Surfer girl mental blocks

[kweenkuki]

Hey,
I'm a girl living in Spain and I've been surfing regularly for about a year, and I do think I've come a long way since.
It's now winter here and I am still surfing as much as I can (every day if possible). Here's my problem: Today was my 5th session in a row not catching any waves. It's starting to get extremely frustrating.

Sure, it's winter and the conditions are a bit rough, the waves are powerful and bigger than I am used to. However I manage myself and my board fine paddling out, and am never really scared of the bigger waves.

However It is also becoming so mentally difficult for me, often being one of the only girls if not the only girl out, in a spot where the level is quite high. I paddle out, see a group of guys and feel a lot of eyes on me (I know I am just being paranoid) and basically don't fully commit to any wave because I just think someone else will always ride it better than me anyway and I am scared to mess up (but like I know people don't care what I'm doing)

Without wanting to I start having pretty negative dialogs in my head and worrying too much about the people around me. I am very frustrated because I haven't really felt this way before, only since moving to a place where the level seems quite a lot higher. I'm feeling quite intimidated, when surfing used to make me feel empowered.

Anyway, my question is has anyone faced these kinds of feelings (girls and guys?), and if anyone has any advice to get out of your own way or words of encouragement I am all ears...

Thank you!!

[oldmansurfer]

I haven't had your problem however my thought is you need to find a break where most of the people there are beginners .. That will make it easier for you to not worry about wasting a wave. So I am guessing there is a reason you aren't doing this?

[kweenkuki]

there aren't really any breaks with just beginners around here unfortunately! There are point breaks with easier waves, and those are even more crowded with both beginners and good surfers and it's even harder to catch a wave there.

[kweenkuki]

Also due to covid restrictions we cannot really explore too far from where we live

[IB_Surfer]

When I first started learning I went through unlucky phases, it gets better as you get better.

Try a couple of beginner lessons, maybe you just need a brush up on your technique:

1) practice pop ups: in waist high water, catch whitewash and stand up over and over and over until it feels more natural. Sometimes you need muscle memory on your pop ups, hard to surf if you don’t stand up

2) Paddling: finding the best spot to plane your board is key. If too far back your nose will be up and your board will push water instead of catching the wave, too far up you pearl. To find the happy medium just paddle around the lineup but move up or down an inch at a time until you feel the board glide, that is your perfect position to plane the board and catch waves

Keep at it!!!

[waikikikichan]

Kweenkuki, can you cleanly pull out / kick out off the wave most of the time ? Or do you jump off the board and reel it in by the leash ?

You said you had 5 sessions where you didn’t catch a wave, but you’re not afraid of riding big waves. Did all the locals take all the waves and we’re in a better take off spot than you or you were in the right spot but just didn’t go ?

[delphin]

This is a common phenomenon. A surf friend just yesterday described how the line up dynamic can get into the head of a surfer. Especially if it is not encouraging. Even neutral non engagement can give the feeling of being watched which can interfere with the shift to committed paddle, glide and successful catch. A bit like driving on the first hole in golf in front of an audience....odds are you will shank it and save the gorgeous clean drive for the back nine with only the squirrels watching.

Solutions include going for the smaller in betweeners until your confidence builds, or as suggested above in the broken waves. Going out at less favourable times to have a bit more space for yourself. Another is to find a like minded friend and surf together, taking turns identifying lefts and rights, encouraging each other and creating your own pod of friendliness to neutralize the feeling of being appraised without comment by others.

Oh yes, and to realize that surfing, as with any sport has a huge mental element. Knowing that and using visualization, positive self talk and aphorisms or mental cues (paddle like your life depends on it, look where you are going, look down the line, long and strong, are some examples of helpful cues on take off) will allow you to use your big brain to its potential. Cognition need not be your foe.

[billie_morini]

kweenkuki, I had these experiences when I was new to surfing. Sometimes, it was not possible to catch a single wave.

Keep the stoke! This bad time will pass. You will catch waves again.

By the way, I have recently completed a long business trip to Rota, El Puerto de Santa María, Jerez, and Sevilla.

Yo amo España!
billie

[LostAtSea]

I agree with Dolphin that it's a psychological issue.

I know for myself if there is ANY tentativeness in my head I will miss a lot of waves.

I injured myself a few years ago on a big wave and I realized after a long struggle that I was not fearlessly attacking the waves like I used to. Once I started really committing to waves again, I was back in the game. It took awhile though.

You have to get your confidence back somehow., whatever it takes.

[Jripper53]

Being from Wisconsin I had never even tried surfing until age 29. So I was a kook out there with kids half my age or younger who were absolutely ripping. Meanwhile I was just trying to catch a wave, lollygagging around, getting mowed down. Over and over again I would get out of the water disappointed and beaten down inside & out. But I just kept at it and wouldn't stop. Eyes on the prize. It took me a year to be able to hold my own out there. As I got better, I started to realize there were a lot of others around me who were just starting out too. Before I knew it, there were days I would paddle out, catch a few waves and look around to find the other beginner surfers had cleared away. They saw me as "the guy" now. Couldn't believe it! My point is they will respect you more if you go through the process of failure first, then success. Let go of your ego. What helps me is to always remember that next wave could send me straight over the falls again just like they all used to 1.5 years ago. Always be ready to get creamed. Just remember you have the right to be there just as much as anyone else. Don't be afraid to fail. Unless you're paddling out on the North Shore or some world class break, you're really just playing in the water!