Please help - New to surfing!

[Nik77]

Hi
I was hoping someone would be able to help me. I have always wanted to surf but never been able to due to work and life commitments. My boyfriend dumped me before Christmas and I am now determined to get on with my life and do what I always wanted - to learn to surf.
I dont really know where to start though and I would rather take advice from those that know, hence this post. If someone could help me out with getting my feet off the ground and wet I would really appreciate it.
I am looking at a surf coaching holiday in February so again any tips or advice would be so much welcomed.
I live in Southampton and have had a lesson a while ago if it helps.
Many thanks
Nik

[jaffa1949]

Nik77 I wish you luck and fun om all counts, I'm in Australia so I'm too far way to help other than advice which is probably good because I'm old and happily married
Go surfing as much as possible all the best things will come

[Roy Stewart]

Get a paipo board and go for it, no lessons are needed.

[AJ-Diver2770]

Hi Nik. Head down to Witterings or to B'mouth and there are a few surf shops who also teach surfing too. If that fails go to Devon and learn there, very good surf in North Devon.

[IB_Surfer]

If you have the money go visit a surf shop and pick up a nice warm wetsuit and a nice big board, don't buy a small one, the biggest that will fit in your car with the seats down. All begginers start on big boards then progress down.

As to lessons, great idea! No matter where or with whom, go get them.

[Roy Stewart]

All begginers start on big boards then progress down

.

Incorrect, I started on paipos went to short boards after ten years and progressed to longboards after twenty-two years of short boarding, so moved to longboards after thirty-two years of riding short boards.

Your whole paradigm is BS.... one can go from short to long or long to short and progress either way, the determining factor is simply whether or not one is learning. Any amount of skill can be applied to any board.. the length of the board does not determine the skill level.

Surf schools stultify the natural learning process by stuffing the student's head with half truths and myths, in my opinion.My children learn with little hands on instruction although they are always supervised in the general sense. They start on paipos and pick up shortboards when they are ready, then move to longboards. This is a natural progression, I don't dictate it they do it themselves.

.

[jaffa1949]

Just a thought for all people who want to learn to surf.
Surfing is riding a wave on the craft of your choice!
This goes from body surfing right up to the regal Roy boards.
A good way to start is a bodyboard, surfoplane, mat, paipo because much of the learning process is not about the vehicle but just learning and understanding waves and the nature of the beach. After that you can progress as you wish.
Too many people hit the water on a soft board or something else and get beaten up by the waves as there is no understanding of the forces involved.
Also many surf schools sell the idea that standing riding on a big foam board coming straight in pushed by white water is the surf experience. guaranteed standing up result and the student goes back to a land locked country saying look I'm a surfer now.
Anyone who has got to a competent level has gone beyond that by learning from their own experiences over and over again,long to short to long both can be done, look at what you want to do and follow your path.
Hey you are surfing if you become competent on a bodyboard or body surfing.
If you have skills on everything there is never a day that you can't surf somewhere
Smorgasboarding
When you genuinely get the surfing bug it will enhance your entire life and your children's too
Better than poor choices in boy or girl friends.

[LaraB]

I agree, i got the snowboarding bug last year and I just love getting out into the mountains and spending time doing that! still new to surfing but have a feeling that once i learn a bit more it'll be the same!