Surfing Waves

Hello everyone,
Many of us had or planing to have surf lessons somewhere,good or bad,how was your surf courses?
and who's the best or the worst surf instructor and why?

I don't it is good to go calling surf instructors good or bad

There are many factors including individual perception and personal circumstances of both instructor and trainee ‘on the day’ which change and affect the potential classification.

There is some instructors very good when they are surfing,but they don't have a talent to teach trainee, Some ones are average surfers but very good instructors,a good surfer is not automatically good instructor.
Some ones they give you a demonstration and leave you practice alone, some ones they follow you,watch you and tell what's wrong with you.
Some ones they look after checks and forget gentelmans.

i'd like to think of myself as a 'good' surf instructor. i can only think of a few times that my students didn't stand up. and i've been doing lessons for 2 or 3 years. most instructors (here at least) work for tips, so it's in our best interests to be a 'good' instructor

the best surf instructor is yourself. when growing up, there were no such things as surf instructor s. We did things for ourselves and learned for ourselves. This doesnt mean that we didnt have pointers here and there. These days, it seems like everyone wants things given to them without taking some hard knocks and doing a bit of self learning.

dafoink wrote:the best surf instructor is yourself. when growing up, there were no such things as surf instructors. We did things for ourselves and learned for ourselves. This doesnt mean that we didnt have pointers here and there. These days, it seems like everyone wants things given to them without taking some hard knocks and doing a bit of self learning.

No offence dude - from a noob to a pro a surfer has to be watched and advised to improve - end of.

My biggest frustration with lessons is the "Beginner Lesson". I've been surfing for a while and have a long way to go but am well past the "Beginner Lesson" I've tried to sign up for the next progression lesson a couple of times and have been frustrated by instructors who only seem to be able to provide the same carbon copy lesson each time. I want someone to watch what I'm doing and provide specific feedback on how to improve. I've told them honestly what level I'm at and what I'm looking for but I don't get much benefit. I've given up on signing up for lessons now as I've wasted my money the last 2 times. The best instruction I've received to date is through Whiteboard Wednesdays on this website:
http://www.surfsimply.com/podcast/

flo - offer a surfer some bucks to give you tips for an hour or so - no worries !

esonscar wrote:

dafoink wrote:the best surf instructor is yourself. when growing up, there were no such things as surf instructors. We did things for ourselves and learned for ourselves. This doesnt mean that we didnt have pointers here and there. These days, it seems like everyone wants things given to them without taking some hard knocks and doing a bit of self learning.

No offence dude - from a noob to a pro a surfer has to be watched and advised to improve - end of.

I agree that to turn pro you obviously need instructions, but just so u know how competitions and avaluations work..

If you surf not thinking about a future as a pro you won't even need an instructor.. Just some improving classes when you get past the first classes.. You have get tuff and get to know the sea pretty much on your own..