So I'm learning to surf

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Originally Posted by Foggy_Goggles

Commit to the pop up. No going to the knees. Have a friend check your board position as you paddle around. Either make a mental note or draw a line/ piece of tape where your nose or chin should be. There are so many things about learning to surf that need to become natural before you can really progress.

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+1 on that!

A lot of people forget the importance of their beginning position on the board while beginners...they either try and stand up too far forward or too far back....either one will throw you off as you try and pop-up to a stand. Tape on the board where your nose should be works. I have a friend who painted two spots of bright red where his feet should go during the pop-up. It worked ! After he got the idea ingrained, he just took the cheap paint off with a lot of rubbing with "Goo Gone".

Having a friend watch your position on your board as you're popping up is excellent too. Even more helpful would be to have someone with a waterproof camera case take video from close range (from the side) as you are popping up, that way you can see for yourself what you're doing wrong....AND right!

Board balance during the pop-up is the single biggest factor while learning...the board seems so stable and robust when your lugging it on the beach...but once you're on the water, you find it's slippery and squirrely and wants to wig out on you with every false move. That's because you haven't got the momentum from the wave yet....once you ARE up and the momentum takes over, it becomes stable and a longboard you can ride it right to the shore! And YEAH...you'll have a tendency to try and knee board it on the wave, as it's so much easier. Start out right and try and fight that tendency.

So focus on your foot position and centering your mass as you pop-up...and get someone to video you as you pop-up.

Have fun!!

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Nice photos above, both real surfing and mind surfing are cool

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Originally Posted by Piggity

Nice photos above, both real surfing and mind surfing are cool

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The little grom is beyond cool. I could teach him to rip on skis too. I've taught several 2 year olds and a couple are on race team now, killing it and loving life in the fast lane.

The nice thing about mind surfing is you don't need to fight through the break to do it. :tongue:

I'm the man at mind surfing, I beat every section and never fall. Too bad reality kicks in more often than not

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Originally Posted by SheRa

Yeah, the arm strength is my biggest issue. Took me months to get strong and I don't want that to hold me back again. I gotta figure out what to do this winter besides pushups.

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Try climbing .. paddling is the only thing that I found easy when I started surfing because my arms and back were already in decent shape from years of hauling myself up granite faces. Best yet .. it is hella fun.

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Originally Posted by jipstyle

Try climbing .. paddling is the only thing that I found easy when I started surfing because my arms and back were already in decent shape from years of hauling myself up granite faces. Best yet .. it is hella fun.

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Hehe, if you only knew how much climbing I've done - countless days, countless mountains. More than anything else really. But not with ropes, with my skis on my back. And it seems I'm using my legs for all of that. There's a climbing wall at the rec center and I guess I could try hauling myself up it with my arms the same way I'm swimming with only my arms to get them stronger.

I do hit the deck and bust out 15 pushups whenever it occurs to me. :tongue:

I've finally made the transition to skiing and climbing my beloved Colorado mountains and it's a happy groove. The beach seems very far away right now.

I live at the beach and it seems far away when the snow start falling. Scored chest deep turns yesterday, which was way better than sloppy surf. Glad to hear the transition went well.

Climbing mountains with your skis on you back? You should really get some skins. They are awesome. :)

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Originally Posted by Ottime

I live at the beach and it seems far away when the snow start falling. Scored chest deep turns yesterday, which was way better than sloppy surf. Glad to hear the transition went well.

