Winter Surfing for a beginner

[egdop]

Although been surfing sparodically on and off in the summer for about 4 years I still regard myself very much as a beginner.

Just got a board and winter kit but don't want to rush in out of my depth (ability wise)

What kind of swell size do people think I am good to go out in and what is too much. I appreciate its down to a lot of other factors and I will know my limits when at the beach looking at the waves but any thoughts appreciated.

Looking at going to north devon and cornish beach BTW

[surferdude_scarborough]

well i guess if youre still learning on white water then size isn as much of an issue except on the really big wild days.

if your getting out back now then i think 4' faces would be about the limit for a beginner.

its all about using some common sense really. "if in doubt dont go out"

[RJD]

If you can get out back then your likely to be up to catching the waves!

Hard to realy saty though, we cant guage your condition, skill or the ocean either, always play it safe.

[GMONEY]

Ive been surfing seven,eight months and I have been questioning the same thing when is it too big. Two big swells back I got the chance to head out in what was about 10' face. A couple things one I have been in the water my whole like swimming compeitively since 6yrs old. Two I went out with a very good friend and great surfer who kept real close tabs on me and my wave selection. I got four of the biggest waves of my life and got nailed big time for my efforts. Be safe if you body and mind say NO sit one out grab the camera and take some pics of your bros risking life and limb..

G

[Hang11]

Man up and get a few if it's a bit bigger than your comfort zone. It's easy to not do it when you're learning, but if you push yourself into heavier waves, you'll have a few moments to remember, and pay the price nicely, but that's what it's about.

Obviously don't do something that's going to kill you, but the only way to get better at surfing is to learn to ride solid waves, and it's a lot more fun that grovelling. If you can swim, then it takes a surprisingly large wave and/or pretty sketchy beach to actually do a bit of damage. A good pounding won't hurt you. (I tell my wife that last bit all the time).

[The Fafanator]

well i guess if youre still learning on white water then size isn as much of an issue except on the really big wild days.

if your getting out back now then i think 4' faces would be about the limit for a beginner.

its all about using some common sense really. "if in doubt dont go out"

My motto is the opposite, "If in doubt, go out."

[isaluteyou]

well i guess if youre still learning on white water then size isn as much of an issue except on the really big wild days.

if your getting out back now then i think 4' faces would be about the limit for a beginner.

its all about using some common sense really. "if in doubt dont go out"

My motto is the opposite, "If in doubt, go out."

Thats drowning material there

[Sillysausage]

lol. i agree with everyone in a sense. i have to agree that 'if in doubt dont go out' is true, you don't want to do any damage. although going out in bigger waves can be good fun, just aslong as they're not heavy or dangerous. everyone wipes out, but when you're a beginner you're more likely to panic quicker than someone who has taken more knocks. just make sure you think about going out and don't think once you're outback (thinking, "oh sh** i don't want to catch a wave back in now")

[BoarderDave]

^^ That's how I think of it.

If you can truly look at it and think, wow that may be too much for me, probably shouldn't try.

I personally used to bodyboard a lot, so when I started learning to surf.. if I paddled in and it felt way too big to be trying to learn to ride, I'd tumble my way back to the sand.. go swap my board for my sponge/fins and then go nuts on it.

It's kind of trial and error though too. If it's on the border of "yeah, maybe I can handle those.." Paddle out, then gauge the size when you are in it.. if you are getting beaten and a bit scared, no shame in turning back to shore and coming back another day.

[Sar]

(thinking, "oh sh** i don't want to catch a wave back in now")

yeah ive been there a few times.....the last time in fact, havent been in the winter swells since......

depends on your whole attitude, if you think it may freak you out then dont spoil it for yourself by pushing yourself too far but go ahead and test your limits at the same time Id agree with previous and say about 4ft but like said 4ft on a clean day is a whole differnt story to 4ft on a natsy windy angry day.

i guess the advice i would give is to really look at the waves before you head out....last time i went out was at saunton. The rip by the rocks doesnt usually cause any problems cos the waves dont knock you back towards them - they just come straight in towards the beach. Not on this day, the swell direction was definately different to usual but I didnt realise till I got stuck in the rip (paddling across the rip isnt as easy as it sounds.....when the wave direction pushes you back into it). Subsequently, I panicked a bit but not too much, just enough to put me off the winter swells for a bit and to definately pay more attention to the swell direction and size the next time I paddle out. Ive been out a few times previously beyond my skill and experience, learnt something and not suffered much so dont worry about it unnecessarily.

