Surfing Waves

hello surfers!!

here's the deal. i'm in the bay area. i'm trying to find out if surfing is for me, without actually trying it. i don't have much money, so it's not easy for me to explore different sports by trying them all.

i love snowboarding. i suck, but i love the limited success i've had with cruising down a hill sliding the snow aside, feeling the weight of my body on the board controlling the movement, feeling the wind against my face as i move fast.

i love the ocean. being in it, feeling it, looking at it, smelling it, hearing it. absolutely love waves and the artificial waves from the parting of water from a cruising boat. i love whales. i can swim ok, no fancy strokes only an underwater fish-like move, not for long before i get winded.

i'm thinking surfing would combine these two experiences for me. snow boarding and the ocean.

question #1: is this an accurate expectation? does surfing feel like snowboarding? is there anything i can do to approximate the surfing experience without actually learning how to surf, just to see if surfing is something i'd love?

i am extremely clumsy, accident-prone, and have poor coordination. i'm not a natural sports person. not only is it hard for me to pick up moves and train my muscle memory, but it's also very hard for me to make judgment calls-- i don't have much fear in sports and i get caught up in the thrill of the moment, so i'd throw my body in the air across a field for instance, even though i don't have the skill to land properly.

question #2: for someone who isn't coordinated, is it better to look into ocean sports that are easier to pick up? i've heard of something called body-boarding-- is that easier but just as fun?

i am a very small person, that's why my name is shorty. i bruise easily.

question #3: are there any particular considerations i need to keep in mind, if i do explore surfing? is there a high risk of broken bones and bruises, for slight people? if so, is this because the board whacks you sometimes?

i very much appreciate your reading this post!

1. is this an accurate expectation? does surfing feel like snowboarding?

Errrm, yes and no. There are some similarities in terms of all board riding sports being fairly similar, but the differences are also great.

The main one being this: When you snowboard, you start standing - 80-90% of surfing is paddling! Only about 5-10% is actually standing & riding waves!

The other thing is that with S-boarding, if you stay on your feet, gravity will naturally pull you down the hill - with surfing you have to generate your own momentum to catch a wave, once you've caught it you need to keep with it, which does require some skill.

is there anything i can do to approximate the surfing experience

Unfortunately not really! Having said all the above, snowboarding is one of the closest approximations of surfing you can do (in my opinion!). There's nothing you can do that feels exactly like surfing except surfing, and that's part of the appeal.

i am extremely clumsy, accident-prone, and have poor coordination... very hard for me to make judgment calls

Hmmmm, surfing requires coordination and the ability to make very quick decisions, it's very reactive. With snowboarding, you can ride down the same mountaing again and again - with surfing you only get one shot at a wave, then it's gone and the next one won't be the same!

You have to be able to judge waves, to get into the right position and the all important 'do I paddle for or over it' decision!

i've heard of something called body-boarding-- is that easier but just as fun?

Bodyboarding is easier, but you still need to be able to judge waves etc. It might be worth giving it a go to see whether you like catching/ riding waves. If money is REALLY tight, you can buy cheap polystyrene 'surfboards' for lying on. They cost about £5 in the UK (US$ 7-8) It's not even real bodyboarding, but it can give you an idea about catching and being pushed along by waves.

question #3: are there any particular considerations i need to keep in mind, if i do explore surfing?

This is a tricky question, because it depends on so many things. It depends WHERE you surf and WHAT CONDITIONS you surf in.

I have been surfing for 16 years and the worst injurys I've had are bruising and a cut on my ankle from one of my fins.... and of course seriously wounded pride when I look like an idiot in front of ladies I'm trying to impress - it's a long story!!

Everything I've said sounds like it's designed to put you off - BUT it's not, I thought I should be honest about it.

Having said all that I have, I really think you should give it a go - it's one of those things that you WILL love, even if you can't do it very well - but it's all about having fun!!

If you love the ocean, then this is one of the BEST ways to enjoy it.

Get out there, you will love it!

Cheers

Sinista

Everything these two guys said is true. My only advice is to try it for yourself. You really wont know the feeling until u tried it. If budget is tight, try renting or have someone who can lend you their board, maybe a friend, a friend's friend, a relative or your neighbor. Im pretty sure you know someone who surfs. I've only surfed for about 5 months, first time i tried, i fell in love with it. Now, im hooked, it's true what they say, once you're in it, you're done, like kelly slater said, "it's like a mob or something". If you're passionate about something, you'll do anything for it. Goodluck!!

i went to santa cruz today and checked out some surfing. i dont know what the name of the "beach" i went to was-- it was all rocky and right by the so-called surfing museum, and the boardwalk was in distant view. there were dozens of surfers getting some action, and a few people up above admiring the sport. what a day!! some skilled surfing on some monster waves.

but then i saw all these memorials right next to the stairs that lead down to the surfing-- all these memorials for people who died surfing, presumably. then i looked closer and noticed the surfers came thiiiis close to bashing against the rocks. boys i'm not going to lie to you i was HORRIFIED! (a little jj gold is slipping in.)

so, the jury is still out. but i was very excited watching the surfing and will definitely try some pseudo-surfing with a cheapskate foamboard, if i can find a place with waves but not many surfers to accidentally knock eardrums out of.

long story short-- thanks so much for all the information and for sharing your perspectives. i'm carefully considering all that you wrote.

shorty wrote: noticed the surfers came thiiiis close to bashing against the rocks. boys i'm not going to lie to you i was HORRIFIED!

A hint... BEACH BREAK!!!!

Talk to some shop owners. locals, read some books - find a nice mellow beach break. Shallow water, mellow waves, soft(ish) landing... then it'll be fine

Dont go worrying about reefs and points just yet...

Jeez yeah!

Don't go paddling out at Mavericks on a polystyrene board, just cos some idiot on a web forum told you to!!

I don't actually know where you mean when you say 'the bay area', but there are a few websites about that have 'surf spot reviews' - dunno if it does US, but http://www.wannasurf.comgives reviews and photos of breaks.

Cheers

Sinista