Pearling & Sitting on Board

[Tim_in_NYC]

Greetings, all!

This is my first post on this forum, so I'd like to introduce myself first: I'm Tim, a [very] beginner surfer from NYC. Found this forum via Goodle search - looks like a friendly, informative place, so I decided to give it a try. I took a surfing lesson on Lido Beach (surf2live, Eliott instructing) a few weeks ago, liked it right away, and bought myself an 1970's 9'6" longboard. Took it out to Jones Beach two times already, catching a grand total of 4 waves. My progress has been slow so far, but I am getting there. I think I know what my problems are - wasting too much energy to paddle out through the breaking waves (my board is a pig), and popping up too slowly and too early.
Now, the questions I definitely need outside opinions on:
1. Sitting on the board.
Once I paddle past the area where the waves break, I sit up on my board and start looking fora the right wave. My board is very difficult to menauver, and it takes forever to turn it around, so I sit with my back to the waves. This way, once I spot a good wave, I don't waste time turning around. Other surfers (shortboarders) face the waves. Am I doing the right thing? Is it OK to sit like that?
2. Pearling.
When I pearl, the board sometimes shoots up from the water like a cork from a champagne bottle. Not sure if it is my board (has a lot of float), or whether all longboards do that. Anyway, I am very concerned about the board landing on top of my head, knocking me unconscious. Are my worries justified? Is there anything I can do to prevent this?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

I do appologize if I posted these questions in a wrong section of the forum. Feel free to direct me to the right place! I am planning to become a permanent and contributing member. Again, thanks in advance for any advice offered.

[isaluteyou]

the board shooting up is normal. Anything you submerge that has a lot of flotation is gonna rocket to the surface when you take the weight off. Just keep your head under water a little longer and then float to the surface to avoid getting knocked out.

Pearling is caused by you being positioned wrong on the surfboard or taking a wave too steeply. try taking off on a wave at a slight angle and not popping up too close to the nose of the board. if you are too far back on the board you wont catch the wave so find a happy medium

[powergrooves]

regarding pearling--
it's just positioning and timing, stick with it and it will all fall into place.
If you want to progress quicker book yourelf onto a one to one surf course,
that way the instructor will be able to offer more intricate advice that you would probably be able to work out in while anyway
classic boards are getting more and more difficult to find---hang on to that board!!!

Keep us posted eh!!

Yours

PIG

[phillwilson]

would love to see board photos if you have them,

Im a logger for life as I love the grace of the big board...you may find it a pig now but as you go you will learn how to time your entries better so you arent pushing through as many waves.

the cork popping effect I would say cover your head with your hands and you will be ok, first time i got hit, it stunned me now it take the hit and just turn it into fuel for the next ride!!

as for sitting, i tend to be at an angle where I am almost sidewards but so i can turn from a sitting position to look behind me without having to over streach.

if the beach is at 12 o clock my board is pointing about half pas three and i am turning a little around to look at 6 oclock out to sea with up to about 8 oclock in my field of vision.

less turning all round..seems like a good compromise to me..also the angle offers resistance to passing sets to i dont gradually get pushed back in.

[LngBoardMiami]

Hey.I grew up and learned to surf in LongBeach, NY and the surrounding area's.. I pretty much agree with everyone's advise it definitely sounds like you are trying to catch the wave laying on the board too far forward. And it's causing you to "pearl" or "nose dive" Try moving back but not too much. If you do start to nose dive push the board away from you, put your arms up and go to the fetal position. Also try to catch the wave in the direction its breaking and not straight at the beach. You can sit on your board pointing in this direction so not only will everyone else know which way your going but it will be easier for you to see and set yourself up for the next set. Sounds like you have a pretty cool board but I'm not sure it's the best thing for a beginner. You might want to get a used long board on craigslist or something made of poly or epoxy resin which will be much lighter and less dangerous. Alot easier to learn on too. Too each his own. Enjoy the stoke and make sure to learn your surf etiquette.