Surfing Waves

At 45, I finally hit the Topsail NC surf with an instructor and the requisite 9 foot board. I had a blast, and stood up several times. Now I need to work on those arm muscles so I can pop up better, save the knees and the feet.

Question: After 2-3 hours paddling on this board, on each side, right at the bottom of the rib cage is sore, as if bruised. Enough that I am not sure I would have been comfortable going out a second day (had I still been at the coast). I notice my rib cage sticks out slightly there.

Is this a normal pain for the first time? Avoidable? Would a rash guard pad this area at all?

Or do I just need to surf as often as possible to get this area used to lying on a hard surface?

Perfectly normal. A rash vest wont do much, if anything, for bruising. A 5mm wetsuit works, but you probably dont want to be wearing one of them

Not a great deal you can do about it except surf as often as you can and get used to it. And the more you surf, the less time you spend on your ribs

Of course!! Butt cheeks, and then mostly on your feet. As little ribs as possible.

Makes sense to me. Thanks for the thoughts.

Aha!! There IS something you can do about it!! Just keep an eye on our website for a product that helps prevent this sort of problem!!

There's been a bit of a delay in getting it into production (manufacturer's delay, not ours), but it should be ready in about a month!

If you need details, drop me a line

Cheers

Keith

Surfing-Innovation wrote:Aha!!

That could be your catchphrase

There is one problem.

If you surf a lot (as in standing riding the wave), then you're bound to be on your rib cage a lot, paddling back out to the peak (unless they're really short rides)

If you surf enough, you'll get used to it. Enjoy the stoke Brah!

I get bruised hips, but im used to it now.
You'll get used to it unless the pain gets too intense, then id take a break from surfing.

babbit wrote:At 45, I finally hit the Topsail NC

Hey man those ribs will heal. I know when I started it hurt to breathe or laugh. I am right down the road from you. Lets do a session soon. I am a newbie we could have a blast.

justloafing wrote:Hey man those ribs will heal. I know when I started it hurt to breathe or laugh. I am right down the road from you. Lets do a session soon. I am a newbie we could have a blast.

Thanks for the advice, justloafing (and all others). I look forward to getting out on the board again soon. That day, I did lie on the board alot, rather than sit, when watching for waves. So, it sounds like getting up more, and lying down less will probably improve the overall situation.


To Justloafing: I took the lesson at Topsail, near where my retired folks live, but I live in Roxboro, NC (where I teach math at a high school).

It would be great to surf with a fellow newbie, though. Can I send you a private post off this site before my next visit, to see what we might arrange? (of course, you living there--and riding often, I would presume--you may not be a newbie for long! )

You bet you can contact me. Look forward to it. We can have a "old timer newbie day". I am 49.

Also the next time you go out try sitting up a little more. The quicker you get the hang of it you will feel much more relaxed than laying on your board a lot. It is just like everything else dealing with surfing.....practice practice practice.

justloafing wrote:You bet you can contact me. Look forward to it. We can have a "old timer newbie day". I am 49.

Excellent! I hope that day is sooner rather than later.

WTG babbitt! You did it.

-I'm- 45 and I got my first board two weeks ago today. How weird is that.


The top of my floating ribs were killing me after the first flounderf- uh, session. (I don't know what this implies about my pecs...)

20 mins. into the next time out, I forgot about the ache.

Fourth session or so it stopped bothering me altogether.


Is this stuff sweet or what ??

My friends dad had the same problem so this is what he did, He got a cloth and some ducktape. Then with that he put the cloth where he usually lies down on the board then tapes over it. But it does look rather funny. We try each others boards, and when i tried his it was comfey. Haha. It works.

iv heard alot of people talking about rib bruising, but iv never expericanced it, but the other day i a 6 hour surf session followed by acouple of 4-5 hour sesions the next few days, and iv got to say my ribs were hurting, there still alittle saw, but i know what you people are on about and its anoying

Look - I know I keep saying it, but I PROMISE that the answer to all this rib ache thing will be here very SOON!!

(and don't feel bad - even the pros get the same problem!!)

Oh - and if you're out and about over the coming months, keep an eye out for our (well, my) T4 - it'll be the white one with the SI logo on it!!

I'll post details of any upcoming trips in case anyone wants to meet up and buy anything.........