Learning to Surf

[scrambled_legs]

Brand new, looking at getting into surfing. The problem is I'm living in Regina, SK Canada. So the closest thing I have to a break is a windrow in the farmers wheat field. The good news is my job allows me to travel.

So I'm looking at doing a trip in November or December and want to know where I should go for lessons. I'm thinking Hawaii, Mexico or Dominican just because it is easiest to get to from here. What's good that time of year for beginners?

[Sweet!]

YAY!!

come to New ZEaland!!

[Brian]

new zealand sucks, too many sheep

[Sweet!]

obvious bait.

[SDCali]

Hawaii is great, there are a lot of surf schools on various islands. Research them to find out which school and island would best meet your needs. Avoid the North Shore, cuz the waves are usually huge during the winter. Contact several schools and seek advice from them.
I also know several California based surf schools offer surf camps during the winter in Mexico and various South American locales, but research these carefully, as there are horror stories floating around about some of them.

[scrambled_legs]

I tried some North Shore Oahu schools and asked them if I should come in March instead after the surf has died down and they said no way. Said they taught in locations where the surf was tame enough to learn easily and this way I could catch both the comp's and try it myself.

I think I'm going to do it, after all what's a better surf local than Hawaii. Do you have any recommondations for North Shore schools?

[janegaskins]

Hi, this is a reply regarding surfing Oahu's North Shore during the winter, and it's true--you can still surf there throughout the winter. My kids (and I) have been learning to surf in Hawaii for the past 2 years and we traditionally spend a week in late Dec/early Jan, another week in Feb, a week in April, and then a couple more weeks in the summer and it's always great surfing there. We've tried a couple of schools there but our best experiences have been with the Ty Gurney Surf School. It's a newer school, small, and really dedicated to making sure each surf experience is the best. If you can, surf with Ty Gurney himself. He's GREAT with everyone--but especially wonderful with kids. I can't recommend him highly enough and his website is www.tygurneysurfschool.com (www.tygurney.com works, too).