New to surfing...slight loss of confidence...:S

[Jasmine!*!*!]

i have been surfing three times. once with a surf school on a foam board, then, (without sounding utterly spoilt!) my dad brought me my own board! i have been out with friend and her brother and dad then i went again with my dad, but by myself in the water (dont- worry - with others around!). but this was the end of last year.

anyway, i went with my dad and drove around 3 times since, but all three times i didnt go in as the tide was wrong...lack of skills in reading weather forecasts! whoops! anyway this has made me abit nervous about going out again...what if it happens again?

Also, the last time i went out was about 5 months ago- i had made a little progress and just about managed to get to my feet (but fell off shortly after!). i know that when i go back out there i will suck! like my first outing! i know i cant avoid it but its making me abit nervous to get back out there...but i also really want to learn to surf!!!! ahhhh help!

[crepuscular]

a think everyone is like that when we just started, just keep on practicing, dont worry if you look really bad, it's all part of the progress

[T.I.]

Dude, don't worry about about it too much. I just started two weeks ago, and initially I felt the same way, but people are more stoked that you're out there doing it and trying hard.

[Beachbum]

Yeah, everyone starts off that way, and don't worry about it. As long as you want to get better, and you're having fun, who cares what others' think about you. Just get out there and surf!

[TReMoR]

Yea.. i dont think you should worry. Where do you live? I dont think tide matters too much, especailly when you are starting out. Unless you are trying to go when it gets swamped out for the smaller waves

[Jasmine!*!*!]

im in cornwall, england. the tide can be really good for beginners in the summer but in the winter the swell picks up and is quite advanced...when i went out it was about october ish i think...not a good idea

[sinistapenguin]

One of my first ever sessions was in Great Western, Newquay (Cornwall) back in 1990!!. The waves were about 5-6 ft, but it didn't really make any difference as I was just riding white water and reform.

The point is, don't worry about being great, if there's a line of whitewater, you can ride it. Just get out there as much as you can and enjoy it. Don't try and get out the back if you're only just starting focus on the basics like paddling and popping up.

My brother in law has been surfing for around 4 years (only once or twice a year mind). We went out in Wales on Monday, 1-1 1/2 ft clean. That was the first time he'd got up and turned along the wave etc. He was so stoked!!

[oldgrom]

Relax,,, just concentrate on the havin fun part the getting good part will come in time. Who's the best surfer around? ,,,,,,,,, The one that's having fun!

[didj]

you lucky being in Cornwall, Im stuck just north of London!

[Jasmine!*!*!]

yeah, i almost went at the weekend but due to exams etc we decided against it, but ive decided it really doesnt matter! who cares if i look silly!? lol thanks guys

oh and "didj" yeah i LOVE cornwall!! its brilliant beaches on your doorstep and country walks almost everywhere! it's all good!

[didj]

your always going to have that "new person" feeling until you get in the water and do it, the you realize no other surfer will ever judge you on your skill level being guy or girl. They are there for the same reason you are- to enjoy themselves, I suggest you do the same!!!

[Young blood]

Well you could look at this from a positive point of view...since you read the swell reports and find out its bad... you should now know when the swell would suck...so other reports have a chance of being better...but hey its allways good to go watch the ocean , its better than sitting in your house by yourself ... and its definitely better than not being able to go check on any waves at all. And also you'll eventually get better...thats human nature...to get better at what you do

[esonscar]

Oi Jasmine!*!*! - exams first - surf second !

Once you have a top job you can surf anywhere you want - so get the exams pleeeease !

[scusurf]

Jasmine,
I am fairly new to surfing too. I go out everyday and of course some days are better than others. What I have noticed though is that all my improvements come in sets (kind of like waves ) instead of continuously. Just keep going out there and you will surprise yourself. Always keep the stoke going!!!

[Beachbum]

Jasmine,
I am fairly new to surfing too. I go out everyday and of course some days are better than others. What I have noticed though is that all my improvements come in sets (kind of like waves ) instead of continuously. Just keep going out there and you will surprise yourself. Always keep the stoke going!!!

haha same for me. It's strange because I may not surf for a couple of weeks, and then be able to do something new the next time I go out.

