Surfing experience

[Jp1020]

What's up you guys, I stumbled on this forum when I was looking for some advice on starting to surf again. I had surf lessons around 2 years ago but didnti have the time to continue surfing, now that I have the time I really don't know how to start again. Should I take lessons again? (I had 4 lessons before and surfed around 3 times after that, and was at the stage of paddling out). Or is better if I practice with what I still know again and go from there on further? (With possible lessons in the future to avoid mistakes )beach I livery nearby is a beach brake with waves that are 1-4ft high most of the time if that helps as well. I'm quite fit as well. I still know surf rules and etiquettesee and dangers. (I kept my knowledge up from videos).

[jaffa1949]

Start again and welcome, have a couple of tries with what you remember.
Get washed to the beach, = you didn't remember enough = take some more lessons.
Talk to us about what you are riding and where you are riding.
Advice will follow!

[Jp1020]

Thanks for the advice I will probably be in the white water first again the first half our and than paddle out back again, good that I skated for 9 years nearly now but I still want to get a good position on the waves and board again.

[Jp1020]

I surfed a 7'0 softtop only and surf in the Netherlands, Scheveningen.

[jaffa1949]

Scheveningen is a difficult and typical North Sea wave, coming in over a long shallow offshore bank, often with disorganised swell and onshore winds.
Do a couple of lessons on the soft top, refresh your knowledge and skills, they get rusty! Ask questions on how to read the beach.
It takes some time to get everything working. As much water as possible, spring is coming.
We have quite a good group of Scheveningen crew and Deutsch across to the North Sea crew, start chatting meet up, share learning and experience. Much more rewarding.

[Jp1020]

Thanks for the advice, will do

[Jp1020]

Scheveningen is a difficult and typical North Sea wave, coming in over a long shallow offshore bank, often with disorganised swell and onshore winds.
Do a couple of lessons on the soft top, refresh your knowledge and skills, they get rusty! Ask questions on how to read the beach.
It takes some time to get everything working. As much water as possible, spring is coming.
We have quite a good group of Scheveningen crew and Deutsch across to the North Sea crew, start chatting meet up, share learning and experience. Much more rewarding.

Wouldn't it be better if I first see what I still know and than take a private lesson and go further from there when I start paddling out again? In all honesty while I haven't been in the water for some time I will probably stay in the white water again first.

I also still know alot about reading waves, escaping rips, tides, surfeforecasts, surf rules and body posture when paddling/taking off, I binge watched surf videos for 3 years because my parents didn't allow me to surf and I didn't have as much money (I'm 18 now ). As a student I still want to spend money wisely and don't want to learn things I already know. Especially now when it's flat and/or the surf is still small.

[Jp1020]

Correction: I ment that my parents didn't want me to surf with other surfers due to me being quite young and lots of them were much older (I know weird argument) in that time is surfed maybe 6-7 times and also watched (and still do) alot of videos on ocean and surf knowledge. Offcourse at scheveningen it changes because it's a beach brake

[jaffa1949]

Eeek, in a good surfing community, the older guys often offer helpful suggestions and clues as how to handle the surf.
The whole range, teens adults parents and grandparents.
Most of Holland is still knowledgeable on surfing through multimedia images not the community (hence your Parents’ concerns)

So you’re in your own decision space now.
Yep try the white water, remember and relearn , a suggestion though, be aware that you avoid developing poor habits, as they are often hard to break.
You don’t need to be far away from other surfers, just aware!
Small surf, is a good learning ground as long as it has enough size to ride.
How well can you swim? Have some fun body surfing and also try body boarding , they can teach you practical elements of what the surf does.
This also teaches what to do when a leash breaks and your board is washed in!
Cheapest learning experiences.

Not sure how the lifeguards? Surf safety system works at Scheveningen and your local swimming laws so be aware of those too!
Have fun , become a capable waterman rather than a surfer!

[Jp1020]

Thanks for the advice, I think I'll follow your advice on overall water improvement. Going out in small surf bodyboarding can indeed be helpfull as wel and swimming in light conditions too. The waves are now very small to surf, maybe next week I'll have more chance on some 2-4 ft waves. And about bodyboarding? Should you take lessons for that?

[Oldie]

Hi Neighbour, have fun reentering the sport! The crowd at Scheveningen typically is cool if you consider the etiquette. I would suggest to take some lessons. You might know what you should do, but it is difficult to know what you really did. Did you miss that last wave because you paddled too slowly, or because of your position on the board, or your position in the lineup, or because of your popup? Is your popup creating problems you are unaware of? Was it a gettable wave at all? Did you nosedive because of position or paddle speed? A teacher can help you with all that and it avoids developing bad habits. Do spend at much time in the water as possible, even if it just helps getting comfortable and paddlefit again. No waves expected next week though according to msw.

[jaffa1949]

All of the above, you can learn body boarding by your self! Body surfing just you and swimming!

[Jp1020]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I will swim in my free time once a week or so 1km and I already fitness, that way I'm also fit outside the water. Bodyboarding seems like fun to and I happen to have some swimming fins and socks as well. I'll keep you guys updated.

[jaffa1949]

Just curious, do you understand what body surfing is? No board at all swim and catch a wave youcan ride the face go straight, ride the white water! . Great fun!

[Jp1020]

Yes, I know what it is and how to do it. I can't bodysuit but it's something I most certainly want to learn incase my leash snaps (!)

[Jp1020]

So Friday there areally waves again (2ft with a 4 second swell period) I think I'll give it another try and move from there on. When I find a obstacle I'll take a lesson and from there on surf until I find another obstacle. So stoked!

Ps the waves are going to be big Sunday and Monday as well but to big to surf for me :'( I'm also going to swim weekly to make sure I can swim good (at least 1 km)

[jaffa1949]

Judging by the forecast; biggish up to 2 meters, with strong onshore wind 45kilometer per hour, 7 second period.
Equals washing machine.
Explanation , the waves are locally wind generated 7 second period means the wind system is close onshore, no chance for the mess to be cleaned up. Every seven seconds a wave hits one after the other, paddling out a nightmare. Because the Waves are coming fast they will generate stronger rips along the breakwaters and piers.
Not a playground .
My suggestion head down to the beach and watch and learn what forecasts mean at your beach, take a good jacket the sand will be blowing too!

[Jp1020]

Yeah that's a good idea! I'll see if I have time to walk on the beach. I wasn't on planning to surf waves higher than 1.2 meters max and was thinking of Friday to surf, low waves and wind with a swell period of 4 seconds.
I heard my past surf instructor say that scheveningen becomes good for beginners when there is a 6 second swell period with waves as big as 2ft but those two seconds won't matter with light onshore winds and a height of 2ft right? So I guess I'll plan a privet surf lessons for Friday, surf on my own and when I need help I'll take private lessons again. Waves here are hard but I'm willing to learn to surf, especially since I live 20 minutes from the beach .

[jaffa1949]

Looking at the Friday fore cast the winds are the same direction as the swell , that means onshore 4 seconds means messy.
Ideal if you can get it that wave size a longer swell period around 9 second and offshore winds but sadly the predominance of your coast and weather makes ideal uncommon. So just go with the recommendations of the locals. No water time means no Progress!.

[Jp1020]

Yes, that's true no water time is no progress but like most surfers in Holland they make the best of the conditions. Sadly clean conditions here are most of the time 5 days to a week in a year.