Need help - Beginner surfer.

[colourmepretty]

Hey guys,
I'm find it really difficult to catch waves. I see a good one coming and i paddle really hard but the wave just goes by. I have been told to do long, hard strokes and then told to do fast strokes but neither one works.
I am a beginner so i dont have those muscles for paddling yet but all the other beginners can catch waves.
Before, my coach would push us into the wave (while we paddled) so we could get the wave but they're not doing it anymore so we have to catch waves ourselves.

Dont know if this helps but I use a 9 ft board, im not fat/heavy so i dont think its my weight and the beach where i have lessons is perfect for beginners - little 1 to 2 ft waves and there are a bunch of other surf schools also teaching here.

Hope someone can please give me some advice or something, its really frustrating.

[jaffa1949]

A lot of women lack that chest and upper body strength that guys initially have and that is often exposed in paddling.
If you are light then a longboard shouldn't be a problem , but you need to be forward enough that the nose is at the most about 1 1/2 iches out of the water no more and the board will then glide more easily. Try some still water paddling so you find the best position from which to paddle.
If you have the nose more out of the water you are trying to push the board through the water like a snow plow or bulldozer , it just doesn't work.
Another thing new paddlers do is flip their arms wide pull your paddle strokes right alongside the board from as far forward as you can reach and back as far as you can comfortably go.
Make your strokes firm hard and moderately fast (demented windmill thrashing doesn't work), you will gain strength and power the more paddling you do.
You will find a little further along your learning curve the difference between catching a whitewater wave and a green wave, ( next challenge) and for that you will need to be a more competent paddler, just go out and paddle around don't be afraid of little wipeouts or stuff like that just give it a go

[zebroo]

Hi

I certainly understand your frustration as my paddling muscles still leave a lot to be desired! It's very important to make sure you're lying in the right place on your board (your instructor should be able to let you know if you're too far back or too far forward).

It also takes some time to be able to judge the waves coming towards you and make sure you're in the right spot, and start to paddle at the right time.

These are things I am also still learning but my judgement and technique is improving; it just takes loads of practice!

This is a really great link, it was certainly a light bulb moment for me and I can catch unbroken waves more often now. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVyatMUYwZw

[surfnoob]

I second that link - a great series - teaches you a lot especially at the beginner stage when you are looking to get your first green waves.

[SoCalSurfing]

A lot of women lack that chest and upper body strength that guys initially have

Who says "colourmepretty" is a female? haha

[tonylamont]

As others have noted, this is probably a combination of board positioning, paddling technique, and lack of upper body strength. In addition to what others have posted, I note it can be tough catching 1-2 foot waves as they are usually pretty weak. In my experience it is easier to learn to surf whitewater on a day with some bigger outside waves, as then the whitewater will have a lot more power behind it (but obviously, be careful not to go out on days when it is too big as rips, etc. can be much worse).

In addition to the always-helpful Surf Simply videos, check out the following discussion regarding positioning and paddling. I have found this a very helpful resource.

http://www.tribalsurf.net/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=855