Surfing Waves

Hi All,

Just wondering if anyone goes out when its flat to practice paddling. Being new to surfing I could do with spending as much time on my board as possible (cant balance that well) and REALLY need to build up my muscles - can just about do 3 push ups - wooo!

Dont really want to get out there and paddle around on my own but figured this might be the best way to go about it - anyone else do it?

me and my mate are going paddling tomorrow waves are 1ft and nasty, plus that so he can get used to his board and build up his muscles

i think its cool
you may look rather stupid
but so will we

if its been flat for a while and i get bored then i go out and paddle up and down the bay a bit its about a mile each way. sounds a long way but its quite easy when its flat, and its easier comin back down cos of the rip from the estuary hehehehe

i whent when the waves were 1 to 2 feet and paddled and learned how to duckdive!
I was in the water for 2 hours trying to duckdive. Im proud of myself because i can do it now even though im not really good yet and sometimes mess up (board goes underwater but not my head.)

Nope, either go cliff jumping or to the pub.


Suppose there's nothing wrong with goin for a paddle when its flat, but I reckon your time could be better spent.
If its flat, all you can really do is work on fitness; swimming/running/circuit training would be the best way to go.

Try going for a jog on the beach, followed by a swim of some set distance parallel to the shore (or to a buoy or something). Swimming has the advantage over paddling that it will really help to develop the lungs (-as well as the arms) - which you'll need on bigger days.
As for the balance, that'll come mate, just get out there as often as you can in anything more than a ripple, (so you at least have something to paddle for)

That's just me, but I hope it helps,
happy surfing

Thanks guys.

Im working on the strength and fitness training outside of the water already and am going swimming at little more.

Im going to get out a little more when there is much in the way of waves even if I do look stupid being the only one in the water paddling from pier to pier.

gdude335 wrote:i whent when the waves were 1 to 2 feet and paddled and learned how to duckdive!
I was in the water for 2 hours trying to duckdive. Im proud of myself because i can do it now even though im not really good yet and sometimes mess up (board goes underwater but not my head.)

ditto that, i went out pathetic surf and lerned how to get the front half of my board (its a minimal/funshape) underwater . cant seem to get the back half under yet tho.. but even getting the front bit under helps with gettin outback

hi

I am in weymouth. I try surf as much as possible even in the crappy onshore sloppy days. And yes when I am desperate I take my shortboard for a paddle around a few bouys in Weymouth bay. Nothing will quite prepare you for paddling like paddling.

I paddled on flat water when I first started surfing to build up my paddle'n muscles, but now I just go scuba diving when its flat, and when I am surfing I don't come out of the water unless it feels like my shoulders and arms got a good work out in.

Besides, we have a pier (actually a really long Jetti) that we jump off so we don't have to paddle out, Laziness!!! Got'a love it!