Learn on a shortboard? Then listen to Dave Grohl

[waikikikichan]

Are you a newbie that thinks longboards are uncool and hard to turn? Are you tired of hearing all the forum advice saying over and over again, "get a longer board". Do you pick up others sports "really fast" and don't feel you need a lesson? Then you should listen to what Dave Grohl ( Foo Fighters rock band ) says.

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With a lot of perseverance and a never give up attitude, You to can be riding that 5'10 Al Merrick..........one day. Just make sure to get out of the way as the longboarders pass you by, over and over again.

[icetime]

It's not impossible, it's just your session will look more like a water splash fight than actual surfing and your wave count will be close to none.

[Big H]

I rode my new (to me) longboard for the first time in soft shoulder to head high today.....fantastic...long rides, manuverable, fast....even grabbed a stylie cheater 5 head dip.......this while the bobbing frubes (did i use that new vocab word right) struggled to catch and ride anything more than a few meters, if the caught any at all in the mush we had today. Let them insist on shortys only; days like today only means more fun for the full quiver equipped.

[oldgrom22]

I can confirm that it is definitely possible. Have a friend that skipped the longboard/funboard stage and started on shortboards. He can handle his own now, but I'm not too far behind him(I moved down in increments). There isn't much that he can do on a wave that I can't, he is better at spotting them but main thing to keep in mind is I started 5 years after he did

[oldmansurfer]

When I learned to surf every one was learning on a shortboard. Of course there were lots of people who would try and give up, which was better for the rest of us. The surfers who surfed before me all longboarded and learned to shortboard but those who learned during the time I did did so on a shortboard albeit a bit of a long shortboard compared to what they have now (it was 6'10" diamondtail single glassed in fin with no leash). I was a high level bodysurfer and bodyboarder and kneeboarder before I started surfing. As far as the board goes it was much longer than what I was used to. I never knew there were problems trying to learn to surf on a shortboard till I came to this forum. I think because I learned on a shortboard I didn't have to learn how to use multiple boards which sped up my learning. But then again I was not your typical beginner surfer since I was already riding waves bigger than most surfers would attempt to.

[pmcaero]

I was a high level bodysurfer and bodyboarder and kneeboarder before I started surfing.

Isn't it just as hard to catch waves on a kneeboard as on a shortboard?

[oldmansurfer]

Well you have fins on so on smaller waves you don't need to paddle but on bigger waves you have to kick like heck and paddle hard too

[oldmansurfer]

Using a 7'2" board I caught waves much bigger than I probably could have with my paipo boards. There seemed to be a limit around 10 feet Hawaiian on the paipo board but who knows since I never tried but it was all I could do to take the drop on those size waves (similarly with bodysurfing)

[waikikikichan]

I came across that Dave Grohl quote and was inspired to learn new things. Learn to more computer stuff ( powerpoint, photoshop ) Then it got me wondering about someone saying " yeah man, I bet I can learn to surf. I don't need a lesson, I don't need a longboard, I'll just figure it out". Like they say, the hardest part about work is "just showing up". I don't mind if someone wants to learn on a shortboard, it's up to them. I wouldn't encourage it though. So long as they stay out of peoples way, don't drop in or hurt/ding someone else, or drown, then more power to them.

[oldmansurfer]

I wonder how many people can actually accomplish this? Learn to surf on a shortboard, not get discouraged, not get in the way of other surfers (much), not get injured/killed, not take lessons. And have fun? I did it. I guess from the dialog on this forum, it is going to be a very small percentage.

[icetime]

I wonder how many people can actually accomplish this? Learn to surf on a shortboard, not get discouraged, not get in the way of other surfers (much), not get injured/killed, not take lessons. And have fun? I did it. I guess from the dialog on this forum, it is going to be a very small percentage.

Probably someone who literally never gives up, they'll probably be successful in life if you ask me but not in surfing

[icetime]

I came across that Dave Grohl quote and was inspired to learn new things. Learn to more computer stuff ( powerpoint, photoshop ) Then it got me wondering about someone saying " yeah man, I bet I can learn to surf. I don't need a lesson, I don't need a longboard, I'll just figure it out". Like they say, the hardest part about work is "just showing up". I don't mind if someone wants to learn on a shortboard, it's up to them. I wouldn't encourage it though. So long as they stay out of peoples way, don't drop in or hurt/ding someone else, or drown, then more power to them.

Computer stuff and surfing are quite a like, even if you read all the books in the world you'll never make progress, you have to experiment and keep trying to make any progress

[oldmansurfer]

Surfing a shortboard takes a lot of things, Ocean knowledge, wave knowledge, paddling power and endurance and board handling skills, quick reflexes, a quick popup, leg strength, flexibility, balance and if you are surfing with others then knowing the rules of the lineup. Lot's of people already have some talent like quick reflexes, flexibility and balance and figure the rest is a piece of cake but rapidly find out it's not so simple. Still others lack almost every aspect of talent required but watch others and figure "How hard can it be?" They will find out. And it still takes time in the ocean. No replacement for that ........the less time the slower it all goes. All this drama I never knew about till I came to this forum. Longboards are much more forgiving to learn on. This is however my favorite longboard http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/kona-longboard-island-lager/2533/