all. Learning when and where to show up, then where exactly on the break itself to go to catch a wave is a large part (Massive really) of developing.

[MozSurfer]

It seems like you start paddling too late. One underestimates how fast the wave is coming so you need to anticipate when you need to start paddling for the wave to get you just before it breaks. More experience will help with this. Just practice. But I'd suggest start paddling 5 seconds earlier than you do in the video. That should help

[DreamSurf]

nice video - one thing that came to mind straight away is that when you are paddling for waves (ie trying to catch them), even in the white water, you need to paddle harder. You need to 'match' the speed of the wave so that you are being pushed in front of the wave/white water - if you just wait until it catches you, then you end up in the white water itself, which is all bumpy and frothy and no power.

advice taken. im like a sponge.

[DreamSurf]

Nice video. I'd recommend that you give yourself more room. You're too close to the shore. Paddle out a little bit and catch the whitewater from waves breaking farther outside.

I really agree with you. but to make you understand the sea here does not have the usual logic. even rocky seas and coral ones do not behave like that. i paddled all the way to the sailors before even filming everything. it was a ccheck. i was doing a safety check just to know the sea and where i am and this is what came out of it.

there literally aint a lot to do. like oldman said there are waves that you can make fun out of. but the unseen. the ground underneath the water doesnt make it really comfy to glide all the way.

this is 2 dimensional. but i just want to show you what i mean

picture1


here you see the shore is full of white water and sometimes even bigger waves then in the deep. this is very nice but it gives you an amateur feeling cause it is totally undeep and even my daughter could stand there. the waves hit hard tho. you can even pop off lol. but the chance is too big you hit the sand

picture 2


this is what oldmansurfer ment. here are the good waves. the best ones. this is the one that led me popping of and go all the way to the end.(not on video) and think 3dimensional i had the luck not hitting the higher sand. my finbox isnt broken but i see traces of touching shells.(cosmetic damage)
the problem of this ideal spot is that it only gives you just so much fun with the waves. and you cant go full potential.

picture3


same explanation as picture 2

picture 4


here you pass the waves and get into the windy district where there are sailors and wind surfers and paddle boarder. really just flat but LOL. if you get far enough you light again hit ground. the sailors know the place and where to sail. the only ones really enjoying the mess was the windsurfer and paddleboarder.

but hey its all good. its beginners stuff.

but still i miss some basics of reading waves. so no excuses regardless all this. and oldmansurfer mentioned this pretty well.

so my main question now is/ when is the wave ripe to catch? when is it in bloom. whens the time. i got it i need to paddle the speed of the wave. but the question. which wave? please draw or show pictures to clarify. i need this stuff.

pro shortboarder haha LOL. u guys must be laughing you esses of special case

[jaffa1949]

Total mess of a surf, not much you could do! Paddle like you mean to catch the wave just jumping in front of dribble white water does not count! There was NO power worth speaking about in the waves so no stability to pop up .
Most workable waves were further out, but they were poor too.
There are good breaks for learners in The North Sea coasts but you need to read them and what the forecast mean in reality on each beach.

But you've started we all began there!
Post more and surf more , tuition from the forum abounds!

[DreamSurf]

Total mess of a surf, not much you could do! Paddle like you mean to catch the wave just jumping in front of dribble white water does not count! There was NO power worth speaking about in the waves so no stability to pop up .
Most workable waves were further out, but they were poor too.
There are good breaks for learners in The North Sea coasts but you need to read them and what the forecast mean in reality on each beach.

But you've started we all began there!
Post more and surf more , tuition from the forum abounds!

well the ice is broken and i will post. lol thats what i do when im home. meanwhile less video and more practice. The Journey has begun.

[icetime]

That looks more like a skimboarding spot, too shallow and flat, you could probably get like 2-4 decent waves in like 2 hours sitting past where they break, looks like there are sets that occasionally break out back I'd say about knee high, so yeah basically sit further out, patience pays off, turn around and paddle way sooner than you currently do, and sit a bit further from where you would normally start paddling, don't forget you have a longboard so you can catch them waaay earlier before they break, but the most important part is to have fun and go down the line

[DreamSurf]

That looks more like a skimboarding spot, too shallow and flat, you could probably get like 2-4 decent waves in like 2 hours sitting past where they break, looks like there are sets that occasionally break out back I'd say about knee high, so yeah basically sit further out, patience pays off, turn around and paddle way sooner than you currently do, and sit a bit further from where you would normally start paddling, don't forget you have a longboard so you can catch them waaay earlier before they break, but the most important part is to have fun and go down the line

i had to get wet and somewhere i knew i wouldnt get it all out. but i need to get comfy with my board. its all just an obstacle in it self my friend. but god willingly there will be that day where i surf like its a normal thing to do and watch the clean beautiful ocean made by god so that we may live on earth. exhalted is he. he created everything and he warned us to respect the mizane( balance scale) to respect the blue and the green and to eat from it. not to kill for sports or for territory.

this is a beautiful sport to i like to continue for the rest of my life. it quiets the mind. daily we think about cash and tax and all our responsibilities. and then we throw those thoughts. 2000 kilo of burden away when we take our light foam surfboard and live the dream and try to achieve and loving doing it.

anyways. i had to say that.

