Later in life beginners

[Beginner77]

I think 'failure' is an odd term. At my age I'm not aiming to get into competitions or impress women. My aim with learning to surf is simply to have fun and get satisfaction from learning, which are things I've had a resounding success at. Failure is only in the mind of the observer and their self created expectations.

[oldmansurfer]

I think 'failure' is an odd term. At my age I'm not aiming to get into competitions or impress women. My aim with learning to surf is simply to have fun and get satisfaction from learning, which are things I've had a resounding success at. Failure is only in the mind of the observer and their self created expectations.

That might be but I am certain there are things you wish to do like: catch a wave, stand up on the board, ride the wave, make some turns but maybe not. You set your own goals in surfing but once you do then you may fail until you succeed.

[Beginner77]

I think 'failure' is an odd term. At my age I'm not aiming to get into competitions or impress women. My aim with learning to surf is simply to have fun and get satisfaction from learning, which are things I've had a resounding success at. Failure is only in the mind of the observer and their self created expectations.

That might be but I am certain there are things you wish to do like: catch a wave, stand up on the board, ride the wave, make some turns but maybe not. You set your own goals in surfing but once you do then you may fail until you succeed.

I guess it depends how you look at things.

In terms of progress, the way I look at things is that today I have succeeded in being where I wanted to be in the past. In other words "isn't it great that I'm on page 3, when yesterday I was on page 2". The way of thinking that you describe above ("I've failed at being on page 4") will always lead to disappointment, even if you're Kelly Slater. That's because surfing, like any good sport, always has a progression beyond where you are today, so there will always be things to learn tomorrow. Ambition is what drives us forwards.

The other thing about progress is that there are always small steps within a single large step, and one can progress in those small steps and see results immediately. Someone may take a month to learn a particular trick, but they haven't failed for 29 days, they've succeeded in lots of small steps towards that goal, and that can give satisfaction along the way.

In terms of fun, this is the main reason I go surfing, and I usually succeed in having fun. I suppose the killer question is: "would you still surf if somehow all your chances of progress were erased and you were stuck at your present ability level?". I would, most definitely, because it's fun.

[oldmansurfer]

You have no place for failure in your mind. I look at failure as part of learning. I might not surf if my progression was stopped because part of my fun is learning. I may try to ride a break on a particular day and it might be very challenging. It possible that I may fail on every attempt to do something and yet there will be a smile on my face because I know some day I am going to not fail.

[Beginner77]

I think I just look at it a different way. If I nose dive, I laugh and try again, I don't curse the 'failure'. I definitely enjoy learning.

[dtc]

Its not failure. Its just differently defined success.

[oldmansurfer]

One of the big mistakes they make these days with kids is giving every participant a medal or a trophy for competing in a sports event. It teaches them that no matter what they will be rewarded which is a lie. Instead they should be learning persistence in the face of failure and the confidence that they will succeed eventually if they put enough time and effort into it.
https://youtu.be/3x5eFuWJZPQ
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2645100/Nine-year-old-girl-lands-perfect-540-skateboard-trick-half-pipe-despite-not-knowing-ride-bike.html
https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/4taj6l/skateboarder_christian_flores_attempts_same_trick/

[HyrdoDoc]

Having lived a block from a well known point break in Montauk Point, NY, I surfed every summer day from maybe 13 to 19 years of age on a variety of boards. Now at 52, I took out the old foamie from the garage and gave it a try. First time in 35 years. The big question was, would I need to totally relearn? Exhausting! Amazingly, I was able to pop up and stand on every wave I caught. I guess it's like riding a bike. Anyways, I've just bought a Walden Mega Magic 8ft high volume mini-mal. I've been out twice on the original Morey Doyle foamie, and 3 or 4 times now on the Walden. I've noticed that the problem with "getting back in" at this stage isn't so much the legs as it is the arms. That and overall lack of stamina. I'm not a gym rat and don't enjoy high intensity exercise on a regular basis like some I see jogging down the road with pain on their faces and their arms contorted. I find paddling out in the rolling surf exhausts me leaving me rather spent by the time I'm out in the lineup. That's been a limiting factor. It's been great fun going down the line on flatter days where we wait for proper sets. This morning, however, was one of those days I find it far more difficult. The waves were not at all large, but the almost constant beach break and 3-4ft rollers would push me back almost as far as I began. No good spots to paddle out today as low tide brings those conditions. Anyways, I made the best of it and practiced on the leftovers using whatever leftovers in the energy department I could muster. What have I learned? You don't lose your pop-up skills over time but you surely do lose your arms. Ironically, I suppose the best exercises for paddling is well.. paddling. Of course, at my age, sitting on a board, feeling the familiar ebb and flow of the sea, and regarding the fine line between sea and sky is its own reward. Ah, to be part of it again. How I've missed it.
Cheers,
Doc

