New old dog wanna be surfer

[wdarner]

I retired a few years ago. I am 63 years old and about 225 lbs. Was athletic when younger but got SOFT with age. I took up the guitar 1.5 years ago. This taught me that while I may never be great at a particular activity, I can improve. That improvement is where the fun is for me. I got up on a board when I was young with no problem, but it has been a long time. I bought a used long board and a wetsuit. Looking forward to being the worst surfer on the beach this spring.
I was a computer guy and I can remember the awe people experienced when I taught them how to first connect to the Internet. The smiles on their faces! Well that is what I am looking for when I catch my first wave.
Hello from Dennis in Reading, PA

[oldmansurfer]

Welcome to the forum. There are a few older surfers like myself here (I am 61). Older surfers often suffer from rotator cuff or other shoulder injuries so take it easy at first. I would reccomend you work at strengthening your arms and shoulders with light weights and work at your cardiovascular conditioning with swimming if you can. There is more to surfing than just standing up on a board and riding waves and without the fitness to catch the waves you won't be improving on your wave riding skills any. But then again you're in PA???? Not too much surf there where you gonna surf? Dorney park?

[wdarner]

Interesting that I get a reply from someone in Kauai. I was going to move to Florida, but now I see the long quarantine period on dogs being brought into Hawaii has been modified, Kauai is in consideration. I have been to Hawaii 3 times. The closest surfing beach to me is in New Jersey - about 2 hours away.
I do have some strength conditioning to do. And cardio. No major injuries though. Thanks for your input.
Kauai seems to be a lot quieter than Maui, and of course Oahu is too busy. Is this correct? How do you even know about Dorney Park?

[oldmansurfer]

I am not sure if Kauai is still quieter than Maui but probably so, I haven't been to Maui since 1980, however traffic has become a big issue on this (at one time) little sleepy island (not so much anymore). My wife is from Allentown and I went back there to visit the inlaws once. We went to Dorney Park then fun day and the only time I rode freshwater waves. The dog thing is simple... needs to have 2 rabies shots and the last needs to be current then needs a rabies FAVN test then have to wait 4 months then fill out some paperwork and have a health certificate and pay some fees and have your dog checked at airport for direct release.

[wdarner]

Thanks for your response. I have not been to Dorney Park in decades. Have to check that out.

[oldmansurfer]

I have not been to Dorney park in decades also I love the water park part of it and cool that it had the other areas as well. I spent half the day at the water park then the other half in the other 2 parts. It was the only wave pool I have been in (not that I need a wave pool) and I only spent a small amount of time in the wave pool since it was just for the novelty of it, the rest of the water park was awesome .....there is no shortage of unriden waves here (only the really good spots are really crowded.) Good luck on your restarting your surfing. Keep us updated.