Wanna be surfer-can you help?

[Lolipop]

Hello,
Ive been thinking about learning to surf for a while now, the only problem is I live in Birmingham, have no car and not a lot of money-im a student.
Whats the best way to go about learning to surf and where is the best place to go (near to Birmingham)?

[cj]

Sell Weed

[Lolipop]

Is that it?!!! Dont you have any better advise for me?

[el_timmo]

hello there lollipop! welcome to the forum, and good luck with surfing.

At the moment, I don't have a car, but I take the train whenever I'm going surfing. A bit of a hassle, but it's worth it when you get to the beach! Alternatively, you could see whether your Uni has a surf club, and see if you can pay some of the transport cost to the beach.

Anyway here's a few quick tips:

1. Get a railcard!
2. When packing, make sure you pack the bare essentials. (if you are a woman, the bare essentials do not include your pet chihuahua, the whole line of Chanel and 12 books about romance in the 1860's)
3. I must insist you pack the bare essentials again! toothbrush, 3 pairs underwear, 2 t shirts, 1 pair jeans, 1 pair boardies, wettie, rashie and maybe a magazine
4. Try not to wait until rush hour to catch your train.... walking on a loaded train with a rucsac and a surfboard is not going to make you the most popular person around (with passengers or guards)
5. If you're going to travel on a train, forget ever taking a longboard
6. Make sure you have your ipod full of tunes for the very long journey ahead.... tunes like the Scorpions' Catch your Train are good ones for journeys!

[thaya]

hey lollipop, welcome to the forum. I recommend taking a weekend or week long course down in Newquay. My best mate lives in Birmingham and it only takes her 5hrs on the train (it's worth it). There are some special deals on at the Dolphin Surf School (which I highly recommend - they're fantastic with beginners) in Newquay in Oct, Nov, Dec. They do midweek 3or4 day things too. Look it up on the net. Hope you manage to sort something out. Have fun!

[PapaW]

Join the uni surf club. You'll be unpopular at the breaks you get taken too in the hordes that most uni clubs travel in but it will get you to breaks.

Also befriend a likeminded person with a car. split fuel costs.

Nears breaks. East coast, South Wales, Mid and North Wales. Learn how and when they work so you can time your tripps accordingly.

[Phil]

that was the reason i didnt join, there was allways a huge cue at the freshers fair and theres no way id want to turn up to the surf with a couple of coach loads of people

[Lolipop]

Cheers guys, I think im going to give the lessons a go with the Dolphin Surf Club. I guess that way ill learn the basics and have a good footing to work on, then its train hopping for me and my surf board (when I get one!!). Im not sure im liking the idea of the uni surf club- no ones said anything good about them yet!!!
I read that its not good to but your wetsuit second hand as it will be moulded to someone elses bodyshape (nice!) but is it ok to get a second hand surf board?

[drowningbitbybit]

wetsuit second hand

No.

second hand surf board?

Yes.

[surfishlife]

You could skip the lessons- all the learning you need can probably be found in the forum, and done by trial-and-error.

Hop the train and watch everyone else.

[Adrenaline Fueled]

With respect, there are just some things you can't really learn in the forum... My surfing really improved more in one 2 hour leson than in the 3 months beforehand. My 'expert' advice is to have a play on your board, get used to the feel of it, get a book to teach you the basics, then get a surf lesson. Hopefully, the instructor will be able to stick to helping you iron out small mistakes, rather than teaching you everything from scratch...

Ramble mode disengaged.

[CheeZee]

Ramble mode disengaged.

..lolol.. does that facility come with Rant mode dissengage as well ?! .. cause i could do with it for the weekend

nice one lol

[WooD]

My best mate lives in Birmingham and it only takes her 5hrs on the train (it's worth it).

I can't believe how spoiled I've become. Before we had this house built, I lived 1'500 foot from the beach. After moving I was bummed because I have to drive 7 miles. You are hard core to the max to have to deal with a 5 hour train ride, and cold water on top of that. Wish I couod buy ya a drink.