Fear of Ocean

[Surfbratt]

Hello Everyone,

I am a begginer surfer and I have one problem I am afraid of the ocean. I
want to learn so bad and be realy good but just that one fear is holding me back. I get afraid when I wipout out and then I end up hesitating on more waves. is there anyway that I can overcome this fear of the ocean.

surfbratt :)

[Phil]

ive heard of surfers that cant swim but never one afraid of the ocean

best bet is to just keep surfing and your fear will go or to get easyer to cope with

[Surfbratt]

Thanks, I quess I will get used to being out there as time goes by. I have to toughen up.

[tree_hugger]

Remember that there are kids in hawaii that surf 20 ft waves so i'm sure you can handle the waves that come your way.
surf mello

[Surfbratt]

True true, I have never sean 20ft waves. In RI if we are lucky durring Hurricane Season. Last September our waves were so big that everone was amazed because we never see that. They were probaly 10ft.

But maybe if I feel like a kid again I will have no fear since kids dont have fear. :0) I am not old but I am 25;

Thanks Surfbratt

[Ozzie]

You don't need to be afraid of the ocean just have a healthy respect for her mate. When you wipe out just chill and you will come up, fighting your way up just speeds up oxygen consumption from your blood stream and lungs. Try breath holding exercises and swimming underwater etc to gain confidence. I once read in Surfing mag that it is proven that when we get scared our mouth dries so if you swallow to create saliva thus wetting the mouth it lessens the feeling of anxiety. You'll learn over time that wipe outs are never as bad as they seem (unless you are towing into Jaws or Teahapoo!)

[Surfbratt]

Hello Ozzie, I was reading something about that to, that if you just relax you will be fine when you wipe out. I always end up keeping my mouth open and swallow a ton of water. YUCK...... I think that what you said about practicing swimming under water will help me I think that your right. I have an YMCA membership and I should go an use there pool and swim.

THnak you surfbratt

[Guest]

No worries mate,
If you want to be able to hold your breath longer try the following. Before going under take 5-6 fast deep breaths followed by a couple of long deep ones, this is known as hyper-ventilation (I used to teach diving for a living). Static breath holding is ok but you are best of swimming at the same time to simulate muscle usage during a wipout etc.

[Ozzie]

That last reply was from me, forgot to sign in Doh!

[Surfbratt]

Hello Ozzie

I will have to try that. I just tryed that breathing technique (sitting at my desk) But just sitting here I was able to hold my breath a bit longer. I will have to practice this in the pool. Also I have to plug my nose when I go under water. When I was younger I did not have to but it seams that as I got older I had to. maybe because I swim less. But what is a good way to plug your nose. A friend of mine said to blow out of your nose and that did not work another told me to crunch my nose and lips together to stop the water to enter. AND that did not work either. Any sugestings.

Thanks Surfbratt

PS how long you been surfing for?

[Guest]

Hi Surfbratt,
It is perfecly possible to even open your mouth U/water and have no water enter. Use your tongue like a plug and place it against the top of your mouth. This should stop water entering through the nose too as all the airways are connected. Exhaling gently can work too. You can also buy nose clips but I don't know who would sell them.
I 've been surfing for about 10 years now but spent the first 4 bodyboarding. I live and surf in the Canary islands off the west coast of Africa.
Hope this is some help.
;-)

[NCwaterman]

I started scuba diving at 25. Never even seen the ocean before. Now I surf and teach diving. If you think about what is in the water and what the water can do you turn the fears into respect. You could get hit by a meteor tomorrow too but you keep going outside! lol. Time in the water will cure you. Roll with it dude.

[Ozzie]

Definatley agree with NCwaterman. Think about it, we spend our first 9 months underwater in the womb anyway so it should just be like going home!

[Guest]

Hi Surfbratt,
It is perfecly possible to even open your mouth U/water and have no water enter. Use your tongue like a plug and place it against the top of your mouth. This should stop water entering through the nose too as all the airways are connected. Exhaling gently can work too. You can also buy nose clips but I don't know who would sell them.
I 've been surfing for about 10 years now but spent the first 4 bodyboarding. I live and surf in the Canary islands off the west coast of Africa.
Hope this is some help.
;-)

Hello I will have to try the tongue technique i will probaly swallow ater for first couple of tries. ha ha but that is cool how you can stop the flow of water by doing that I would of never of thought to do this. I know were to by nose clips but they always have hurt my nose but it is worth a shot. Wow you must be realy good for surfing for 10years now. I have been for 2 months last year and trice this year so far.

Thank you

[Surfbratt]

O that last one was from me I di dnot sighn in



Surfbratt

[Surfbratt]

Definatley agree with NCwaterman. Think about it, we spend our first 9 months underwater in the womb anyway so it should just be like going home!

Yes thats why when you teach a baby early to swim they can swim right under water with no problem. I wish my parents tought me when I was an infant then I would be like a fish swiming in the water.

[blueazure]

Hi...
I dint know much about breathing and relaxing exercises etc but...

I'm fairly new to this and have been surfing for around 10 months. I went out to Feuteventura last Sep and after haing a spectacular surfing start in Woolacombe thought I could more or less surf anything the sea threw at me......... WRONG!

Essentially there was no swell and it was all wind...every 3 to 5 seconds it seemed I was having large amounts of sea piled on my head....

It knocked the crap out of me and knocked my confidence... Big time!

Then I went to Fistral at the end of September and it made me really nervous to go in... It was really choppy and I had a bad wipe-out...
Again, my confidence was knocked and I considered packing it all in....

So I did exactly the opposite, I bought a board and suit and took it easy.
Now everytime I go out I check the waves and if too big I ride white stuff. Theres no need to be in the back line-up If all your going to do is scare the shite out of yourself, loose confidence and not ride stuff... As far as I see its all about having fun, and riding waves is fun, so choose your waves according to your skill level... I was at Fistral and Perranporth last weekend and rode white stuff all the time... Not only does it make you a better surfer but it gives you confidence in the sea.... tiny steps mate..... thats the way forward....

Hope this helps

[Ozzie]

Ok, I have the ultimate solution, check out billabongxxl.com and visit the photo galleries. When you see these waves (check out the two entires from ''shipsterns'', unrideable chaos) you will realize that what most of us consider big, 2-3m, is nothing but a drop in a very big ocean. Bear in mind that 1 cubic m of water weighs 1 ton and as sea water is denser it wighs slightly more, just imagine what these guys go through when they bail!
Of to surf now, have a good weekend.

Ozzie.

[Surfbratt]

Wow I totally understand what you are saying. Last September durring Hurricane season here in RI (US) I started to learn to surf and there was no swell just wave after another and crashing on me head. The waves were so powerfull that they were pulling me into the water. and if freaked me out. So now This year about a week ago bought myself a board and went out I am taking it easy but now I hesitate on which waves to go on even the small ones. I just want to learn to ballance now and feel confident with the ocean. I have found it hard to balence on my new boarde I got an 7/8 BIC, 2 of my friends used it and they loved it but not me I cant stay on it. But it will take some time.

Thank you Surfbratt

[Surfbratt]

Ok, I have the ultimate solution, check out billabongxxl.com and visit the photo galleries. When you see these waves (check out the two entires from ''shipsterns'', unrideable chaos) you will realize that what most of us consider big, 2-3m, is nothing but a drop in a very big ocean. Bear in mind that 1 cubic m of water weighs 1 ton and as sea water is denser it wighs slightly more, just imagine what these guys go through when they bail!
Of to surf now, have a good weekend.

Ozzie.

O MY GOD, I have never sean waves that big before. Wow makes me feel like a wusssss. ha ha

Surfbratt