water confidence help...

[midnightwolf]

my friend needs to boost his confidence in the water. hes only recently learned to swim, we have however been surfing for 2-3 years. we have done a lot in swimming pools (treading water and jumping in deep end) and hes got a lot better. we are thinking about taking the boards out on a flat day and just paddling around, swimming and jumping in and stuff. any advice or anything?
Thanks in advance,
Sarah k

[Brunop]

hes only recently learned to swim, we have however been surfing for 2-3 years

How is that even possible? How did he surf without knowing how to swim?? o.o

Answering the question:

The most important thing is to feel confident. If he isn't feeling confident on going to the sea with his board, you should not force him.
I guess the best way to start is going in a day with very small waves. First start in the shallow water, let some small waves hit him, just so he know how it feels, and them proceed further away from the beach and paddle a little down there. If he handles it well, try helping him catching some small waves. But, again, only if he feels ok about that!

[surf patrol]

I would encourage your friend to really work on his/her swimming. Weak swimmers should not be out surfing. While you might feel safe being attached to a large floatation device, what happens if the leash comes off or snaps and the board disappears into shore?
Start some endurance training at the local pool, and be safe when out surfing.

[jaffa1949]

Learning and becoming a strong swimmer is a key but in the end you may have to accept that your friend may not want to feel confident enough to surf. If that is the case you need to respect that, some people will never get to surf.
He probably has a lot to offer in other ways beyond surfing if it doesn't suit.
I don't do mountain climbing ,not scared of heights,just not willing to make the climb! same deal really and some of my mountain friends are petrified of the smallest surf.

Good for trying to share what you love

[SoCalSurfing]

Also need to learn the skills, not just be confident for ocean swimming.

Knowing what to look for, avoid, how to handle yourself in a wiped out, rip currents, etc....are all important to safely surfing.

Learning the skills increases confidence.