Later in life beginners

[jaffa1949]

Let's help here.A cutback is simply where you ride out along the face and need to turn back towards the curl usually at the start you are at or near the top of the wave and starting to slow down as there is less power, the cutback is to get you in a position with more power. Whichever way you are going and whichever foot you are (natural of goofy) the simplest way is to put more weight on your back foot and swing the board down hill and arc the turn toward the curl, you can power this up a little more by leaning ( learners mistake here is to turn by leaning) you need to ensure you have powered the turn by weighting and then driving down hill you will be move a lot faster and this is where you need to be able to generate a bottom turn to put you going back along the face.

A simple combination for slightly more capable beginners to master is the angled take off to ride the face towards the shoulder, develop a cut back and then followed by a bottom turn repeat along the wave face.
This is a skill that is well developed on long point waves as they can give time to transition from one to the other.
As you get better you can generate more speed and shorten the time and space between turns and use each turn to set up the other.
Another way to start is too learn to roller coaster on the wave, don't worry too much about cutting back, just get the feel from the angled take off of driving down and along the wave at the same time drive a weight change onto your back foot and notice the board rises up the wave, weight your front foot and the board catches more gravity and angles down the wave.
Play with that a while and increase the changes in pressure try moving your back foot slightly towards the inside rail while increasing pressure .Notice the result!
A TIP HERE, do little changes in positioning forward and back on the board, back foot versus front foot pressure and slight side to side movements, see how how they effect your ride and apply accordingly.

If you surf with friends review each others surfing push each other to improve but aid each other in coaching watch closely what good riders do, copy furiously and often!
Surfing is a dance learn the steps!

[312T4]

Thanks.
Yes, I know what you r talking about. (not that I can do all that stuff.. but I actually do small steps forward and back).
I think I'm not a total beginner anymore but I'm missing some skills to be a decent surfer. That's why I'm talking about cutting back and curving, because I can tell I'm missing half the fun..
But it's very hard to improve when you go once a week and everybody is there..
I dream about holiday at the beach..

"Surfing is a dance, learn the steps", this is a great sentence. Is it yours or what?

[jaffa1949]

312T4 , if you asked any surfer except maybe the pros, there are skill things we are missing between us and whatever we perceive the next level to be!
The more surfs we can get closer together, the more likely progress will be made.
If you want to progress faster, forget about everyone being there, get a break by yourself if you can a have a try and do it practice session by yourself. Forget about wiping out and anything else figure out how you want to do any move ( in this case cut back and try doing it, go to extremes if you figure you need more back foot pressure and to whip it around, try it push your boundaries, you'l fail and fail and fail then suddenly the move will gel and you can repeat it and your body will instinctively know how.
The other method which is very successful, is to go to an advanced surf coach and get advised on how to go about surfing better. It is a great way to jump several steps in your advancement.

People do it for golf and other sports why not surfing? There is no loss of soul in getting some on the beach help!

[stevie]

awesome info this last couple of posts there jaffa, i completed an improvers weekend a couple of months ago and it has radically improved my surfing, the small things need to be worked on and that helps when trying to nail the bigger things like the bottom turn etc imo

[Zich11]

great post...thanks
64 yr old, tired of watching grandkid surf while I sit on beach. Got a 9'2'' NSP and have lessons scheduled with local shop's Guru next week..can't wait

[jaffa1949]

That Sir is one of the best decisions you will ever make, be kind to your body in the process.
Since I too was born in 1949, (the first half of the last century) I appreciate the need to treat yourself like the fine vintage you are!

[CARBr6]

Hey.
Whilst I am not quite such a late starter as some, I started when I was 30 (three years ago now) and love it. Fortunately for me my fiancee surfs too, not so fortunately for me we both live & work in London. The thames doesn't have waves
So far all we have managed is one week a year (with the occassional day thrown in when time & tides allow)
So my total surfing time is three weeks!! Although for those weeks I did nothing else but surf, 6-8 hours a day for 7 days has really brought my surfing on. But I really wish I could even manage one day a month!! But location means it is not to be, my local break is 1..5hrs drive down into Kent and that very rarely gets anything. I do plan on packing the van up and having a few more 5hour weekend drive to the SW in order to make more of the 'warmer' weather, not sure I would survive the Cornish coast in Winter!!

[gazaddy1]

Hi everyone,
After watching surfing on tv and reading the mags over the last 20 + years I finally got round to booking a lesson at Hells Mouth bay. I've just turned 46 the kids are older and do their own thing now (20 + 15). unfortunately got to the lesson after a 2.5 hour drive only to find it cancelled (no waves, and only booked it the day before) anyway still had a great day as the "Surfers for Sewage" crew were there doing the annual beach clean so me and the Mrs joined in for a few hours (just over a 1/4 of a ton was removed from the beach)..
So now going to sort out another lesson as really want to start surfing and reading this article and other posts on here for the last few hours made me realize age is not a barrier just a cop out...saying that I started mountain biking 3 years ago and have just got rid of my kite buggying gear so just give it a go I say..living just outside manchester means travelling a bit in any direction but it will be worth it ..can't wait just to be in the water , not bothered about ripping it up or getting airs things like that just want to be able to cruise along a wave ..
well thats enough ..looking forward to when I can finally get out there...

