Surfing Waves

Hi guys um ok I live in manhattan NY and I have been skateboarding all my life, I'm 23 now and I would like to try surfing. I have always loved surfing without even trying it I'm not sure how I got the obsession. For years now I've been watching movies and videos I even get the mags lol I think that the fact that I live in the city is why I have never tried it. Ok so I have a friend who has been surfing for a very long time and he has an extra short board that he gave me. I know that I'm supposed to start with a long board but I can't buy one I'm working to pay for the university I goto. I'm planning on taking it into the water in a few days but I would like your advice first.

And for whatever is worth I have been a life guard for about 5 years now at a pool but not at a beach. Thanks guys

well i guess you gotta make do with what you got but ideally a longer board would likely be much better.

Give it a couple of months and you'll be back on here with a thread that goes 'I tried surfing on a shortboard but I couldnt catch a wave let alone stand up - do you think it was the board?'

I’m actually a huge advocate of learning on a smaller board. Not necessarily a potato chip thruster but certainly not a 9’ barge. Yes, it will take you longer to catch waves, but it forces you to be disciplined off the bat. Shorter boards are far less forgiving ... consider it paying your dues.

As for NYC, I used to make the treck to Mannasquan (sp?) whenever I could. Did I feel like a total oddball carrying my surfboard along York to the parking garage? You bet. But man I missed the beach. The drive itself from the city is not much further than what I used to drive growing up in So Cal. What got me most was how warm the water was – never wore a wetsuit in the summer. Sure the waves sucked but whatever. And I guess you get used to the wierd little pieces of jellyfish mixed in in the water.

Point being, get out there already and stop wondering about it on the interwebs haha.

Uh the difference I found between an 8ft and 9ft board was HUGE.

Surfings hard enough as it is without crippling your learning ability.

Allof the guys here have made very valid points. It will be much much harder to learn to surf on a shortboard than a longboard. You sound like you have fitness and balance on your side, with a shortboard there is the distinct possibility that you are setting yourself up to fail if you wish to be able to catch waves and stand up. That said, if it is all you have got to go with then give it a go, your success will depend on your determination - I would think that you would need insumountable determination to succeed in this though.

Give it a go and see how you get on, if you have difficulty and get the chance to borrow or rent a bigger board then take it - it will be a pleasent supprise after the short board. (provided you dont position yourself too far forward )

Good Luck!!

Short board for a newbie?

No.

if it was free then go for it. will be hard work though. maybe rent some longer boards first.

Its not impossible I think.

Shorty's require more accurate positioning, there harder to paddle, paddle slower, but you can duckdive them.

But you also need to take the wave laterand get to your feet faster and have way less leeway in doing so.

After 3 years of surfing longboards last summer I tried a 7ftodd bic, almost caught a wave (even knowing what I should be doing) and a 7ft odd fish and pretty much got nowhere.

Surfings problem is it takes so much effort skill and knowledge (and fitness and balance) to get to each stage. And you have so little time to learn, so few waves per session that anythign that doubles your time on (or trying to get to) our feet) has to be worth it.

Saying that if all you have is a shorty give it a go.

RJD wrote:Its not impossible I think.
... And you have so little time to learn, so few waves per session that anythign that doubles your time on (or trying to get to) our feet) has to be worth it ...

So then beginners should attach motors to their longboards?

Haha sorry bro, I just couldn’t resist.

oooh if I could ...!

Paddling is the first thing to learn, and its not as easy as it looks eh.

Wow hahah a couple of you guys scared me! But I'm going to have to give it ago lol I mean I already bought the $23 leash and the sex wax lol and I don't think anything can be harder than med school haha. I'm going to save my pennies and get a longboard. I'm taking a trip with my local surfshop(prob the only shop in manhattan) to abeach and Global is supposed to be there selling used boards for cheap.
I know this is completely different but back in the day didn't they train military men with heavier armor? Just saying I dunno lol

SurfinGatNYU wrote:I know this is completely different but back in the day didn't they train military men with heavier armor? Just saying I dunno lol

Haha excellent!

By the way, where in the city is this surf shop???

Hi lol this surfshop is on E 85th st and York ave its called NYPD New York Pipe Dreams its a nice store

If the shortboard doesn't work out and you get frustrated, remember that you can pick up a longboard pretty cheap used. You don't need anything special, as you're gonna beat the xxxxx out of it anyway.

SurfinGatNYU wrote:Hi guys um ok I live in manhattan NY and I have been skateboarding all my life, I'm 23 now and I would like to try surfing. I have always loved surfing without even trying it I'm not sure how I got the obsession. For years now I've been watching movies and videos I even get the mags lol I think that the fact that I live in the city is why I have never tried it. Ok so I have a friend who has been surfing for a very long time and he has an extra short board that he gave me. I know that I'm supposed to start with a long board but I can't buy one I'm working to pay for the university I goto. I'm planning on taking it into the water in a few days but I would like your advice first.

And for whatever is worth I have been a life guard for about 5 years now at a pool but not at a beach. Thanks guys

If you've been skating all your life and you're swimming fit then I really suggest learning on a shortboard.

Yea I mean I picked up skatenboarding when I was 9 and finally broke my arm and nose last year at a competition so I'm a bit scared now lol but yea part of my excersise is swimming laps 4 times a week. I don't give up that easily. I'm planning on getting a winter suit and surfing even in the winter time.

SurfinGatNYU wrote:I'm planning on getting a winter suit and surfing even in the winter time.

Wow

drowningbitbybit wrote:

SurfinGatNYU wrote:I'm planning on getting a winter suit and surfing even in the winter time.

Wow

sarcastic git!!
give him a break... he's not yet fully hooked tho from the sound of it soon will be...

how short is short? what size board we talkin about here?

if u can get hold of a cheap second hand fat boy flyer type board then go for that for learning, they're just big & more buoyant shortboards, real easy to learn on, the more you're in the water the sooner u get it cracked. Not sure what your size is but i'm almost 6foot and used a 7foot board initially!
(p.s this is my personal opinion, wouldn't waste my time with a big longboard)