Newbie surfer on Oahu...

[iwannacarve]

Hey everyone,

I was wondering if there was any experienced surfers here from Hawaii that I could maybe tag along with one day to learn the ropes. I know from talking to some people out here, that Hawaii has I guess a pecking order when it comes to the beaches and catching waves and what not. So I was just wondering if someone here would meet up for a day or two and just show me the basics. Any help would be great!

Aloha,
Rob ;oP

[LOLRuss]

Sounds like you want a lesson? Why not pay for one? Plenty of good teachers there.

[smallwavegrovellerchick]

Wereabouts are you living on O'ahu? What's your experience level and what size board are you riding? Goofy or regular foot?
-Cat

[iwannacarve]

I surfed like back in the 7th grade for a little, but it's been years. I'm surfing a 6'6 board, and i'm goofy footed, and i live by schofield barracks

[iwannacarve]

And yeah I thought about getting some lessons, but I'm military so paychecks are usually not on the big enough side to pay for them. So it's gonna kind of be a trial and error thing unless I can find somebody patient and cool enough to show me and laugh when I bust my A** lol.

[LOLRuss]

And yeah I thought about getting some lessons, but I'm military so paychecks are usually not on the big enough side to pay for them. So it's gonna kind of be a trial and error thing unless I can find somebody patient and cool enough to show me and laugh when I bust my A** lol.

In that case I'd just get the one. I had good luck at Waikiki. I think it was like $40 for an hour. After that you can try on your own, but learning the basics there would be helpful.

[iwannacarve]

yeah I might have to if i can't find anyone else. I just got back from the east side of the island, and I didn't catch anything. But then the waves were practically breaking right on the shorline so that probably didn't help either. My problem is is that when I pop up, I plant my feet wayyy too close together, and i think i'm either paddling late, or early. because half the time the waves just broke on top of me lol.

[iwannacarve]

I stay completely out of waikiki too lol. i try to stay as far from tourists as i can. not all of them are bad, you just get ALOT who are ignorant about the way things are done in hawaii. so as far as "tourist traps" go I try to stay away. but other then there, most places are like 85 bucks a lesson. I mean, I'd pay someone to take the time to surf with me and teach me, I just can't afford that much. food, gas, time, whatever. it'd just be nice to have someone to tag along with and learn from ya know?

[LOLRuss]

Yeah. I want that too

[iwannacarve]

Lol. So, that goes for anyone who's experienced on Oahu. I'll pay for gas, food, lessons, etc as long as it's not costing me more then 40 bucks. Cuz my wife would use me to go chumming if i spend more then that lol.

[iwannacarve]

Lol. So, that goes for anyone who's experienced on Oahu. I'll pay for gas, food, lessons, etc as long as it's not costing me more then 40 bucks. And besides, I'm a trip

[LOLRuss]

Since you're up north you might try to meet someone at Breakers (bar) in Haleiwa. I think a lot of surfers go there.

[iwannacarve]

Yeah I had thought about that. But I don't wanna go out there, and walk around asking people to show me, or head out to the waves, and not catch anything when there's people who could have ya know? I'd rather meet someone, go out to a newbie beach, and they can watch me bite it and tell me how i'm jacking it all up lol.

[smallwavegrovellerchick]

Waikiki really is a good place to start off (it's where most of us locals learned to surf). The waves at Canoes and Pops are perfect to learn on, plus as you get better there are a bunch of really good spots out there (Queen's, Publics, Threes). You can rent a board in Waikiki for pretty cheap. I would recommend an 8 ft minitank or larger. If your ultimate goal is to shortboard, get your basics down on a bigger board and progressively downsize (which is why renting is probably the best route to start off with.

Might be hard to find volunteer surf instructors. There's a lot of responsibility and liability there. I had to date a surfer to get free surf lessons and had to marry a surfer to get free surf coaching. It helps being a chick.

BTW, where have you been surfing on the East Side? Makapu'u?

[iwannacarve]

I've been surfing up at bellows. it's up in kaneohe. Yeah i figured it might be hard finding someone, but whether someone teaches me or not i'm too stubborn and i want to surf too bad to quit lol.

[smallwavegrovellerchick]

Why don't you try Diamond Head Cliffs (not Lighthouse, in front of the showers). The peaks are spread out and break both left & right and the waves are easy to catch. Often times you can do white water takes offs because the wave re-forms. The crowd is a lot less aggressive than some other spots (like Bowls, Kaiser, Kewalos, Lighthouse) as long as you don't drop in, snake, or ditch your board. Another spot you might want to try is White Plains at Barber's Point. Be really nice to your wife and maybe you can convince her to video you or take pics of you while surfing. This way you can actually see what you're doing.

I can't offer to meet up and surf right now since I'm working 36 hours over 3 days and I'm about ready to drop dead. Probably won't surf until midweek, but there's supposed to be a small south swell for most of the week.

I know there are some stigmas attached to surfing Waikiki with the crowds and tourists, but board rentals are cheap and befriending the Beach Boys can only benefit you. These guys are true watermen who have a wealth of ocean and surf knowledge. Remember, here in Hawai'i there are also stigmas attached to military guys and people from the mainland in general so just remember to treat people with aloha and they will usually reciprocate. Good luck.

[iwannacarve]

Yeah I just need to find a place that doesn't have much reef (if there's anywhere like that) cuz i don't wanna reck it and land on some reef lol. yeah i know all about the stigma with military guys lol. but if lived here when i was really young so i have alot of respect for the locals and the way they do things. i'll just have to look around until i can find a place to go do it. but thanks for the info. i'll def look in to it.

[The Fafanator]

Ooh isn't it the ultimate double edged sword to live in hawaii, perfect swell, crowds from hell...

[pkbum]

Might be hard to find volunteer surf instructors. There's a lot of responsibility and liability there. I had to date a surfer to get free surf lessons and had to marry a surfer to get free surf coaching. It helps being a chick.

You cereal??

[smallwavegrovellerchick]

Not sure what that means, but if asking if I'm being serious...yes & no. It does help if you're a chick if you're trying to get free surf lessons but no I didn't date or marry surfers to get free lessons/coaching...that just kind of came with the deal.