I'm a special case. need advise

[MozSurfer]

I am looking forward to seeing how your session went... Please let us know how it went. I was also very stoked to get into surfing. I started on a 6' 4'' or 6'6'' board for my first time(it was the only board available as we were on a remote island and my friend only had that board). It was hard paddling, waves were bit small. I got tired after an hour. And I struggled to catch a few waves. The longest rides I had were about 5 seconds. And I thought I would be pumping and shredding the waves. Although I never said it aloud(just as well) I thought it would be easy.

Fast forward a year or two and I am an experienced windsurfer with good board skills and carving techniques.

So I go on a week long vacation to a surfing spot. No surf shop at the spot(empty beach) so I take my shortest windsurfer board along. And it was 9' 8'' long and it was 23' wide. But I left my ego at home.

Surf was pounding. I was floundering a bit. The waves were 1m+ and was very hard to swim through with such a buoyant board. I could stand on the board and it didn't sink so we talking 75+ litres.

On the second day I started catching 50% of my waves and getting the hang of riding down the line. On the third day I started carving along the face(slow and long of course) and catching about 80% of my waves and riding for 100m+ till the wave died or I ejected. On the fourth day I was cruising very nicely and gaining speed down the line and playing on the face and having a ball. 5th day was absolute bliss. It was an awesome spot with a wave that is a right hander and peels cleanly for 200m.

So it took me a few days of 5hours+ surfing per day to regain my proficiency(took a few months off from big waves) after two year of windsurfing experience, a lot of swimming training. One important thing was that I would a lot of small waves (1ft) on that windsurfer board till it got easy and I could popup with closed eyes and get up 100% of the time.

Last time I went to a surf spot I took a 9 foot longboard out and paddled out to the break. Waves were rubbish and I couldn't catch a wave. I was a bit cautious getting too far into the break. It was behind a rocky outcrop so one would paddle in behind it a bit and the midset waves would break far into the break but when the last two waves of the set rocked up it was a scramble not to get trashed. Later the surfboard shop owner saw me out there on a softboard and suggested I take a short board. After I did things went a bit better(could duckdive the waves now). I still struggled(waves were really bad that day). Caught a few pathetic waves but I could feel my technique had become rusty.

Lesson: Be realistic, don't be afraid to dream big but set small goals to get there and be humble. Don't be afraid to play it safe and catch a few whitewaters to regain some proficiency before heading to the green waves. Next time I will try to get a hard board of around 8ft. That should catch some of the mushy waves and be a bit more rigid than a foamie. I don't like the foamies a lot. They are a bit flimsy to my liking. Let's hope I get out again soon!!

Good luck the started of this thread. Keep your stoke up and don't be afraid to fail. Just remember that overconfidence comes before a big fall or fail. If you don't catch a single wave on the 17th don't worry. We all start excited and anxious. Be patient and take it easy.

[BaNZ]

Well the forecast for Netherland isn't so good for 17th. Gale force wind. But you sure will have plenty of white wash, great for beginners.

[Big H]

Well the forecast for Netherland isn't so good for 17th. Gale force wind. But you sure will have plenty of white wash, great for beginners.

Not on that little board he's got.

[DreamSurf]

Well the forecast for Netherland isn't so good for 17th. Gale force wind. But you sure will have plenty of white wash, great for beginners.

1.2 a 1.5meters in belgium

On 17 according to glassy.pro dunqerque

[DreamSurf]

Well the forecast for Netherland isn't so good for 17th. Gale force wind. But you sure will have plenty of white wash, great for beginners.

Not on that little board he's got.

I have 3 boards. Sold my console.

5.11
7.6
And a torq 8

I got all i need.

[Lebowski]

Three boards before you've set foot in the ocean!

[Big H]

Three boards before you've set foot in the ocean!

Huh.....that's kinda impressive in a way.

[Big H]

Three boards before you've set foot in the ocean!

Huh.....that's kinda impressive in a way.

I hope with all that invested that it meets or exceeds what you expect surfing to be.....really curious what your feelings are once you lift the curtain and get a taste of it. You gotta promise that you tell us all about it after all of this build up.

[DreamSurf]

Three boards before you've set foot in the ocean!

im determined to stay in the game. I bought the longboard purely for different circumstances. the north sea isnt ideal for a shortboard. except on some rare occasions. the 8 torq was ment to be for my wife. but i might as well use it as well.7.6 stays home. ill bring the shortboard just for the sake of hope that the sea is indeed 1.2M. and if not ill still have the longboard

[Oldie]

ill bring the shortboard just for the sake of hope that the sea is indeed 1.2M.

The shortboard should be perfect in 1.2m strong onshore North Sea windswell on your first day of surfing,

BTW, your 8ft "longboard" has significantly less volume than he 7.6ft Light World Traveller that you already have, so it will float you worse. But you should get some good push in the whitewater. And if not, you can always buy another board.

Please do share some videos. Really interested how it goes.

[DreamSurf]

Three boards before you've set foot in the ocean!

Huh.....that's kinda impressive in a way.

I hope with all that invested that it meets or exceeds what you expect surfing to be.....really curious what your feelings are once you lift the curtain and get a taste of it. You gotta promise that you tell us all about it after all of this build up.

i dont know how to explain it. i am! determined to have a level skill. i know the way is long or short. but regardless that. I have to achieve that goal. and there is no way im going to retreat this idea. today i might paddle and stand on the longbaird. and then then then.

