Surfing Waves

Ok guys I need to teach somebody how to surf. Now if it were anybody else, I would shove a 6-0 in their arms and tell them to deal with it haha ... but this is my wife so I figured I would be more forgiving and opt for a 6’6, 2-1/2, 19 5/8 egg for her to learn on. Heck, it’s even got the Pro Tech rubber edged fins. I know. I’m getting soft muahaha.

In all seriousness, she is about 5-5, 130 lb. and somewhat athletic. Should I be expecting divorce papers?

Yes. Or is your goal to have her NOT like it so you don't have to share the waves with her? =P

At least get her on a 8'0. Why does learning have to be hard? If she picks it up quick on something longer, you can get her to progress to a shorter board right away.

And I don't think athleticism makes a huge deal in board sports. I'm very athletic. I'm still glad I went out my first 6 times on an 8 foot board. Then all I had to worry about was popping up and timing because it was pretty easy to get picked up and pushed along by a wave. I learned how to snowboard after surfing and that still took me a while to pick up (point being just b/c you can do one thing, doesn't mean there isn't a learning curve for another). But I will attribute the speed of progression and my style to my athleticism. But it's still nice to begin with success (funboard) then work UP to a challenge (short board).

But this is just one gal's opinion (and if you were joking about the 6'6 - my bad!). You know your wife, her temperment, and her ability better than any of us do. At any rate, have fun! If you're patient I think it'll go well.

the.ronin wrote:Should I be expecting divorce papers?

Whenever she gets better than you.

ambolina wrote:Yes. Or is your goal to have her NOT like it so you don't have to share the waves with her? =P

At least get her on a 8'0. Why does learning have to be hard? If she picks it up quick on something longer, you can get her to progress to a shorter board right away.

.

yep right size.

I think a 6'6" egg is too small to start on for adult beginners. Unless you are young or have lots of time to hang around paddling, bigger is better.

I am 5'2" and 110lb and had trouble catching waves with a 7'6" by 20" by 2 3/4" minimal when I started in my 30's, although it had a bit of rocker for a minimal. I ended up with a 6'10" McCoy nugget (6'10" by 21" by 3 1/4") to learn on.

For me, I found the hard part catching waves, so more volume made it easier. Once I caught the wave, the standing bit was relatively easy. Paddling was hard to learn for me.

After 2 1/2 years of surfing once a week (spread over about 8 years with numerous breaks for babies), I have a 6'4" by 20" by 2 3/4" McCoy nugget. I could go a bit smaller for a bit of more manoeuvrablilty, and possible duck dive, but even that is borderline.

If she can already read the ocean and pick waves then maybe a bit smaller would be OK. I suppose it depends whether you want her to have fun and catch waves and continue to surf, or just get cranky.

I think that you are a brave man to try to teach your wife to surf , particularly if you can surf well and have forgotten how hard the basics are to master.

Good luck with it. Tell her that Husbands really are lovely people, particularly if they read stuff over your shoulder.

Thanks for the advice, guys and gals. It was very helpful and I had a feeling what the answer was going to be. I had actually, decided against the 6'6 and decided for an 8'8 which happened to be selling for the same price on craigslist - same brand too which was wierdness. Anyway, the 8'8 ended up already being sold so ... yup - 6'6 it was haha.

So get this, this morning was the first training day and it was the choppiest storm crap waves I had seen in a while BUAHAHAHA. Still, my wife was a trooper. She QUICKLY realized how hard surfing is and in chop city no less. But she kept on paddling. She even bonzai'ed a wave!! We both couldn't stop laughing how giddy she was after boogy boarding the white water.

We'll be back tomorrow.

So, Ronin, are you sleeping on the couch, yet?

Or is she one of those surfing freaks who has learned to catch and ride waves already?

I am happy to report I am *not* sleeping on the couch yet.

She is still managing to get out of bed early to go surfing too. Lots of paddling. Actually I'm impressed at how she doesn't mind the paddling. On really small days, we pull the surf school thing and I push her into waves. She hasn't stood up (and stayed on) yet but so far so good.

hey ronin considering im 14 im not too sharp on the marriage thing
but when my friend whose touchier the the lovely cut between my eyes came with me i gave him a mix of short and long.id say rent a tad larger boards at a local beach..that way the interest is preserved! that boards pretty narrow though?

Thanks for the advice Sebastian ... you're half my age but twice as smart

We're pretty good friends with the owner of a local surf school. He always makes sure to check on us whenever we pull up at the beach. I'm thinking if she continues to stick with it and gets comfortable paddling and sitting, we might spring for a lesson or two to keep up the stoke.

nah not smart.i get by on luck.and my devillishly good looks
but that should work
i started with lessons and a huge board
and my next board was a 6'4

it just gets those basics down
then you can shred!

Ronin,

Update please. Are you still together and is she still surfing?