Surfing Waves

Hi all,

I am going to be vacationing in the Outer Banks in September and was interested in trying surfing for the first time. I noticed that many places offer lesson for 2 hours or so but I was looking for a bit more. Anyone here in that area and willing to give some instruction to someone new to the sport?

Most beginners don't last much more than 2 hrs at a time, hence this is a pretty typical length for a lesson. You can book more than one day as long as your body is up for it.

Our lessons in Waikiki were for 1 hour in the water ( beach time excluded ). Most newbies didn't last 45 minutes. They usually took a long recovery break and caught a last ride in. It doesn't matter what level of conditioning you're in and the level you are at in another sport. You will be humbled......... but also smiling from ear to ear. Trust me, you don't need a three hour lesson.

I go to a beach near my home and ride whatever is there. Sometimes the only waves there are is where they are doing lessons so I try to find a different peak to ride near the lessons. I think the surfers look at me surfing and think the instructor is keeping them off the good waves intentionally. They are paddling for waves and having a hard time catching them on their own but they see me catching waves right next to them and figure it has to be some gimmick. The instructors know I will leave after 30 minutes so coax them over to me around that time to let them try to catch the same waves. But basically their arms are too tired and they haven't the paddle power to catch waves even with their much larger boards. I have talked to a few. If they are catching waves and can't manage more than riding whitewater straight in they figure it's the boards fault or the instructor is lining them up in the wrong place. I think unrealistic expectations is the norm for beginners.

waikikikicha's reply reminded me. The very beginners' lessons I've seen typically involve the instructors pushing the students into the waves. Otherwise they wouldn't last the whole 1.5hrs of actual water time.

I saw that there are a few surf camps in the Outer Banks area. In order to get into the best possible shape to tackle several days of lessons what would everyone recommend for a total beginner. I'm sure cardio is an obvious one but what about yoga or training on an indoboard?