[Big H]

Having lived a block from a well known point break in Montauk Point, NY, I surfed every summer day from maybe 13 to 19 years of age on a variety of boards. Now at 52, I took out the old foamie from the garage and gave it a try. First time in 35 years. The big question was, would I need to totally relearn? Exhausting! Amazingly, I was able to pop up and stand on every wave I caught. I guess it's like riding a bike. Anyways, I've just bought a Walden Mega Magic 8ft high volume mini-mal. I've been out twice on the original Morey Doyle foamie, and 3 or 4 times now on the Walden. I've noticed that the problem with "getting back in" at this stage isn't so much the legs as it is the arms. That and overall lack of stamina. I'm not a gym rat and don't enjoy high intensity exercise on a regular basis like some I see jogging down the road with pain on their faces and their arms contorted. I find paddling out in the rolling surf exhausts me leaving me rather spent by the time I'm out in the lineup. That's been a limiting factor. It's been great fun going down the line on flatter days where we wait for proper sets. This morning, however, was one of those days I find it far more difficult. The waves were not at all large, but the almost constant beach break and 3-4ft rollers would push me back almost as far as I began. No good spots to paddle out today as low tide brings those conditions. Anyways, I made the best of it and practiced on the leftovers using whatever leftovers in the energy department I could muster. What have I learned? You don't lose your pop-up skills over time but you surely do lose your arms. Ironically, I suppose the best exercises for paddling is well.. paddling. Of course, at my age, sitting on a board, feeling the familiar ebb and flow of the sea, and regarding the fine line between sea and sky is its own reward. Ah, to be part of it again. How I've missed it.
Cheers,
Doc

You're not old enough yet for the "at my age" talk. Get fit and stretch your youth.

[dblang]

I have always loved watching surfers and surfing. At age 42 I decided to try to surf even though I live far away from the ocean it was something I had always wanted to do. In 2001, I signed up for surf lessons at Corky Carrolls surf school in Costa Rica and flew down by myself not knowing one word of Spanish. Somehow I made it to Nosara on the north west coast and wow, what an experience. I was still fairly athletic then but I was not prepared to use all the muscles that I never used playing hockey or baseball. After 2 days my neck muscles made my head feel like it weighed 100 lbs, my shoulders were dead, my stomach was filed raw but with all that, I stood up on a wave and rode it all the way into shore. I have never felt such exhilaration and almost started crying as I could not believe what I had done for myself. Surfing is by far the hardest sport I have ever tried, getting past the whitewater was the hardest by far and trying to sit on my board while waiting for a wave was comical the very first day, everyone makes it look so easy lol. I caught my first real wave, made a turn and got crushed , I wound up getting hurt and never got any better than that even though I tried a few times . Anyway, 10 years have past, I have not tried again since 2007 and one of these days, I may try it again for my 60th birthday present to myself. This time I will hit the weights for a couple months as I know what to expect. I continually watch surfing videos on youtube and it just makes me wish I was 20 so I could have had the rest of my life to get better at a sport I truly love. Anyway, thanks for the great reads, it does inspire me to try again.

[oldmansurfer]

Some ideas for you to consider in learning to surf.
1) Learn the ocean. Before you surf look at the ocean and try to learn where the waves and currents are and think about how to get out through the waves. Usually straight out through the surf is not the easiest or best way to get out. But often there are currents and lulls in the waves that can make it easier. Count the waves. Each wave is shaped slightly different. learn to recognize the shapes of waves and what that means in trying to catch a wave and which ones to try to catch. As you learn the waves and parts of the wave that you can takeoff on will increase so once you have it figured out then push your limits a little. Just a little though not enough so that you fail all the time but enough to challenge yourself to improve.

