SoCal Surfing

[Thenowhereman42]

Alright so this summer I've made it my mission to start surfing. I've been surfing before actually, I spent a few weeks doing it when I was about 12. I went to one of the schools for a week and learned on those really long foam boards, and had a lot of fun. I kept doing it for a few weeks, then bought a surf board. Of course, being a 12 year old, I bought a short one, because its cooler obviously. Well that didn't go so well, and I was a pretty fat little kid, and it was a shitty used one i got for like $60, and I could not stand up on it for the life of me. So I stopped surfing. Didn't do any sport for a while there except for some occasional skiing and snowboarding.

Well this ski season I'm really into it, going 2 or 3 times a week. Problem is, I'm not going to have a sport to do once the season ends, and I really like having a sport to do a couple times a week. I'm 6'2 200 pounds, so not exactly built for skateboarding. Plus I was terrible always at it. And the only other sport I think is cool is surfing. I think surfing is really cool actually. I love the ocean, and its always really pissed me off that I live in Southern California and don't surf. I feel like I'm wasting my surroundings.

So here come the n00b questions:
When I start out should I rent a regular longboard or a foam one? I know the foam ones are easier, but I've never tried a regular longboard, so I don't know how much easier and I'll probably buy a board pretty quickly so how hard will the transition be?

Where can I hit up where there won't be gnarley rocks, jellyfish, or tons of people to laugh at me? I live pretty equidistant to Santa Monica and Ventura and Malibu so spots at any of those places are cool. San Diego is a little far. I'd just like to find a chill spot with not so many people at it so I can at least be able to ride a wave properly before I go sit in a lineup. I'd be super stoked if someone recommended one.

What sort of ediquette do I need to know?

Should I take a lesson? I don't really plan on it, especially since I already have the concepts of paddling, duck diving, catching waves and other super basic stuff from boogeyboarding and bodysurfing and just generally larking about in the ocean. I think I remember how to pop up. Never learned to turn though. I figure I'll just get a friend, rent some boards and drive out somewhere, unless I should really take a lesson.

How do I figure out a good time to go? And anything else I should know?

Answers appreciated, this seems like a real chill forum I'm glad I found it.

[parrysurf]

Surfing is like dating a hot chick...you will never get any if you don't go for it.
Forget lessons, just like the hot chick...just do it.
nuff said.



stay the hell out of peoples way!!

[deshram]

if i were you i would go with someone who is pretty good at surfing, since youre with them no one will mess with you- hopefully. Or find a break with no one on it or people of your same skill. There is only 1 thing that anyone beginning to surf needs to remember if they want to get good. GO EVERY DAY!, no matter how bad or how good, or if the waves seem like they are going to drown you, you wont die and what doesnt kill you makes you stronger, i started in july of 2008 to go everyday on a 7'6 board, i was sooooo bad, now its april i ride a 6'0, ive gotten barreled, i can pull sprays and the occasional snap, and ive earned the respect of all the locals at my spot, a lot of em are really good friends of mine, I cant tell you how many people have told me that i suck and ill always suck, people still tell me that i suck, but it doesnt matter to me, the way i see it, if i suck, the only way to get better is to keep doing it, so dont worry about looking dumb, just be sure to be polite and not get in other peoples way and you should be fine