[sj_chick]

Jasmine,

Im just back from a few days in cornwall and at the wrong side of 30 decided to give surfing a go. I am sure I looked so silly but I didnt care I had the best time ever and am hooked already. Cant wait to come down again in a few weeks for round two!!

[Lomax]

i have been surfing three times. once with a surf school on a foam board, then, (without sounding utterly spoilt!) my dad brought me my own board! i have been out with friend and her brother and dad then i went again with my dad, but by myself in the water (dont- worry - with others around!). but this was the end of last year.

anyway, i went with my dad and drove around 3 times since, but all three times i didnt go in as the tide was wrong...lack of skills in reading weather forecasts! whoops! anyway this has made me abit nervous about going out again...what if it happens again?

Also, the last time i went out was about 5 months ago- i had made a little progress and just about managed to get to my feet (but fell off shortly after!). i know that when i go back out there i will suck! like my first outing! i know i cant avoid it but its making me abit nervous to get back out there...but i also really want to learn to surf!!!! ahhhh help!

I'm not clear on what happened with the tide and weather forecasts...what if what happens again?

You will probably suck. But you really shouldn't worry about it. 5 months is a long time! You can't expect yourself to remember how you got up that long ago.

You should just paddle out, period. As often as you can. Don't psych yourself out. Set your mind to it and just do it. Don't worry about the conditions, those are just excuses for you not getting to the lineup. Big days, small days, choppy, cold, whatever (okay, not double overhead, but you get my drift).

You may not catch waves, but you are learning the whole time. You will learn by observation. And the most important learning early on people tend to ignore. Recognizing where and how the waves break and your best position (watch the ocean; don't wait lying on your stomach facing the beach), and paddling fast enough to catch waves from the outside (rather than trying to catch waves that are breaking on top of you). I wouldn't even worry about standing until you get that down. But of course, everybody does. So just get out there and have fun!

[mart8235]

I surf in Porthcawl s.wales, there are 2 beaches, rest bay and Coney, Rest is the better place to go if the wind is down, if the wind is up or its really big then coney gives a cleaner and smaller wave.
local surfshop gives a daily surf report which tells you whats going on with swell and wind etc and therefore which beach to surf at, I usually look at both before i decide where to go. if Rest bay is too big or messy then i go to coney.

anyhoo........ my point is, your local surf shops should give some sort of online 'surfcast' to help you choose when to go and which beach is best for you. if you dont know a local surfcast then google 'magic seaweed'. it gives a swell and wind forcast for areas around blighty, good place to start if you want to learn how to predict the surf. its not a replacement for a local surfcast or just going down the beach to see for yourself, but its worth a look at.

above all, go to the beach, go in the water, have fun, then your surfing, woo woo!!!

[danno]

I have taught a lot people over the last year and a couple of things i have noticed that have been critical: Board size, i hope you got the right size for you. I see beginners on little boards getting frustrated at lack of prog. Another thing is placement, where i live the waves change fast and so does the need to scoot up or back on the board. A half an inch can mean pearling or missing a wave sometimes. Trial and error but it changes every session,until you just get it on auto with much practice. I see new guys paddling there tails off and never getting into a wave because they are back too far. The other is how steep the waves are, if you have not perfected a fluid pop up it will take you longer to stand up and with each movement you have to fight to maintain balance. My kids some times belly ride, then to one knee, then stand with feet at attention, and finally if they make it they get in a decent surf position. Faster and steeper waves don't cater to this evolutionary pop up too well. I get them to practice pop ups at home all the time and have noticed big improvement and now they catch about every wave they want. There are some decent videos on youtube for good pop ups. Skateboarding helped my daughters immensely on getting their natural leg position. Also don't feel bad about catching white water leftovers, take care not to be in the way of other surfers too much, but it is great to practice over and over you pop up and get your legs. Best of luck. I am no expert teacher or anything but we have loads of fun, I hate seeing new surfers struggle, and when I started I bought board based on my ignorance and got a potato chip board, that was decent when the waves were really on, but really lessoned my wave count the other 90% of the time. Have fun!

[dunno]

Hey Danno-got any links to the youtube vids yer talking about?