Surfing Waves

i have recently taken up surfing and i don't actually know anyone that goes. i am going to go as a complete larry until i meet someone that actually surfs! i was just wondering though, are you allowed to go surfing by yourself cz i dont want a lifeguard having a go at me for going on my own! and if any of you out there live in b'mth and go surfing, can i come wiv you?? lol
Naomi 16, b'mth

Hey, welcome to surfing! Its always best to have a buddy to go surfing with. I usually do most of my surfing on my own, I havent met many surfers by me yet. So its alright to go on your own, just be careful.

Hi there good choice of sport to take up!

Of course you can go surf by yourself, i do it all the time but it is more fun with your buddies and when your starting out it's safer too. You'll find plenty of people in bournemouth in a simillar situation as yourself, just go up to any likely looking suspects (ie people holding a surfboard already in their wetsuits and hovering around the shorebreak looking at the waves a bit nervously) and chat to them! Then with any luck you'll soon have yourself some surfing buddies.


Good luck and don't forget to let us know when you get your first real good wave.

Get down sorted (near boscombe pier) and have a talk to them, their realy friendly and if you ask about lessons, they will most probably send you to phil lock, hes a good teacher and realy friendly. but just get out their and practice.
im not gunu be down b'muf this weekend but if you ever see a 14 yr old boy with a yellow shortboard, that will be me.

Laguna wrote: I havent met many surfers by me yet.

where abouts in wales do you surf, cas i go down their alot if theirs a good swell and im in the area?

Im from Llanelli but currently in Swansea, so surf the gower mainly.

Also depends on how strong of a swimmer you are.

Nah, no dramas going on your own, i do it all the time! Thats what happens when your surfing buddy gets a girlfriend and she wont let her man go surfing with another girl.

It defintely has it benefits, you can stay out for as long as you want (or as short as you want!!) but the drive down without company is the worst part...

thanks for all your help guys, i did actually have surf lessons with phil and andy but was about a year ago. i will keep a look out for a yellow shortboard!

I pretty much did learned to surf entirely on my own and by watching people. So it's definately doable, but just be smart, when it's pressing overhead and all the gurus are out with their thrusters, a novice surfer might not fare too well against the waves.

It's not really all that safe to surf by yourself, at any level.

Its rare that I go out surfing any level of break on my own. Its common sence to have someone else in the water somwhere.
Saying that its is great being at a break alone.... depends on the type again really.

im often down at bournemouth being a larry, but just get out there in the line up and start talking to people, ask advice and usually everyones dead friendly and willing to help...ive even got a few numbers out of it!

As long as there is someone else in the water as well i would say your usually alright surfing by yourself, just dont do anything that feels uncomforatble.

(surfingforlife i hear where you are coming from, my surfing buddy isnt allowed to go surfing with me because his girlfriend says no!) oh well his loss!

I learned to surf on my own and have been on my own more times than I can imagine!

I would say it's definitely better to go with someone, but talking to anyone who's out there is a good idea - sure, some will be petty and think they're better than you, but most people will be cool.

My mate lives in b'mouth and is out in Boscombe quite often - look for a guy in a Salomon wetsuit on a longboard with 2 blue stripes running the length of it - if you see him, tell him Ben's jealous!!

i think iv seen that guy before. also if you go and surf bournmouth or boscombe, you will never be alone in the water if its worth surfing.