Surfing Waves

Hi Everyone,

I'm a newbeie
With the surf been so flat down here on the southcoast, Is it worth me getting out into the sea and work on my paddling,pop-up & balance.
I just want to get out there and start surfing but without the waves........... or am just wasting my time.

Thank you

Tecx

If you get your arms in shape paddling your board around then when there is good waves you will make better use of them since you won't be wasting waves getting your arms into better shape on them. You can work on balance and pop up at home but if there are some kind of waves to pop up on then better yet. I go surfing in small junk waves and it keeps me in shape for when there is some good bigger surf. I enjoy just being out with a chance to catch a wave so it's not a ever a question if the waves are good enough just if there are waves or not and when it's no waves then I SUP which helps to keep me in shape but before I got SUP boards I would just paddle around to get into shape.

Hi Oldman surfer,

Thank you so much for your help on this.
This will be my second time on a surf board so I need as much practice as possible, Just want to get out there and pratice,practice,
What size is Junk wave ?
Our ocean this morning was just like a bit mirror nothing at all.
I will get out there today at the next high tide and see what happens.

To me once waves are overhead or bigger they are more fun so for me junk waves are poorly formed waves less than head high. I will surf them even if they are waist high but below that I SUP. I also hike and do dumbbells and a variety of other exercises when I am not surfing. When the bigger waves show up I am READY TO GO!!! And I go out in waves sometimes double overhead and rarely bigger. Swimming is good exercise for paddling but paddling on a board is even better. Many of the big wave surfers also do distance paddling as cross training when there aren't waves.

One thing to keep in mind is that you should enjoy your surfing. It's difficult for many at first but once you do it a while it becomes this important part of you and you would do a lot to keep it in your life.

Another thing to keep in mind is that Oldman is lucky enough to be in Hawaii so has the luxury of big waves. Us UK southcoast surfers have to get out and surf every single wave there is regardless as to how mushy and small it may be.

so yes, as he says, just get out there. Spend as much time in the water as you can spare.

Hi Everyone,

Thank you Oldman, you have just made me very jealous I wish i could just pick and chose when I can go surfing.
We british have to watch the weather forcast 24/7 CARBR6 is so right small waves medium wave what ever wave just get out there.
I went out to practice my paddleing last night at the witterings, It was nice and warm but choppy as hell.

Well you don't need to be jealous since I am on call and only have two 30 minute sessions allotted for surfing so I surf during those time regardless of the wave conditions. I surf whatever is there during those times so I have no need for surf forecasting because I drive by there on my way home from work so I can chose a board and whatever the surf is like I am going out just to get wet and to stay in shape for when it is good.

It's a (very very) rare day when you get a "proper" wave in the Bognor Regis area in summer
Take the opportunity to ride the wind slop that you'll get through summer and wait for the autumn swells which will give you a much better ride.

oldmansurfer wrote:regardless of the wave conditions.

You have no idea what cr@p the average british south coast surfer will surf in... cold, brown water and 6 inches of 5-second windslop.