Later in life beginners

[oldmansurfer]

Kids learn faster and recover from injury faster and have faster reflexes but age doesn't limit you nearly as much as your attitude and your method of learning to surf.

[Oldie]

Wonderful Thread. As I turned 50 this year, let me join

I am from Germany and got into surfing by mistake. Seriously. I have been windsurfing since I was 15, did it intensly for 20 years and enjoyed terrifc spots like Crissy Field in the SF bay. But I eventually I got tired of waiting for wind, stopped it and spend my time with various other sports. After becoming a father,other things were more important. But my daughter got older and two years ago we planned a vacation at the North Sea and I asked her wether she would like to do a surfing course. Which for me always meant windsurfing! She agreed, I looked up a school and signed her in. Only at arrival I realized I had signed her in for a waveriding / surfing course. This is something exotic in Germany as we only have the North Sea, which is not really an Ocean. It is very flat and waves are only generated by local winds. That means a day with 2-3 ft at 7s is a dream, 1-2ft at 5s are good! Higher waves will only happen if you get onshore winds of more than 20mph. So conditions are mostly choppy, weak and/or messy. Anyway, my daughter loved it. I smiled and told her this is not "real" surfing. However, she convinced us to book a follow up course last spring in Spain, where I joined here. And I got hooked! On the last day we went from the whitewater into the lineup, where I managed to ride one wave, and only directly toward the beach. To an outsider it will have looked like nothing, but I was sooo thrilled!

So now we do it together, which is very nice. Our "home" or nearest spot is Scheveningen on the Dutch coast, which due to harbour piers can have some decent waves. But it is more than a two hour drive. Anyway, we go there for a day trip with the family when the waves are ok which we can check via a webcam. My wife takes the dog, and we challenge the sea .

This year we already were on the water for a week on the Atlantic in Spain, were we had some big and powerful days of 4-6ft at 16s, and a long weekend at the North Sea. We will spend a few days again in Netherlands, two weeks in France and another week on the German North Sea coast, so I hope to get to 25+ days this year.

With regards to progress, it is not as fast as I would hope. I am getting better in paddle efficiency, have no problem to get into the lineup even on those (for me) big days in Spain and do ok in finding and keeping my position in the lineup. Turte rolls with my 9ft Longboard are no problem. My biggest issue is with the Takeoff - it works ok in more rounded waves and according to my coach, it is technically good and fast (on land). But I am reacting far too slowly on the water when it is fast and step. Somehow my brain seems to either pause pr panic. When I realize I need to stand up, the Nose is already under water. I am getting a lot of waves, but my pearling ratio is about 95%, which is really frustrating. I know this is a problem of skills and not of the board, but I seem to be between a choice of getting less waves (with a shorter board) or getting pounded time and time again. The challenge with the wind swells in the North Sea is that waves are rising fast anywhere and you need to react extremely quickly. I am not sure wether I should stick with my longboard or should replace it with something fatter and shorther to help me.

Anyway, here I am. Old, with a crappy home location and limited skills. But I love it, think about it every day, practice my takeoff at home every day and just wish I would have started 30 years ago

[CosmicQ]

If you haven't watched them yet, I seriously recommend the Surf Simply videos. It helped fixed my pearling problem.

https://youtu.be/hVyatMUYwZw?list=PLOCtke92OW_Uv__KAZ1pbBDqSjGV_nqtu

[Rock bus]

Having just spent first week in ages surfing and nose diving EVERY time I tried to catch anything more than white water the timing of that video clip link is perfect.

I'd even got to the point of thinking that at 43 I'm too old and surfing is just not for me.

Now going to watch all their videos and give it another go.

Are there any other good on line video lessons starting from the real basics?

[dtc]

Now going to watch all their videos and give it another go.

Are there any other good on line video lessons starting from the real basics?

The surf simply ones are probably the best in terms of clearly explaining the basics. I think if you watch them and then decide there are particular points you want to get more information about, you just have to search youtube and watch a few and see how they grab you - there are lots and none are 'bad' or wrong, but some are better at connecting with your particular style. There are a few webpages as well that have detailed explanations of particular maneuvers, like how to do a bottom turn or whatever.

that doesnt really help I guess! Anyway, watch all of the surf simply ones and then come back and ask questions.

Paddle harder!

[Big H]

I started at 43....it can be done. I'm a visual learner so the chatty Surf Simply videos do not appeal at all. If you are the type who needs to understand the theory behind something to understand the topic (my eldest) then the surf simply videos are right up your alley. I'm more of a monkey see monkey do type, so I like videos that show a technique being performed from different angles.

That being said, a good blend of visual and a bit of theory are the 110% surfing video series. Those videos have taught me alot as well as an old one I ordered online which was awesome...

"Learn to surf and ocean safety" by Richard Schmidt

[Oldie]

If you haven't watched them yet, I seriously recommend the Surf Simply videos. It helped fixed my pearling problem.

https://youtu.be/hVyatMUYwZw?list=PLOCtke92OW_Uv__KAZ1pbBDqSjGV_nqtu

I like that alot and hope to keep the advice in there in mind for our summer holidays.

