New to surfing! Some questions.

[ohmtaweesap]

Hi guys,
First off after reading around the forum this seem to be a really nice community.
I went to free surfing lesson by islandwatersports a few days ago and I absolutely love surfing! at the lesson I learned a lot of basic about surfing oh and btw im only 16 yrs. I wanted to buy my first surfboard so I went to the local shop and ask them. They said that foam board would be good for beginner since it is cheaper and it wont hurt as much when it hits my head, they also said that I should start on a longboard or a funboard. After looking around most of the board are $200+ and my dad wouldnt buy me one...

So I went to costco one day and found a board made by wavestorm, it is $99 so my dad brought me one since he said he doesnt if i will surf a lot. I've decide that its fine with me because atleast having a board to surf are better than not surfing at all..

So I came home and I was reading around about the wavestorm board.
it is 8 ft board.

Questions:
1. Will this board be ok to learn in? I will pratice and hopefully I will transition to a "real" board.

2. When I look at surf report for South Florida, since I live in south florida, it said FLAT, does this mean that it is pretty much unsufable ?

3. If it is unsurfable what do you guys usually do to improve with accually going out to surf since it is flat ?

Thank you,

Ohm

[drowningbitbybit]

Welcome to the world of surfing

1. A costco foam board will only be any good for your first few goes. As soon as you can reliably catch a wave and pop-up, you'll need a proper board. So start hassling your dad now
Having said that, foamies can be useful for tiny tiny days, so hang onto it.

2. I dont know the area, but yes - flat usually means flat and unsurfable. Some surf spots will catch the swell better than others and you need to get to know all the options in your area and which ones work on the least amount of swell.

3. Paddle! It'll be a whole new set of muscles you'll be using so get out there and paddle paddle paddle.

[jaffa1949]

Hi Ohm, auspicious named learner,
No. 1 that's great it's a gift you've been given, I looked at youtube footage and the store information, 8ft will suit you well to start. Just enjoy, show your Dad your progress, maybe get involved with some junior surf clubs and have great fun, you may even impress your Dad enough that he might provide the next board, even more impressive is if you really get the bug, showing it by saving for your next board. but first steps first.

No. 2 Now about flat, could be really flat absolutely no waves, then go for a paddle, get your paddle fitness increasing, or it may be that it is a little too small for the "good " surfers, but there is a wave for learners, Go to it.
Since you're so keen watch your beach know how the tides work, the waves work and what sort of weather brings you surf.
Important make sure you get to be a strong swimmer as your legrope ( leash) is not fail safe, and as a plus learn to body surf.
Being in a club will help you learn all this.

Have fun. If you really get this, it will effect you for the rest of your life

[ohmtaweesap]

Thank you guys, so even if it is flat sometime there are still waves to learn ? and I should go out with my surfboard to paddle to strenghten my muscle ?

Thank you,

Ohm

[behindThePeak]

those costco boards are great. i've been surfing for years and i rode mine just the other day. they come in handy in the right conditions at any skill level; and they're great learning boards.

solid advice above. i'd add that the surf may be flat in one spot but workable in another. or it could be flat at high tide and workable 6 hours later. or it could just be flat. always check for yourself until you can start to predict it on your own. browse around sites like this to find all the options in your area.

http://www.surfline.com/travel/index.cfm?id=2086

and yea, paddle as much as you can, you'll be glad you did when the surf picks up.

have fun dude.

[ohmtaweesap]

Thank you for the advice, I'm thinking about going to today at around 4 pm to surf

Sincerely,
ohm

[melvinrouger]

Hello guys, thank you so much for sharing this fact information which really helps me in my research.

[esonscar]

Hi ohmtaweesap . . . . .

My opinions:

$99 so my dad brought me . . . . at least having a board to surf are better than not surfing at all..
Agree.

Questions:
1. Will this (8ft) board be ok to learn in? I will pratice and hopefully I will transition to a "real" board.
Yes - the transition will be quite something however!

2. When I look at surf report for South Florida, since I live in south florida, it said FLAT, does this mean that it is pretty much unsufable ?
It's flat.

3. If it is unsurfable what do you guys usually do to improve with accually going out to surf since it is flat ?
Swim freestyle with neoprene gloves on / go paddle your board in the ocean up and down the shoreline in full out bursts as training (don't paddle to the horizon - you might not get back!).

Thank you,
Your welcome.