...too old to start surfing?

[IB_Surfer]

Actually, not sure if you did the suring 101 stuff first: When you begin surfing you begin by developing your pop up in the shallows, without paddling. It's hard to learn both at the same time, so you do one and then the other. Go into the surf about waist high, then without paddling, you throw yourself towards the shore, using your own momentum to pick up speed as you get on the board. Then pop up. You do this in the shallows until you stand up more often than you don't, then go to the lineup.

[nightmonkey]

Dude. I'm 43 & got back into surfing a couple of years ago after a 21 year break. The reward is well worth it. Just keep at it & it will come eventually. Just practice practice practice. Eventually you'll find what works for you.

[still-learning]

I agree, time in the water is the only way. With regards to you "pushing water", are you not perhaps lying to far back on your board? Often if too far back, it feels like you are ploughing through the water (from my experience anyways) instead of plaining across the surface. Ensure that the nose of your board is only a few inches above the water ...well that is my 2c worth! hahaha. Just keep at it, it will all come together. Keep stoked!

[Hang10]

I see 40 - 60 year olds surfing 1 to 3 feet waves. Looks like a lot of them are fairly new so I wouldn't say you are too old.

[torben]

Hi
I started surfing when I was 68 years of age. I now have 650 surf days. So it does take a while.
There is very little know how available how older people should learn to surf.
I write to a web site about this experience. U can have a look www.silversurferdude.com

Torben

[jaffa1949]

Torben you are a marvel and an optimist, I'm64 been surfing all my life since I was nine, so I can really appreciate you , your positivity and your adventures keep blogging and surfing, .
Take note and courage all you late arrivals on the surfing scene. Grey grommets are there for you!

[torben]

Nice comment. Thanks
A small correction. I started when I was 58. I am now 65.
Cheers

[Citrus]

I'm a 51-year-old woman, and I'm taking my first surfing class next week at Lake Ontario. I already went to do some stand-up paddle-boarding to test the waters... Not sure if I'll be able to maintain the effort, but I'll probably retire in Southern Brazil or somewhere along the Pacific coast in Central America.

I don't think it really matters if I become a 'real' surfer or not... I've spent years thinking about surfing, and I finally have some free time to start.

[jaffa1949]

At 51 in the warm waters of central america surfing should be no problem, surfing lessons on Lake Ontario sadly will bear little resemblance to warm water surfing in the ocean. BRRRRRRRRRRR is my response to that even in your summer!

This shows the joy of surfing for women, check out the smile, too old, nooooo! a woman, nooooooo!!!!!!!!

retire and live the surfing lifestyle

[Citrus]

At 51 in the warm waters of central america surfing should be no problem, surfing lessons on Lake Ontario sadly will bear little resemblance to warm water surfing in the ocean. BRRRRRRRRRRR is my response to that even in your summer!

Thanks for the reply... The water temperature doesn't bother me at all... I went to my first class and it was hard to contain myself... I couldn't wipe out the smile from my face for days, and all I did was to practice popups on calm water. It's the most fun I've had in years, and I'll probably buy the gear to continue doing it in the fall.

[goldenbarrel]

Hi all,first post so be gentle! I started 2 years ago at 38, I'm quite fit for running and basic swimming sessions but nothing could prepare me for the difficulties you face with surfing. It took along time to get up in the white water but eventually your body just remembers what to do and it becomes (almost) routine. The next bit is the hardest part. Taking off on unbroken waves has me stuck in a surfing twilight zone. Too big a wave and I lose my courage, too small a wave and I'm not going fast enough for my heavy Bic to get going.
I will say though, wave selection is the key for me. I'm constantly turning the wrong way or picking a poor wave which is very frustrating.
Day by day, I see little improvements such as when I remain standing on a wave that a month ago would have cleaned me out.
I've seen elsewhere somebody recommended the Surfsimply videos on Youtube which give great advice. One thing that he said is that surfing is all about teaching your mind and body to go against your natural instincts to protect itself. As we get older, those instincts get stronger and are harder to overcome.
I'm getting there though and I'm aiming for the end of next summer to be out the back and reasonably comfortable with what I'm supposed to do. I'll probably wipe out just as often but who cares, I'm in the ocean and enjoying every minute!

[jaffa1949]

Glad you called yourself Goldenbarrel, since I'm older than you and quite a few others are, Oldenbarrel is not your call sign YET!

A lot of surfing as you have discovered is counter intuitive especially when we didn't learn our surf habits when we were young, as a lotof the guys and girls have stated getting water time is the key !
Then working on everything in small but increasing increments. Take a little time in your enthusiastic froth to watch the waves and what people are doing. Do it from the shore and find a non traffic zone and watch surfing.
Then monkey see , monkey do, if you know a guy that is cool with learners ask him how he does something you want to do! Then watch him do it. Do things over and over until you get them.

[goldenbarrel]

Thanks for the advice Jaffa, I do love just sitting and watching. I'm lucky enough to work near Fistral beach in Cornwall so you can park up and get a grandstand view of some of the best surfers in the country. I've had some offers from some long time surfers I know in their sixties to take me out and show me the ropes. I didn't want to waste their time but maybe it's time to give them a call....

[LJSurfa]

I'm 6'2 and not far from your weight. Very muscly and I surf pretty well. I'm younger than you but 46 is only young. We have a guy at our local break who surfs most days and he is 68! Keep plugging away. Slow and steady.

[goldenbarrel]

Just read through this thread and in particular my post from a year ago.
Well, for once I've actually made my target! I'm out the back surfing unbroken waves from tiddlers to 5ft.
My advice to anyone in my position a year ago is to read all the tips on this forum. A lot of it won't make any sense at the time but when you are out there and in a certain circumstance, it will be like a lightbulb moment. It may not make a difference there and then, but next time that small adjustment could make a big change. I still fall off regularly and get battered a lot but that's half the fun.
I also got rid of the Bic and got a 9'1 wave catcher. It's all about numbers. I catch far more waves (which means more mistakes to learn from) and being able to paddle through the surf quickly means you aren't such a sitting dick anymore giving confidence in larger swells.
Thanks for all the advice and keep it coming!

[jaffa1949]

Good on you, goldenbarrel.
Just shows, Things will click when you flick the BIC.
Nice the hear success stories.