2) Work on strengthening you shoulders by paddling regularly at least once a week or more often but not so much that you are sore the next day. Surfing is 90% wave knowledge and paddling (10% surfing).

3) Surf as often as you can without getting injured. You need to surf at least once every couple of weeks to keep your skills from backsliding. Now this is if you ever get serious about learning to surf. If you only surf once a year your skills will always be like a total beginner.

4) have fun or what's the point?

[msocsci]

Hi just signed up. I'm 54 and just recently had a weeks surfing in Gran Canaria. I'm hooked and managed to catch and stand up on a fair few green waves after catching a lot of white, but living in south west Scotland (very near the sea) I can't find anywhere close to practice. I'm looking to get to Essaouri in Morocco in January or February for another wee (warm) hit

[jaffa1949]

Get in and go for it, you wee youngster you

Bruichladdigh

[tomthetreeman]

I'm 47, and just started in August. I haven't read all of this thread yet, but what I have read is all sooo true!

I've got a torn labrum (L) and a rotator cuff impingement (R), so I can confirm, the struggle is real!

I'm able to move around on a longboard and carve a little with my smaller boards, so I'm pretty stoked about my progress so far. The waves need to be right for me, still, though... A little too steep and I fall, a little to weak and I have to hunt for the right spot to get into them.

I've got a 10' Stewart Tipster on its wat from CA as we speak, so I think those smaller days will get better for me soon!

Cheers to everyone, keep your chins up!

Tom

[Sylvia]

I think surfing cannot be easily learn by one day.
I am a beginner here...I didn't learn to surf well until now.
I think for old age it is difficult to surf because it lead lots of energy and stamina.
Youngsters can easily do but correct practice is essential for that.

[oldmansurfer]

You all might want to try accupuncture, I just had some and I feel great........ok so really I only had a flu shot in one arm and a Tdap shot in the other (tetanus, petrussis, diptheria) but I feel great too bad there's no waves nearby

[nittanysurfer]

I started early in life, at around age 9 and surfed whenever I could. After high school, I went away to college and moved far from any coast. I'm now in my 30's and try to get to the beach whenever I can, especially now that I have two boys who are learning. It has been a challenge to re-teach myself but a fun challenge. I'm not what I once was, but I am in the water again and that is all that matters. It's good to get wet!

[oldmansurfer]

Wow! It's been nine years since your last post. Welcome back to the forum. Yeah relearning is a challenge especially older and out of shape and overweight as I did it. At least you know what to do. And getting your ocean therapy once again makes it all worth it.

[edgewise]

I just started a couple months ago at 48. Grew up walking/skateboarding distance from the beach and spent thousands of days body surfing and boogie boarding as kid, but never wanted the hassle of a surfboard (too big, couldn't drive, could just skate to the beach, so why bother?)

I'd always wanted to try surfing but life got in the way. School, work, kids etc. Well, life took a turn last year and it was time for a new beginning. I'd had a dream of taking a trip to Costa Rica to learn how to surf, and one day just decided to book it. I'm going in about 2 weeks. After booking the trip, I thought, "Why should I spend the first part of the trip learning the basics? I can do that here in CA.". Paid for some lessons, borrowed a board and bought a wetsuit. I've been going 2-4x a week ever since. Being a morning person REALLY helps as it's easy to drive to lots of different beaches, get 2 hours of surfing in and come home before traffic even starts. I'm home before the kids even wake up!

I think I've progressed pretty quickly (at least that's what my surfing instructor and friends have said). Partially because I have years of water/wave experience, so I can judge waves reasonably well and partially because I've kept myself in good shape over the years. Early on, I experienced soreness and fatigue, but I've increased my stamina over the weeks and I'm not too worried about surfing 2 sessions a day in CR.

On the mental side, the emotional tranquility and peace of mind being in the water as the sun rises cannot be overstated. It's been incredibly therapeutic on top of being great exercise. I'm hooked and hopefully I can stay fit and healthy enough to do this for the rest of my life.

[jaffa1949]

You’ve hit the whole idea, enjoy thoroughly