how to convince my friend!?

[cornishsurfer]

i went surfing today after school in small, 2-3ft surf. i barely ever get out so when i do i want to make the most of it... i'm a complete novice.
anyway, soon as i got in the water i paddled outback to where all the other surfers were- but my friend (also very novice) stayed in the whitewater. i sat outback for a long time watching the other surfers and watching the waves.. i finally got too cold and caught one in and my friend was shouting for me to come in too. it broke on me and was a rubbish wave but i thought 'i've come away from that session and i've learnt a lot- even if i caught no waves'. but my friend was telling me off for going outback where all the 'good' surfers were and that we needed to stay in the whitewater! i've spent many months in the whitewater and i want to make the transition to green waves now- but she didn't understand. she was saying how she caught lots of (white) waves whereas i caught none- and i was being stupid. but i think ive gained much more experience than she has now about paddling, positioning for the wave, and all of that stuff, right? she just got pummelled by whitewater and messed around.
Am i right or is she right?

[Brunop]

This happens to me too. When I go with my friends I usually stay where the good surfers are, and my friends stay a little closer to the beach. I end up catching few waves, but good ones, and they caught a lot of bad ones (only 2-3 seconds ride, then it ends).

I don't know if I am doing it right, as I am also learning, I think I should go for more waves, even if they are not that good, then waiting for the good ones. But in your case, I don't agree with your friend. White waves are not fun and will not improve your surfing, I thing you should go for the green ones!

[Brunop]

Oh, btw... you don't need to "convince" your friend that you are right. If she is having fun with the white waves and prefer to continue riding them, let her do it. Just tell her that this way she won't be improving her surfing.

[Toj]

what i tend to do is for the first half hour of the session i stick to white water and catch a few waves to get back into things. balance etc.(this is after i havent been surfing for a few weeks) and then once im warmed up and happy and i feel good about catching a few waves, i then go out the back and catch the nice biggies with a bit more umph! that way you get a bit of ride time, and then you dont go back having caught no waves!