questions to ask at intermed lesson

[Buttertoes]

My friend and I are planning a semi-private 'intermediate' longboard lesson (just the 2 of us) to try to help with our transition from whitewash to green waves in the next week or so and I wonder if anyone has any suggestions to help us make the most of it.

Some of our issues as I see them include picking the right spot, identifying the right wave and position, pop-up timing and balance. We have not yet gotten ourselves into any lineups. We spend almost all of our time on sandy beach breaks. Im not sure if it's just a little tweaking or encrouagment we need, or something more but I thought I'd ask those who have been there.

Some people have told us that 'when it clicks, it clicks!' One said he had been having all kinds of trouble with unbroken waves until one day when it suddenly all made sense. We are having some minor successes but I often feel like I'm floundering in the dark and can't see how close we might be to that 'click'

Can anyone suggest any questions to ask or tips on how to gear the lesson to get the most out of it?

[jaffa1949]

You are already asking the right questions spend a little time having the teacher explaining how to view and understand the lineup , where to paddle and how you can look for that on different breaks. It is a thing that just clicks and with summer coming on you have a good chance of it happening this summer. BTW even the white water is part of the line up ask your teacher about mellow point breaks that suits your stance and when you feel a little more confident go there and try.

This seems sexist but it works when you go to a new break confide in someone who seems nice say you are learning and how would I go about catching a wave here. Smile it will get you some help. If there are other women in the surf see if they will coach you a bit.
The smile thing helps guys too and in some places they get reasonable advice if they're cool.
Go for it and then watch the Butterfly

[Rickyroughneck]

If you don't know already, it might be worth asking for paddling advice and how to get outback on bigger days. Practice a few turtle rolls if you can.

[Buttertoes]

Thanks for the suggestions We have our lesson tomorrow morning. Very excited!
Here's a question though- if the instructor is the owner of the school, are you expected to tip?? I'm a complete tipping moron I've heard that there's a difference between tipping an employee vs an owner. Don't want to seem unappreciative (she was great last lesson- we didn't think to tip then)

Jaffa, I don't know what the butterfly is!

[jaffa1949]

It's a word riddle, the first part is a noun =ing you the second part a verb =ing how successful and how much enjoyment you'll have.

Rather. like How Long is a Chinaman.

[Buttertoes]

lol, and here I was googling movies with that name haha

We had our lesson on a different beach today. Very different character, much sharper drop-off, and a reef break that we had all to ourselves for a little while. We had @4 foot breaks coming in and I think we learned a lot- the least of which, to just have some confidence in ourselves whether there are other people around or not. There were a few real, solid rides and more than a few train wrecks... the wipe outs were a lot more violent at this spot with much underwater cartwheeling!

Things I learned today:
A consistent break is great
Paddle out just inside of where the biggest of the set begin to break
On a reef, line yourself up with the centre of where the waves break so you can head either left or right
Be patient. Let the little ones and even the iffy ones go by
If it steepens too fast and starts to break over you, push back to the tail of the board to stop purling, then slide forward for the pop-up
Angling the board on a steep wave helps prevent purling
Look, and point with your leading hand where you want to go
Bigger waves and deeper water mean a lot more paddling and more violent wipe-outs that can hold you under longer
When up on your board, a beach with a sharp drop off will have you on the rocks and sand before you know it! (probably a high tide issue)
Heavy fog+ rolling swells can make you seasick!
Groups of rowdy blowhards are hard to ignore, but hold your spot

If I remember more I'll add it later

(BTW, we did tip)

[jaffa1949]

Once the butter was churned,
with so much to be learned.
On the rocks of that break
there was much more at stake
as a surfer she has now returned



Isn't there a great difference between white water standing and getting out and surfing, I'm glad you had a great time.

In Australia, tipping is different it's not like the US where you just tip10% here we tip if the service is good to excellent and it does have to be done.
behind that is here busboys waiters etc get reasonable pay it's not great but it's not a pittance.

Keep the Nova Scotian surf embassy going.

[Buttertoes]

Right you are! I can't wait for our next beach day!