How to start, what kind of board and other newbie questions

[finz]

Hi all,

I recently introduced myself on the welcome thread, in short I'm a Finnish guy living in NZ, recently finished with university and now looking to learn to surf. I try to read through the forums and guides before asking stupid questions, but there's bound to be a few so I'll try and keep them in a single thread.

I'll try to summarize my current situation and will ask a couple of questions as to what would be the best way to go about learning after that.

Summary

I'm 27 years old, 180cm/5' 10" tall, about 77kg/170 lbs (and I like long walks on the beach...wait, wrong forum). I'm quite fit but a beginner in water sports, lately I've been doing mostly gym, some social team sports and a bit of running on the side.
I used to swim a couple k's a day as a teenager so I can swim but my swimming technique does suck big time. I've done a fair amount of sports regularly for a long time so taking up a reasonably hard daily routine to improve the kind of fitness I need for surfing is fine.

Question 1: what's the best way to start for a complete newbie?

I thought I'd go take some surfing lessons, but I was wondering if I'd get more out of them if I did a few weeks of suitable workout routine (swimming in the pool and in the ocean, suitable gym excercises and some playing around in the sea with a bodyboard to get a feel of the waves as I'm a complete newbie when it comes to understanding the mechanics of water)? If you think preparing like this would be useful, what kind of workout would you prioritize?

Would I be better off just going for a surf lesson asap and take it from there? In general I'm a bit of a step-by-step learner rather than a complete 'throw me in the deep end'-type so I was hoping I could do some preparing myself and then get more out of the lessons themselves. Either way goes of course!

Question 2: what kind of board should I be going for?

I’ve read about the different kinds of boards and also read through the beginner board topic and according to that I should be aiming for something like the following:

A 7’6”-8’ (229 cm – 244 cm) long, closer to 3 inch (7.6 cm) thick and close to 21 inches (53 cm) wide board.

Eventually I’d like to learn to surf with a thruster, but I assume a longboard or a mini-mal would be the smart choice and best for fast learning. However, I haven’t really got an idea of what kind of surf the surroundings of Auckland have and if I should be looking for something different because of local surf(longer board, shorter board, something different). Also if someone could drop names of good and helpful local shapers and surf clubs/schools it would be great.

I thought I’d try and find a second-hand board as my first board, basically learn on something crappy and once I get the ropes, move into something that’s closer to what I want. A good plan? I would not want to spend a fortune on something I want to replace really soon and that I’m likely to dent while doing something incredibly stupid.

I have no intention or wish to look cool while learning, I just want to learn fast and once ready, move to the shortboard side of things. I understand this will probably take a while as I have no previous experience of similar sports.

Thanks in advance for your replies! I realise many of the things I have asked have probably been covered in various threads before so feel free to hit me over the head with a link where necessary.

Wishing you great surf,

Tapio

[billie_morini]

finz,
glad you are stoked.

Answers to questions:

1. Type of exercise: aerobics with some strength strength training. Strength is needed in body core. You need to be able to jump to feet while everything around you is moving fast. Good idea you have to get in water with boogie board or mat for a couple of weeks before advancing to surf board. There is a lot to learn (intuitively) about currents and waves, as well as, what to expect from and with the sea. People that I've taught to surf that have not been around water (canoe, rapids, sail boats, jet ski, water ski, scuba, snorkeling, boogie boards, fishing, etc) have to learn what to do with their bodies in the water, as well as, learn to surf. Thankfully, you learned to swim properly. This will be helpful even if your form is not great. In addition, to boogie board, you can make up for lost experience in the sea by spending long days in the water -- first with your boogie board and then when learning to surf. This way you will experience changing tides and currents. It'll build a memory into your body.

Take a surf lesson after you have been in the sea enough times to really know what to expect with different conditions. You'll probably only need 1 to 3 surfing paid lessons from an instructor. The best things are 1) to get out in the water, and 2) go with a buddy. I learned far more from friends than from paid instructors. To get the most out of the instruction (as you indicated), you'll be best off to be fit or close to fit and with some experience in the sea. (By the way, it is wonderful to be immersed in the ocean. I could do it every day.)

2. Type of board: 9 foot longboard. Used is OK. All 3 of my boards and 2 out of 4 wetsuits were purchased used. Don't get a soft top board. They are too big and heavy. Get a fiberglass board. Hundreds of thousands of surfers learned to surf on fiberglass longboards long before soft top boards were invented.

Beginners need as much floatation as they can get. That is part of the reason beginners need longboards. Floatation makes it easier to catch waves and stand. Beginners do things slowly until they are trained. Longboard is forgiving and slow responses in balance, feet position, popping up and everything else that goes on when surfing are not penalized as much as with shorter boards.

FINAL NOTES
Remember these things.
1) the surfer having the most fun is the best surfer
2) surfing is like playing guitar. To have any proficiency in it, you have to do it regularly

[jaffa1949]

All good advice Finz from Billie, and Taupo bay is a good spot to learn, you've done several things right already! being aware of others around you as you learn is great the only thing I'd add is surf as often as possible do the exercises as often as possible swim bodyboard and bodysurf as well just get out and have fun in the surf every way possible. Team up with other people from Uni who surf = company, encouragement, safety and how to knowledge and shared petrol costs.

[finz]

Thank you very much for your advice, guys! Sounds good, I'll spend as much time in the sea as I can in the following weeks and then take some lessons. I'll need to look up the university surfing club too, someone said you don't need to be a student to join and that they are pretty active.

I also need to get some contact lenses as I'm pretty blind with no glasses on...should be okay though, a friend of mine who surfs wears them all the time, apparently you just need to remember to close your eyes at the appropriate moments hehe.

Thanks again and happy new years to you!

I'm off to Great Barrier Island for the new years and a long weekend, I'll try to spend as much time in the water there as I can, bodysurfing and boogie boarding. I got a lovely cosy warm wetsuit for christmas too so getting cold is not going to be a problem(waters are not cold but I haven't spent much time in cool water lately so the wetsuit comes in handy)

Regards

Finz

[billie_morini]

finz,
glad to help. I don't like contact lenses and use perscription sunglasses made for water sports. Go to this link in this forum and be sure not to miss the 3rd post:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=15735&p=139502&hilit=silverfish#p139502