please help me keep the stoke going...

[iomarti]

because i think that i suck at surfing.

It's taking ages and ages to get any better, I have been surfing for about 3 months and still can't say 100 % that i can surf or have surfed an unbroken wave or ridden down the face of the wave.

I'm so so frustrated and was hoping you guys could give me a little encouragement?? Because I'm trying so fleshin' hard!!!

[Keith]

What do you want to know... lol

[Sweet!]

oh hay Kiddo!!

I so totally feel like that too. At times. Its so wierd a.

And I've read a tonne of people.. ok maybe about 12 on this forum that still say they've been surfing for ages, lets say years... and they still suck.

It's part of the appeal. Maybe.

I almost almost wrote the exact same post word for word as you did a little while back... basically I am just SOO OVER sucking at this.

It's not that I really suck it's just that I want to do soo much better and I know I can.

Please keep yo head up girl.. you know this feeling will pass.. and then hay, you'll totally feel that crazy crazy love again...

and then you'll head out one day and you'll feel all suck again. ha.

Can you describe exactly what you achieved your very first day surfing? On here.. c'mon tell us. And then look at what you're doing on you last day out surfing where you felt really frustrated...WOA! Big difference isn't there??

Please give yourself a break. You ARE doing awesomely you cannot deny yourself that girl!

[tomcat360]

It's just taking some work, that's the whole deal about surfing!

I'm sure if you spend a week outta the water, you would want to be back in. Oh, and you are getting better, I'm sure.

Out of curiousity, what type of board are you using?

[Keith]

I have only been surfing maybe 10 times, but I feel I learn something new every time... even though I may not be able to stay up very long, or get u p every time. I learned to duck dive and sit on the board properly today .

[Sweet!]

3 MONTHS!!

Woah you're still a baby! You're totally doing awesomely!! OFF COS this takes ages.!!

Oh and one person (I think I was reading a Josh Constable interview - hot top Auzzy longboarder) had some great advice a while back which was to set your goals or expectations for each sesh... a bit more realistically.

I automatically amp it up each time and say, ok last time I did ok at my pop up and turn, which means today I'll be able to nail a floater, drop knee turn combo no sweat!!

ha ha.. doesn't anyone else do that?

So when I make myself say, ok today I'm just going to tray and paddle with the wave and maybe try to get my pop up ok.. I do better at feeling successful. and happy.

ya? Does that make any sense??

[iomarti]

ah thanks you guys. Just hate feeling frustrated and needed to vent..!

And to be honest, i think my moan is really about the surf. Of course I haven't surfed unbroken waves....there haven't been any!! Was flat for ages and now its too choppy and big for me to stand a chance....! So no wonder I'm not catching them because they are NOT THERE!! So I'll give myself a break and go swimming instead.

Today looks better at the bay, I'll try there (and try not to meet any dead bodies)... To be honest, I don't need any tips, I read all the stuff on the forum, know the theory, its just about practising and experimenting...

And Tomcat I've been riding a 6"1 do you think that may be the problem.... i just think long boards look faggy.

Just kidding...i have a 7'2 minimal!

[Driftingalong]

Was flat for ages and now its too choppy and big for me to stand a chance....!

That always sucks...seems to happen way too often.

Hey, 3 months is nothing don't sweat it. I'm sure you're making progress. Just stick with it and one day it will click.

Keep on surfing!

[bluesnowcone]

dont worry, the first few moneth is the hardest, in the last year since iv been riding now the fave of a wave, iv improves loads, and each surf session i mster a new trick, so stick with it and keep on going

[libby]

Hey Iomarti,

Totally, TOTALLY feeling you. 100%!!

Although technically i have been surfing for about 18 months i've only ever done it consistently for 3 months. Before that i was hardly ever popping up and was total crap. Over the 3 months i eventually nailed standing, and catching green waves, but that was towards the end of the summer and i havent had a chance to actually nail the two together. I totally undertsand how your feeling, especially when you see people who have been doing it for a shorter period of time but are better than you - it hurts real bad eh?!

One of my main problems is not knowing anyone at my level to surf with. Brents awsome but he's so much more capable in water than me and i really want someone at my level to surf with, especially as i am a bit of a wuss and need egging on and someone to sit outback with and get excited over the little things with.