skimboarders are very active there now that you mention. i just had to get freaking wet. to START! . you will see more from me by time. and i hope incha allah(godwilling) we here can all be friends. not just forum members.

let me give my compliments to all you guys ive been to every forum and it was full with trolls.
i can handle one troll. but full of trolls is just nada. happy to be on board with you all. be what you are i can handle sarcasm and flames. hope we can always settle afterwards and be cool. thats life innit? its what we do.

conclusion tho. i wont be surfingLOL paddling i mean there no mo. i need waves back to back. i dont care if i get slapped or wipe out. better to have one good wave to stand on and 6 wipeouts. then little to no waves. we need more

IM HUNGRY

[BoMan]

My main question now is/ when is the wave ripe to catch? when is it in bloom. whens the time. i got it i need to paddle the speed of the wave. but the question. which wave? please draw or show pictures to clarify. i need this stuff.

I love that you have paddled the break and made drawings. I"m lazy and just watch from the cliffs before going out. Here are some resources to help:

Surf Simply - Understanding Tides

ISURFTRIBE - Understanding Waves Size & Surf Reports

Magic Seaweed Forecasting Tool
http://magicseaweed.com/UK-Ireland-Surf-Forecast/1/

For my break and skill, the best conditions are:
*2 hours before or after high tide
*2-4 foot waves
*Period = at least 14 seconds

[oldmansurfer]

There are breaks that are easier for a beginner, weaker slow moving waves that allow beginners time to figure out what to do. That would be entirely different from what would be a good shortboard spot and a good surfing spot would have lots of good surfers making it impossible for you to learn. However it appears that spot is near you home which would mean you have more opportunity to surf there. Maybe there will be days when the surf is better. Every day the surf can be different and in fact it changes during the day so the surf may be lousy in the morning and perfect in the afternoon so maybe it will have good waves for you at times you can go out.

[DreamSurf]

There are breaks that are easier for a beginner, weaker slow moving waves that allow beginners time to figure out what to do. That would be entirely different from what would be a good shortboard spot and a good surfing spot would have lots of good surfers making it impossible for you to learn. However it appears that spot is near you home which would mean you have more opportunity to surf there. Maybe there will be days when the surf is better. Every day the surf can be different and in fact it changes during the day so the surf may be lousy in the morning and perfect in the afternoon so maybe it will have good waves for you at times you can go out.

funny how i missed so many knowledge. its a blast i tell ya. make a jolly good laugh but i started today learning spanish in the name of surfing. i allready know arabic and spain because most places ill be surfing at will be hispanic english or arabic. call me strange but i need big big ones. to wipe me out and to punish me. i work best when im cornered on the fence(with mma) that way you have no choice but to do it. those beginner waves i welcome them. but i wont skip a bigger one ofcourse. the best thing to have is to have an ideal spot with no rocks or corals and a clean open sea with big waves.

to answer you. the surf is every day different obviously but you have seen the photos how the water ground is drawed. its not nice surfing knowing you might hit ground. its just sand but still. its the kinda sea that just isnt made for it. i talked to the local skimboarders. and they are in fact surfers. skimboarding is their second choice due to the way the sea is. unfortunately for me i live in a non sea environment.

just to tell you my private side of life. i am very depressive and sad the way i live. i feel empty and sucked soulles.
i used to skate every single day when i was in my local place before i got married. i started gaming more since i married. what else to do? its always winter here and im landlocked. i did fitness and it wasnt hard but boring. i went back kickboxing for 2 years even winning. but in my mind i dont like to kill people. i know i need fight potential. but why do i have to knock someone out? in 2007 i knocked someone out and he has a lazy eye now. i hate myself. but hey we both new it blabla;;;;;......

surfing is nature and beautifull. this journey isnt just surfing only. its searching for salvation. the sea the sand the palmtree and the healthy breeze. but ofcourse my ultimate and final goal is to see myself shredding and airing. i can do that. its only the when.

i envy you guys with yo waves.
catch you in the flipside oldman. i follow your trail and live next to that beautiful beach. you'll see

dos servecas por favor

[oldmansurfer]

surfing frequently is the basic requirement for learning to surf quickly. Hope you can find a place to do that. I only surf for 30 minutes 2 days a week but I surf in waves that are very often worse than those waves you showed us. I do so because I want to learn to surf and I don't have time to go find better surf so I just go to the beach where I always go which is where I grew up and a mile from my house by the road. I learned to surf originally long ago and got pretty good then quit for 12 years and then started back up after getting overweight and out of shape (and older). It was just like learning to surf all over except I knew what to do. Now I am too busy to surf a lot, on call all the time that I am not working but I love to get out in the ocean and paddle around hoping to get a good wave. It is like my psychotherapist and helps me to unwind from daily stress. I am just happy to still be out there catching waves at my age. I don't need to have a perfect break or perfect waves just a chance to catch some. Airs? I don't know if I will ever do one but I did an couple airdrops off the top of the wave and successfully landed them. I like to turn though and I am still working on developing my turns and I like to go fast and still working on going fast. It will all come to you too eventually just not as fast as you initially thought. Ahhh I see you are learning the important phrases in Spanish another one might be donde es una buena playa para surfear? although my Spanish is not so good so maybe need to figure that one out yourself.