[jaffa1949]

Longboard gazaddy , longboard lots of fellow old farts (and you're a young one ) to guide you come on in( both you and your wife) the waters fine.
Nice day done with the S.A.S

If you follow through surfing will change your life

[Zich11]

Had my first lesson. Every muscle in my body(including cremasters) ached for days, but had a great time. I am certainly experienced at the 'wipe out' now:-)
Going back to beach for a weekend of practice tomorrow.
Surf City at Myrtle Beach is a great shop with really nice, friendly instructors if you are ever down there on vacation and anyone in your group wants to try a lesson.

[oldmansurfer]

I am just about to turn 60 and started surfing again after not surfing at all for 11 years. When I had quit I was still using single fin boards although multiple fin boards were happening I was happy with my board....I loved my board. My shaper would always say "It's time for a new board" and what he meant is that board looks horrible and not representative of my skills as a shaper. I used a board till the bitter end. I have just gotten to that point with my quad fin board, I am falling in love with it but it is still in pretty good shape, only one major ding. Yeah as an old man surfer I am no longer indestructible and if I overdo it I will regret it the next day. But on the plus side barely over head waves can give me a thrill and double overhead is like major thrilling as compared to before just starting to get interesting

[312T4]

Hi all,
nice to read you guys!
Just wanted to tell the world that I surfed my first wave (but not only one) both directions: left and right. Basic for you all, amazing for me!
Cheers!

[jaffa1949]

You were so excited you posted twice well done may you continue to be amazed and delighted!

[surf patrol]

That's excellent 312T4 - way to go

[NFnewbie]

I've been lurking for a few weeks, thought I'd introduce myself.
I'm 48 years young from North East Florida. I've had a SUP and just sold it and went to a local shaper to have a log made as I'm a Big Guy 6'7" 240lbs (10'x24"x3.25"). I've surfed in the white water some and am so pumped for the spring to come, so I can get back in the water.

I've really become glued to this forum/site!

Anyway......Hi

Rob

[ManySkills]

Hi guys!
I am that rare thing, a middle aged gal taking up surfing. I've taken a couple lessons at OBX, and I am a good and experienced snowboarder and very above average boogie boarder if I do say so myself. I beat all the kids at it year after year. I can pop up (mostly), and I keep practicing my pushups in the off-season to work on my upper body strength.
At OBX, I've had a couple bad instructors in a row, they just pushed my beginner teenage boys into the waves with little instruction, and, in spite of the money I spent, barely gave ME a glance because, hey, middle aged woman, how serious could she be?
Anyway, on to my question - any suggestions on where to go in the Caribbean this summer? I heard that Puerto Rico had fine waves, also Barbados, but I want to guarantee that I get good surf instructors. Thanks in advance, so glad I found this forum/site!

[jaffa1949]

Welcome ManySkills, there are many women/girls on this forum, quite a few in the same age bracket.
The outside world unfortunately has ageism, sexism and I'm such a hot shot surfer guy instructor and so I should be pulling all the chicks, I'll ignore anybody who doesn't float my boat, Blurg!

Guaranteeing good surf instructors , can't help. But there will be lots of support for you here.
Maybe just maybe there are surf schools that are specific for women, your teenage boys will do OK anyway as they are young and adaptable.
I know surf schools in Australia have a system of accreditation, elsewhere????.

Aqualife may be able to help you with suggestion as who to look at.
Hold on and I'll see what i can find!

Right at home in California
http://www.maryosbornesurf.com

Puerto Rico
http://www.bestofbothadventures.com/pue ... en-q&a.php

Google women only surf school I found a few, some are tag ons to regular surf schools so I think you would be in the same situation. , the two I have post as a guy I have no experience of the quality offered.
I have heard only good stuff about Mary Osborne however.

Good luck

[surf patrol]

Hi NFnewbie & ManySkills, welcome to Surfing Waves!

[KoolCook]

Hi all,

I am a newbie here...I just registered...but I have been reading for maybe a month now.

I am 40 now...I first tried surfing 4 years ago...but that was only for maybe 20-30 minutes when I shared a foam board with a friend. My friend was in town (San Diego) for 6 months and wanted to learn to surf...so we split the cost for a $80 foam board and planned to take turns...I went once...and didn't learn anything other than get my ass kicked by the waves. My friend kept trying for 6 months...then he had to leave town and left the foam board in my garage. It sat there for 4 long years collecting dust until last July...I was 39 then...I just decided one day to try surfing again. I got to the beach and met this woman who was a beginner...and she gave me some tips. Then I went again...again....and again....got hooked. I think I got hooked when I saw an old lady catch many waves when I couldn't even catch ONE wave. Eventually, my foam board bent...and I bought a new mini-longboard (8'6")...and learned to surf some! Right now...after 6 months of going at least once weekly (on Saturdays)...I can catch a wave and ride straight to the beach...and execute a bottom turn...but I cannot ride the face of the wave AT ALL...and I am lucky to even catch 2 waves in an hour....I believe it is a combination of bad waves...and me being a respectful kook and letting others catch waves. I don't go far out in the water...I usually try to surf the shoulder out of the way...and/or catch the last wave in a set after the whole line up takes the first 1-2 waves.

My only regret is that I didn't start when I was 20...it was always one of those things I put off til' later because I was busy or whatever....

[oldmansurfer]

Welcome KoolCook. It seems to me it's all about putting in the hours riding waves. The more you catch the more you learn. I surfed when I was 20 but quit for a while and now restarted at ....well I am 60 now. For the first 3 years I was averaging about 26 hours a year of surfing but at for the most part uncrowded breaks. Now I am spending about an hour a week (56 hours a year) which is increasing my learning. I am just happy to be catching waves again though.