[dacsus65]

I was 45 the first time I tried surfing. Now I'm 50 and am looking for a board and some time on the waves (and on the board would be nice).

[Big H]

Welcome! Never too late! (Not really true but in your case it applies. )

[rickrock999]

I will be 55 in a couple of months, I got up and rode my first wave on my 53rd Birthday.
I now try to go surfing twice a week and usually do 3 hour sessions. I have gotten a lot better but still a long way to go.
I was on the swimming team in high school and did a lot of boogey-boarding when I was younger, but hadn't in a long time. I decided to finally try surfing and of course I am hooked. In addition to surfing El Porto (Los Angeles) I got to go to Kauai last year. Got a good pic of it. Love this site.

[oldmansurfer]

Awesome! Is that Pinetrees?

[rickrock999]

That is Hanalei Bay. One of the many places I got to go on my trip to Kauai last November. My GF snapped that pic of me.
I was staying at the Marriott right in front of Kalapaki Beach. (Got my best ride so far there) Also got to go to Mac Arthur Park, and Poipu Beach (rented a board for the week at Nukumoi) Great Trip, can't wait to go again.

[oldmansurfer]

I knew it was Hanalei . Pretty sure you were surfing the break called Pinetrees

[rickrock999]

Hadn't heard it called by that name. Looking at the map it was at Hanalei Pavilion Beach Park.
Didn't go out today, had some work to do and the surf was down a bit. Tomorrow morning I'll be out there .

[oldmansurfer]

Oops so I was wrong. Pinetrees is down from the Hanalei Pavilion another 50 yards or so. I am not sure the name of that break today, we used to call it Maunaloa or Pavilions 40 years ago

[saltydog]

I'm 42 and have started surfing just about a year ago. I'm finally creeping away from painfully-raw-complete-beginner stage and beginning to work on turning as well as shuffling back and forth. I see some older guys, i mean mature experts , whipping around their long boards so deftly at my break so I hope I have 20-30 years left to enjoy surfing!

[FollyNative]

I started surfing about a year ago when I was 43. I grew up in Charleston, SC and have always frequented Folly Beach but for whatever reason, always thought that surfing was not something that I would be interested in and never really ever gave it a shot.
Fast forward to meeting my fiance (who surfs) and she taught me that you're never too old. So I take my old butt out there and for 3-4 months flopped and floundered without a clue and have almost given up many times.
The great thing about surfing is, one day you may be terrible and the next time you go, suddenly you're not so terrible. It's a long learning process that I'm in for the long haul. The peace and patience that I get just from being out on the water and the exhilaration that comes from actually being able to ride a wave, are unmatched by just about anything else you can do in life.
I want to include this excerpt from a much earlier post. I'm not sure if I'm quoting it on here properly but this BEST describes the almost overwhelming pleasure that comes from this incredible sport.

My favorite part of surfing is that moment right at the popup. Once I make it out past the break, I get a read on where other people are so I don’t hit anyone, and where the waves are breaking. I start the hunt for a wave. “Is that the one? Is that the start of the set? Am I out far enough? I’ll take the one behind so I don’t get rolled by a bunch of waves. Damn, I could have caught that one. This one looks good.” I spin around and start to paddle. I keep looking back looking for the wave. “Is it breaking too soon? Do I need to speed up?” Then I see and feel the wave start to pick you up, so now I paddle with all I got. Then it happens, I feel that magic moment when the board starts to get that kick from the wave. I am now in motion. It’s this short but sweet moment in time that everything is quiet, and thoughts stop for me. It’s just me and this wave, everything else gone. I come out of the moment, already up on my board. Sometime in that moment, I have popped up and it’s time ride this.

[dtc]

Good re quoting- I agree, that moment when you know you have caught the wave give a big thrill

[312T4]

Welcome everyone!
I really appreciate your efforts as I live the incredible challenge (for us, mature and awesome people) to get better on my own skin.

Yes, I love the start of the ride, but even more, before that, there's a moment when the longboard kind of get sucked back by the wave.
I know everything is going to be good when i feel it, and it's such a joy.

I don't know if it's common, that sucking sensation, or if it's related to my own board.

[Scheveningen]

Hi All,
Started to surf (SUP surf infact) at the age of 40. I'm 44 now and progressing slowly, but i'm able to drop in, make a bottom turn and even walk to the nose. I always thought that surfing was not for me, because i had a bad accident at the age of 25. But SUP surf made it possible for me to surf without having to pop-up. Popping-up isn't possible for me because of my hip injuries.
When i started SUP surfing i drank liters of sea water, and a lot of surfers had a good laugh.
Now i feel more alive than ever. I'm in a good shape and fitter than i ever was.
It's great to be on the water and in nature all year round. I'm trying to be on the water at least once a week.
The spot where i surf can be rough and cold, it is in the Netherlands, Scheveningen (Northsea).
For the 'old' people who are in doubt?? Go for it!
And like me, when your not physically able to surf traditionally, try SUP surfing.
Actually to all of you elderly, try SUP surfing! It's great.