I will surf as much as poss in the UK but i'm not expecting to make heaps of progress this year. When I come back to NZ next year the first thing i am going to do is get some lessons with a female surf instructor and try and find a surf partner who is of a similar standard to me that will come out every day. It'll happen eventually, dont get frustrated by people who seem to find everything easy, they may learn quickly but then not progress much after the initial stages, but even if they are the next Kelly Slater dont let that detract from the small improvements you're making or the enjoyment you're having. Theres no pressure to improve, you are out there for you and in time (maybe lots of it) things will happen and you will improve.

Maybe we I should try and make it down your way later in the summer and we can have like a girly push to ipove our surfing or something!

Libs

[iomarti]

Libs that would be wicked! Do it!

Yeh... it really does suck when people are better than you and they've been doing it less!

I often surf alone because I always have to find a babysitter and I take anychance I can to get in the water. Actually I find i get in more than my friends as I'm so happy to get free time, and because they get whole weekends, they are more lazy.

I'm going out in about an hour, the surf looks loads better today, I'll see how I get on. I read in my friends surf magazing that there are 3 phases to surfing...

no.1. The Grom phase, when it's a real novelty and your so pleased to simply be standing up and you'll surf in anything and everything....

no.2 The Choosy phase, when you start gettin a big head, and being picky about conditions and generally bein a bit of a knob.. (apparently....not my words...)

no.3 I can't remember cause I'll never get there, but bein a true surfer...

so yeah... I have started to get picky and putting my wetsuit on no longer
excites me when it used to....i was just so chuffed i had my OWN WETSUIT!!

[iomarti]

And in summary to this thread, and for anyone who is feeling frustrated about surfing...

When surfing sucks, it sucks. Hard. But when it's good, it's electric.

[drowningbitbybit]

I been surfing years and I still suck

Who cares as long as you're having a good time?

Stop thinking of it as 'practising' or 'learning' and think of it as 'surfing'. You'll still learn, improve, get better... but have a better time 'cos you're not getting so frustrated

One day you'll paddle out back and suddenly realise that what you've just done used to be difficult. Then you'll catch a wave and not think about it much until you realise you couldnt do that a month/year/decade ago. It takes time but its all fun.

Relax... surf....

[iomarti]

yeh you are quite right. I really do think too much, generally

[Sweet!]

[quote="iomarti"]
When surfing sucks, it sucks. Hard. But when it's good, it's electric. [/quote]

Ha haa. Ok that is THE truth!! Rite there in a nutshell.

when it's good its electric when its bad it electric shock

WOAH! DBBB! You said that so perfectly! Tru Tru!!

[Peanut]

At least you're in Newquay and get the chance to surf, all we've got to look forward to here is a flatter than flat mr. mcnothing-ness for the rest of the summer until it gets cold and rainy.

Look at it this way, if you're this worried about you're surfing then you're a surfer, other non-surfy folk would say 'to hell with this' and go and take up somethin else instead like, fishing or golf or somethin.

[easty]

To get any good at surfing you need to go often and even then it takes years to master ..So just keep at it !

[jennie]

Hey iomarti just read your thread...

I completely agree with you, i think everyone that is learning goes through that stage...i certainly did/am. I had such a good 2 weeks in Bairrtiz surfing with 2 Belgium lads that were much better than me but helped me so much in the water, i had a few lessons out there as well and i was really feeling like i had got it. I came back to the UK and went out in January and just couldnt get to my feet (this was in bournemouth so i didnt have much time to stand up before i hit the shore! )

Its so frustrating if you feel like your progessing backwards but to be honest i just love it when im in the water. The last few months i havent been able to go anywhere near the sea because of work and things so im usually just stoked to see the it!!

It doesnt help that im living in the most upperclass landlocked area where if you say your interested in surfing 9 times out of 10 its a conversation killer. The fact is no one surfs here! I think Thaya will agree! In fact Thaya your the first lass who i have met who actually surfs and not just stand around posing in a wet suit!!

haha libby i know what you mean when you say you want someone to get excited over the little things....im like "oooo look a jelly fish.....guys look theres a jelly fish right here.....guys?....guuuuuuuuuuuys loooooooook!"

[no worries, lets go surf]

Live, breath and eat surf! I mean read about it all the time, like magazines and stuff. Watch the epic movies plenty of em. When not at the beach practise by popping at home or do general toning up stuff, push-ups, squats and pop-ups. Keep your eye on the waves and the ocean you'll learn to read the when and where to go surf to maximise your fun in the sun! STAY STOKED!