If you knew me like my friends know me, then all this weird thing here would become more of a logic. i spent days on a tree(when i was in militairy) to find out how to jump from that far away tree in the water. and i would eat coconuts and cashew and water(i was slaschutter aka sniper ) i love the impossible. speaking about impossible.

i see science when i see surfing. gravity more or less. flotation. waves and winds. calculations. feelings and the body language. i am not planning to hold back and im here to stay.

yes im not complete or qualified yet. but to me that dont mean anything. it has settled in ly heart and it is going nowhere. from the very beginning of that idea i have never let loose of the thought to surf. and i know for fact that once i go wet 17 godwillingly and regardless how i did good or bad. it will bring forth more thoughts and ideas and reasons to think more learn more read more and do all the necessary to achieve that moment where i set myself in the air with at leas a nosegrab or indie.

an in the process enjoying just only that i paddle and surf the rookie way. but you know whatever man life is great. and i find my shift allready good. i dont have a gamingconsole anymore. ok the pc and thats that. i run more. i spent more time with the family ince this idea. and now i bring my wife with me to my insanity. and she will enjoy just sitting on the board and having fun. instead of me alone playing goddamned games sucking time.


thank you for your kind wishes. as soon as i start surfing that day ill notice you guys. i am not sure if i can upload the video there. but ill be home monday so thats when you will see probably

[DreamSurf]

ill bring the shortboard just for the sake of hope that the sea is indeed 1.2M.

The shortboard should be perfect in 1.2m strong onshore North Sea windswell on your first day of surfing,

BTW, your 8ft "longboard" has significantly less volume than he 7.6ft Light World Traveller that you already have, so it will float you worse. But you should get some good push in the whitewater. And if not, you can always buy another board.

Please do share some videos. Really interested how it goes.

LOL another board. man i have to look into my pockets for that. but th 8 is also for my wife so thats the reason why its coming with us.
hey oldie thank you for your interest. i will surely upload it as soon as possible. hope that when you guys see flaws that can be fixed.

[DreamSurf]

obviously for a longboard you cant do the duckdive thing. i might just go for shortboard practice. paddle and duckdiving. eventually the pop up if that works out. meanwhile ill have my backup the torq. so if its a big step i can take a step back and do the longboard. that is what i have in mind. the shortboard is necessary for the duckdiving i guess.

[DreamSurf]

For everyone on northsea:

Probably a special occasion. From de panne belgium to bray dunes frankrijk it is very nice

I chose this saturday 17 with no reason. It was ment to be

[pmcaero]

just, please, try not to hog all the waves on Saturday...leave some for the other surfers in the water, those poor sods.

I was a pretty good sniper in Counterstrike Portable, I should join the special ops

[DreamSurf]

just, please, try not to hog all the waves on Saturday...leave some for the other surfers in the water, those poor sods.

I was a pretty good sniper in Counterstrike Portable, I should join the special ops

or the wave catches me(lol). there is a chance of minor rain. today it is storm n thunder. hopefully tomorrow it will stop. hope there is no wash there. bray dunes has a river that comes out in sea.

[DreamSurf]

in all honesty im scared and excited. i feel hyped and this morning depending on the weather i will start. this is the schedule of the day. and dont laugh i have a 4th board.(it was a present and they didnt know i had 3 boards. i didnt say it either
its a funboard nps 7.2 .the volume is 47L . LOL so anyways the end choice has changed every day. i will bring my shortboard and this nps board. and my intention are as follow

paddle test
duckdive shortboard
malibu roll dive
calibration where to put my body on the board to have the weight shared all over the board
take off without popping up. giving it a sense.
eventually popping up. ofcourse with that nps board.

i will also try the impossible and try my best to make it day one
pop up(chicken wing if tired) and try to follow the waves if i even get that far.

i am really hoping for a good weather. and somewhere in my heart i am excited by the idea. its adrenaline. dont expect to much from me. just have a good laugh and enjoy my video once its uploaded. i just want to be that dude to walk the walk

also im not taking my wetsuit. just a rash vest short sleeve and a short. the reason is even tho it might rain the forecast is still 20 celsius. and ah well lets catch a cold and go home LOL. by the way the flu is in benelux so why not join the rest?
all with all thanks guys. sorry for the annoyance. peace be upon you all.

[pmcaero]

paddle test
duckdive shortboard
malibu roll dive
calibration where to put my body on the board to have the weight shared all over the board
take off without popping up. giving it a sense.
eventually popping up. ofcourse with that nps board.

you're way too ambitious. Focus! Just catching a single whitewater ride should be an accomplishment at this stage. Use one board, leave the shortboard at home.

[waikikikichan]

paddle test
duckdive shortboard
malibu roll dive
calibration where to put my body on the board to have the weight shared all over the board
take off without popping up. giving it a sense.
eventually popping up. of course with that NSP board.

i am really not gonna buy a fish surfboard quad setup or a hybrid fish.
i took the hard way as a skater going full on pro boards. and i feel home with a shortboard i know i’m a special case cause i will carve really fast and all that.

what if i pop up on first or second and actually know how to carve n steer?

i skimboarded and actually went into and caught a wave and i was doing it. Even did board slide and floater on a wave

my next post will be a video u seeing me popping up and go boss on that surfboard and under it put a meme that says haters gonna hate.

WHAT !??! Dude, You were suppose to be that one "special" case. The one in a million that could surf ( not ride ) a shortboard on the first day. Pro skater, Ex-military sniper, open water swimmer, etc. etc. YOU were the chosen one. You were the hope for the millions and millions of beginner/newbies to say " well, this one guy did it , so can I ". Forums would have to edit all the previous info about starting out on a shortboard to "It is actually possible". You were suppose to shut all the Haters and Nay sayers down. You better paddle out on the shortboard before the lesson and Claim it !

[Big H]

In spite of the lessened ambitions, today will be a tough one for our boy to wrap his head around.....hope he isn't alone and has someone with some aquatic/lifesaving skills watching out for him ....