i think im creating bad habits already

[surfernoob]

ive been out surfing 4 times now in the past week and its been great fun. unfortunately the only board i can use is a short 5'11 that im borrowing long term and its been really tough learning on it. i'm 5'8 140lbs. i've been able to stand several times and i realized i always look straight down at my feet and the board instead of looking forward or ahead? i grew up skating, and i think the habit comes from that, looking down at my feet when im about to do a trick. but i feel like its just not something i should be doing on a surfboard. it is something i want to avoid doing on a surfboard right? i hate to analyze so much little acts in surfing but its all thats been on my mind since i started, trying to figure out what i did wrong and what i can improve on my next time out.

[justloafing]

I found I was doing the same thing(looking at my feet and board). I think the whole thing with me is that it was everything at the beginning was just going fast in my brain. Once everything slowed down I got past looking at my fee and board. I don't know if that is the same thing for you but it will come to where your looking down the line and where your position is on the wave.

[vodafone]

yea you shouldn't look at your foot/ board, should look where you are heading instead.

[Surfdoc]

You should take a look down the line and be thinking about whats ahead, maybe you can spot a steep spot thats going to section or a lip that you may think is going to pitch out. Don't look at your feet, surfing is a very fast sport and if you take your eyes off of the wave in front of you then it's can be hard to refocus especially for a beginner.

[surferdude_scarborough]

always watch the wave. the sea is unpredictable and if you stop paying attention you might just get smashed by the lip or something.