A Newbies Guide for Newbies

[jumpmonkey]

cheers for the replies about contacts fellas, unfortunately i checked and can't get the dailies, long sighted and astigmatism i might try the nearest prescription to mine i can get, see if that helps.

[paulfinn31]

Newbie here thank you for this thread it really help me..

[Jonny_H]

Hi - New to this forum, but this thread has been an excellent read - very informative.

I have just moved from the UK (NE - Tynemouth region) to Sydney and started to learn. I have surfed a couple of times before and am out most mornings practising. I have a couple lessons scheduled with the shop I got my board from (7'2 Mini Mal Hybrid) so am looking forward to getting some input on my technique!

Keep the updates coming - very interesting - I have to say having lived on the east coast of the UK I don't envy you surfing there in the winter! That said I am sure it is much quieter than the breaks at Manly in Sydney!!

[phillwilson]

Hi all again,

Well I have returned after a back injury, winter with a hole in my suit, another injury, to many cigs, meeting the love of my life and generally mass procrastination !!!

Finally got dragged to the beach by Chasing Daylight last Sunday.

WOW what an amazing return... I was genuinly scared about the return, I have put on over a stone in the time off and I certainly approached the water with caution.

I decided to catch reforms for a while, but my first wave was lovely and i dragged myself to my feet and had that sudden rush of WOW...walking on water is stil fricking cool !!!

that was it...time to go out back and see how I would fair.

Second ride was probably the happiest of my life...nothing "special" but one hell of a LONG ride on a lovely wave holding myself right in the pocket of a 2ft wave with more control then I can remember having BEFORE the break

what does this tell us....who knows??? I guess if you are REALLY hitting your head against the wall on a paticular surfing skill, maybe take a little break..but keep thinking and dreaming of the surf...maybe it will just work out when you return with less preconceptions??

cant wait to get in again now !!

[jaffa1949]

I really commend you phillwilson for this thread and writing of your journey to surfing you've been writing since 2008.
Every aspiring surfer should read this and realise that it takes time and persistence and there are rewards and frustration along the way.
Injury ribs and back lose the stone in weight and the cigs and then rediscovering surfing and it's at the stage like getting on a bike again.
Revive the stoke WOW
Let's keep this thread near the top of the learners' page

[zebroo]

What a great thread, thanks for bringing it back to life. I can identify so much with your journey Phil! I still get scared to go out back if the waves are biggish or dumpy, so I often end up having a sulk on the inside trying to find reforms! If I get over my self depracation at not having the guts to get out back, I can still have loads of fun in the white water though

[surf patrol]

Welcome back Phil, great that you are over the injury and back in the water.

[Ydna]

Welcome back Phil, great that you are over the injury and back in the water.

Surf Patrol, do you have the ability to sticky threads? This post is well worth beings stickied, especially for beginners like myself.

[moodyedge]

Has anyone else just suddenly found that then have improved, seemeingly without doing anything??

phill

The first time I went over to tynemouth...It was winter (now I know what cold is) with the slightly longer shortbaord..7ft and this was with being out of the water for a year since I was on my annual holiday in Cornwall. Well for some reason...I surfed better than I ever had in my life. I was pretty suprised to say the least. Every wave I went for I was up and riding in a few seconds....Ive recently came to the conclusion that it was the conditions that made it easy..Im so used to being in choppy/windy conditions on holiday that....when There was zero wind and very very glassy waves...It's so easy. Makes me reconsider going in on my next holl in sept if the conditions arent ideal. Nothing kills your energy faster than crap conditions. Some of the best days Ive had have been when its really clean..If the suns out even better. The first time I rid a longboard it was a really nice day....clean...sunny....I will never forget that day and that first wave on a 9'1.