Take your time, have a good look at the conditions, how many people are in the water etc and then decide what you want to do, if you go in push yourself a little and HAVE FUN!!!

[pkbum]

well i guess if youre still learning on white water then size isn as much of an issue except on the really big wild days.

if your getting out back now then i think 4' faces would be about the limit for a beginner.

its all about using some common sense really. "if in doubt dont go out"

My motto is the opposite, "If in doubt, go out."

The only way you can learn anything in this world is by eating shit!!!!

[surferdude_scarborough]

there will be days when you think "yeah i can take that" then paddle out and find out you cant. no shame in turning round and going back in. i usually wait til the point where im making no progress at all and actually think i might die if i stay in the water. therefore if you think its a bit too big to handle then its no a good idea to paddle out.

(thinking, "oh sh** i don't want to catch a wave back in now")

i think everyones been there. last time it happened to me was probly the last summer meet on the sunday. those who were there will know what im talking about.

[The Fafanator]

well i guess if youre still learning on white water then size isn as much of an issue except on the really big wild days.

if your getting out back now then i think 4' faces would be about the limit for a beginner.

its all about using some common sense really. "if in doubt dont go out"

My motto is the opposite, "If in doubt, go out."

The only way you can learn anything in this world is by eating shit!!!!

Amen to that, if you don't know your limits, go out and find out what your limits are. (Just don't do anything too stupid, everyone knows you are not supposed to paddle out in pipeline after 2 weeks of surfing.

[The Fafanator]

there will be days when you think "yeah i can take that" then paddle out and find out you cant. no shame in turning round and going back in. i usually wait til the point where im making no progress at all and actually think i might die if i stay in the water. therefore if you think its a bit too big to handle then its no a good idea to paddle out.

(thinking, "oh sh** i don't want to catch a wave back in now")

i think everyones been there. last time it happened to me was probly the last summer meet on the sunday. those who were there will know what im talking about.

Last time that happend to me was like a week ago, but I did catch a wave out though, but it was one of the smallest the day.

[Otter]

Happens at least four or five times every winter. I find myself wondering, what the hell am I doing here? I'm still alive, still surfing, still challenging the big ones. Worst that can happen is you get a good wash, unless you're totally unlucky and get killed.

[The Fafanator]

^Or if you are totally stupid and go out in 25 foot hawaiian theahupoo, and then get killed.

[O_Danny_Boy]

everyone knows you are not supposed to paddle out in pipeline after 2 weeks of surfing.

what are you on about?

you were the one saying you paddling out at a 16ft point break and youve only been surfing a few weeks

jesus, i tried to bite my tongue and let you whine away and ignore you buts its farking impossible with the bs/contradictions you come out with

[The Fafanator]

OH come on can you give it a rest, A: I didn't say 16ft, I sayed 9 foot, (and I sayed I regretted it, I was a idiot.)
B: I sayed I was surfing for a few months, not weeks.

[O_Danny_Boy]

yeah fair enough faf, if you just tone down your exaggeration you'll be grand. we all do it but the thing is to do it in a way that its believable

case in point. getting a 4 board quiver as a present and heading off to surf j-bay, arguably the fastest right in the world after surfing a few months

if you said i got a present of a board, im heading off to a heavy beachie-we wouldnt be having this conversation

[The Fafanator]

Not all j-bay spots are fast like that, only supertubes (and I am definately not surfing supers, there is A TON spots that is right for bigginer-intermediat, supers is just the famouse one, hawaii is famouse for it's big waves, like pipeline and sunset beach, but there are a ton of small head high spots out there two.), Plus the boards probably are going to be so fleshin' up, it is just there is so many people with vacation homes that have surfboards lying around in them, so my grandfather knows the people who owns them and nw I am going to get those boards, the one is his "best man", and his kid surfed, and he now lives in Norway, and he has a board lying around. The other one is another old friend of my grandfathers, who has a vacation home not far from here, and he has 3 boards lying around, I'll post pics the moment I get the boards, which will be in like a week or two, depends how fast I can arrange keys to the place, but the one board I might get a bit sooner. BTW I got my wetsuit from the same guy. (My grandfathers "best man")