going alright? How to progress when surfing

[freaky_welsh_chick]

hey I'm new to this board, but i'm glad i found it, cos i can see myself asking a lot of questions!!! im 15 by the way :)

i learnt to surf on those huge foam boards, and got frustrated with them, cos i found them very easy to stand on and ride, and couldnt turn them like i knew i was meant to. so a month or 2 back i bought a Bic, 7'3" board. i only got to go on it once b4 it got too cold 4 my shorty wetsuit, and i was terrible, i couldnt stand up or anything. but now i got a fullsuit, boots, gloves and hood for christmas, ive been twice this week, and each time ive got better. tuesday i caught and rode quite a few waves, and today i even managed a bottom turn (on white water). so im really chuffed and well stoked :D .

so ive got a few questions. firstly, did i buy the right board? cos its shorter than whats recommended normally for beginners, but i am progressing well. secondly, what do i work on next. ive nearly mastered the white water, so should i move on to the green water, out to line up, or should i practise turns on the white for a bit more. im quite unfit too, i know i need to work on that. thirdly, im looking to progress as quickly as possible, so what stage do you need to be at, before downsizing my board, and then what kind of board do i get? lastly, do you think my progress sounds alright? i love surfing so much i really want to be good at it, im totally in awe of the other surfers rippin it up.

thanks in advance for any help, sorry its quite a long post.

Me.

[surf patrol]

Hi freaky_welsh_chick - welcome to Surfing Waves

Good to have another surfer hungry for the best way to improve. Looks like you have been posting elsewhere on the forum - good on ya!
Ok, back to the matter at hand.

i learnt to surf on those huge foam boards, and got frustrated with them

Foam boards are a great way to learn for this reason - but once you have been aut a handful of times on them and you are getting up regularly then it's time for a change.

i even managed a bottom turn

It is a milestone for any learning surfer - congrats (you really are ready to move on!)

buy the right board? cos its shorter than whats recommended normally for beginners, but i am progressing well

There are a few posts dotted around this forum already about surf boards for beginners, but if you are progressing well then it looks like your choice of board was pretty good for you.

what do i work on next. ive nearly mastered the white water, so should i move on to the green water, out to line up, or should i practise turns on the white for a bit more

Get out into the lineup ASAP! - no point in hanging around in the whitewater - there is nothing to learn there now. You have duck diving to master, and this can be a long process (especially on a Bic - those babies can be hard to sink!) Check out duck diving information here - https://surfing-waves.com/surfing_lesson_three.htm
Look at your next milestone as getting your first shoulder ride. If you think you enjoy surfing now wait until you catch an unbroken wave. Check out the rest of the surfing lessons on the main site to get some tips about getting into the lineup.

im quite unfit too

If you truly want to improve your surfing quickly you have to sort this out. You need to be as fit as possible to get the best from you surfing - at the least being fit means that you can spend much more time in the water without having to leave good waves because you are tired.

what stage do you need to be at, before downsizing my board, and then what kind of board do i get

It's totally down to an individual basis. As you progress, the need for changing your board will become apparent. As to what board, that's your choice. If you have surfing friends, take their boards out and see what you like.

do you think my progress sounds alright

Sounds good. You can stand - you have made a bottom turn. This pretty much makes you a surfer. Maybe not a good surfer but we all start somewhere.
My advice from here. Get in as often as possible and when you are not surfing work on your fitness

Righto, that's about it - Let's now hear from everyone else!

[freaky_welsh_chick]

thanks for the advice!!! i read over the article about duck diving, and i'm gonna have a go in my next session, i can tell it's going to be hard, you're right, it is hard to sink a bic. do you just use your arms to push down the nose, or should you use your knee aswell? (ive read this in other 'how-tos')

and my other question, about downsizing my board, i know i am getting ahead of myself, but do you think i might have to downsize before this summer? if so i need to start saving, because i'd want to take my new board with me to france, or would the pop out be alright to take?

thanks again!
FWC x

[surferdude_scarborough]

hey there i'm 15 too but i'm less lucky than you i can't get to the surf very often and don't know anybody generous to get me a full winter suit and all the trimmings. i got a bic 6'7 for xmas + i agree with you on the foam boards, i found i could'nt turn themeither good luck in the lineup!!

[freaky_welsh_chick]

yesss!!! I'm off surfing on Friday now hopefully, cos i got the afternoon off from exams! i'll be heading out to the line up, i can't wait! just thought i'd come and tell you all, 'cause I'm all excited and my non-surfing buddies don't get what the fuss is about! anyways, i'll let you know how it goes. i'm so gonna get totally mushed, the surf is quite big at the moment! heehee!

FWC x