I started off with a 7ft thruster. Im 6'3 and 11.8 stone. Had it in the south west a few times and took it to fuerte and its alright...I could surf but had to get used to catching them....late takeoffs when you never get in the water can be interesting. Its so fast that board as soon as you hit your feet your off. I got board with swimming the thing around and it wa taking the fun out of it as I wasnt catching as many waves as Id have liked. My dads mate who surfs always said 'you want a big log'..hes a boarder moved from shortboards....says hes getting old. Well I hired a longboard on holiday one day and...that was it....I had to get one. Trying to look like people who do fancy moves on a shorted board doest manke much sense. But with mainstream advertising in the surf world....I can see why people go for them, ignorance or maybe they are stubborn....I was when I got my first board. Althought it was a LONGer shortboard. I bought a minimal before the longboard, used it about 3 times and got rid of it..It felt crap. Now Im a 'longboarder' at least a few weeks of the year anyway. Longboards had a bad image but I think it's improved but theres still the conditioned reaction by shortboarders. When Ive been out and seen what are probably 'locals' on longboards, there seems to be some kind of respect there because your also on a log. You sit and talk to people out there while your waiting and I think thats due to the longboard. I talk to more people when Im out there than when Im on land.


I think style=fart so style maybe isnt the right word, but it is cool, layed back and graceful.....Watching the endless summer seeing how they ride waves just makes sense. The more time you spend on your feet in smaller conditions the better too.


Im doing my pop ups, pressups, sit ups and other exercises in prep for heading south this time. In the past Ive started doing a few things a few weeks before going and wonder why I still feel tired in no time when I get back out in the water....Ive at least got a few months to get my arse into gear. Trying to get out on the bike too and get the heart and lungs pumping. Spent a week in spain about 3 weeks ago where I swam everyday too and did a little swimming in the sea dodging jellyfish. Feeling a bit sharper will no doubt help me get on more waves, at least thats the plan.

[surf patrol]

Surf Patrol, do you have the ability to sticky threads? This post is well worth beings stickied, especially for beginners like myself.

I'd stickied it right before my post above

[zebroo]

There seem to be a lot of folk who surf the NE coast posting on this thread.. my local breaks are Northumberland down to South Shields, but I like to head to Saltburn / South Bay / Cayton every now and then.

I have surf buddies at my more local breaks, but we are a welcoming bunch if anyone wanted to join us.

I'd also be interested in contacts down Scarborough way as I tend to head there by myself. I went in at Cayton for the first time recently and was utterly hopeless as my confidence suddenly ditched me, even though the conditions were pretty much spot on for me! It does make a big difference knowing that someone else is keeping an eye on you.

[phillwilson]

Wow, Sitckied...I'm truly honoured

This forum has at times in my life meant a whole lot to me...I met my surf bud on here..had encouragement and tips...found a cause to follow and fight (ASR I'm lookin over at you)... and its been so good to find others with a similar passion for surfing.

Zebroo , I'm from Beverley so Scarbro and Cay Bay are my local breaks, I'll PM you my info...you would always be welcome to come out with me.

I think I will go for a celebratory surf tonight...and post the results of course !!!

[moodyedge]

Me and my longboard are heading over to tynemouth on thursday I think. Got my eye on the forcast and its looking promising.

[zebroo]

Moodyedge, I'll be at Tynemouth this evening from about 6. Forecast looks nice

Phil, it would be great to meet next time I'm down that way. I'll give you a shout

[moodyedge]

Moodyedge, I'll be at Tynemouth this evening from about 6. Forecast looks nice

Phil, it would be great to meet next time I'm down that way. I'll give you a shout

I went on thursday...so twice in a few weeks which makes a change...was good again. Wind was offshore for a few hours before switching around to cross onshore about 3pm....The forcast was spookily accurate. It said the wind direction would change at 3pm...by 20 past it had.....

Spent about 4.5 hours in the water which was good practice and caught some good waves too. The drive over was xxxxx however, took so long there and even back..longer than it should anyway...at least I got a surf.

Hopefully get over there again before going south for 10 days to Newquay in about 7-8 weeks.

[Katsura]

Welcome back Phil. I remeber reading this thread when it first started.

[Rickyroughneck]

no use cryin over dings anyway, just fix em, and carry on...
might sound a bit weird but i think it kind of helps you build a relationship with the board as you have to take care of it and keep an eye on you repair jobs to make sure they aren't leaking etc.
if you do get a fragile board really cheap you won't regret it...
think of it like buying an old mercedes as opposed to a new punto..

You drive an MG?

-Anyway good advice in this thread! A nice read

[AndyBeach]

Good advice, especially about board selection, take your time and choose the right one, very good.

[Silvery]

Great thread and inspirational, wondering what became of Phil ?

[oldmansurfer]

He hasn't been on this site in about 6 years...... since about 4 days after his last post in this thread. I hope he is too busy surfing