Climbing mountains with your skis on you back? You should really get some skins. They are awesome. :)

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:tongue:

It's snowing here. Gonna get me some in the morning. :)

Dude, the past two days have been soooooo good, and KW is still not turning lifts for a week. Decided I needed to stay one more night and get the bluebird dawn patrol tomorrow. And if it is not bluebird, it is still gonna be tits deep Colorado powder. Got me some snow fever, and I even have a brand new surfboard at home I have yet to get in the water.

heh^^^^^

glad i don't have tits deep snow keeping me outta the water in winter:)

things are about to keep me even further from skiing. my beach commute is about to go from 15+ miles to the beach (newmarket-hampton) to 1 mile to the beach (longsands). just put an offer in on a house in york. they countered, i re-countered. can't wait!!!

glad yer getting snow stoke!!!!!

rog

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Originally Posted by SheRa

Hehe, if you only knew how much climbing I've done - countless days, countless mountains. More than anything else really. But not with ropes, with my skis on my back. And it seems I'm using my legs for all of that. There's a climbing wall at the rec center and I guess I could try hauling myself up it with my arms the same way I'm swimming with only my arms to get them stronger.

I do hit the deck and bust out 15 pushups whenever it occurs to me. :tongue:

I've finally made the transition to skiing and climbing my beloved Colorado mountains and it's a happy groove. The beach seems very far away right now.

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Heh ... I guess I should have been more specific. ;)

I've been in Lahaina about 6 days now. Bought 2006 Dodge caravan, 9' long board and 12'6' SUP.

Caught about 20 waves on SUP today. Ate shit a bunch, skittered off reef a few times, saw serious bikinis up close...

In short, I am addicted.

but, have you discovered Leotta's cafe for post session grinds?

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Originally Posted by tgray

but, have you discovered Leotta's cafe for post session grinds?

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Oh do tell, I keep waking up at 5 and it is dark for another hour. I figure i am on the 20 year learn to surf program, any bit of info helps!

Leotta's cafe/bakery; head south toward Kihei, at Olowalu general store pullout to the left Leotta's is on the south end of the building, best food around after a surf session try one of the pot pies, beef, chicken or vegetarian, but the pastries are killer, depending on the swell direction the surfing in that area can be fun too!, A little envious here, In another hour I'm going to be up on a roof helping a buddy, sheath and getting his house "dried in " icy and cold, my mantra is " 30 days and I'll be in Maui,,, 30 days,,,,30 days,,,30 days

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Originally Posted by carpathian

I've been in Lahaina about 6 days now. Bought 2006 Dodge caravan, 9' long board and 12'6' SUP.

Caught about 20 waves on SUP today. Ate shit a bunch, skittered off reef a few times, saw serious bikinis up close...

In short, I am addicted.

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Haha, you'll get used to the bikinis I guess. It's just no big deal having your ass hanging out all day. It's kinda funny when you see these random tourist chicks with their strange getups that show some awkwardness about the state of their thighs or stomachs or whatever.

Where are you surfing?

Honestly I'm happy to be in the cold again and at high altitude. Bracing! But I'm watching my awesome tan fade and fade. Gonna start all over again next year with nothing but a goggle tan.

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Originally Posted by SheRa

Haha, you'll get used to the bikinis I guess. It's just no big deal having your ass hanging out all day. It's kinda funny when you see these random tourist chicks with their strange getups that show some awkwardness about the state of their thighs or stomachs or whatever.

Where are you surfing?

Honestly I'm happy to be in the cold again and at high altitude. Bracing! But I'm watching my awesome tan fade and fade. Gonna start all over again next year with nothing but a goggle tan.

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Three hours building concrete forms, an hour in the DMV and four more hours at Launepoko. Not bad for a day! It is the home break i guess, we are three minutes up the hill. The board is actually an 11'6". 20x waves knee to waist high brah!

Is counting waves cool? What about aqua socks on the sup? Mixing gay with gay to much? Seriously they seem like a good idea in the super shallow, rocky water. But I suppose you should not be crashing in the first place...

Check in Maggots at the TGR outpost in Kahului.

Free expresso's!

Look for the "Believe" sticker

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Originally Posted by carpathian

Three hours building concrete forms, an hour in the DMV and four more hours at Launepoko. Not bad for a day! It is the home break i guess, we are three minutes up the hill. The board is actually an 11'6". 20x waves knee to waist high brah!

Is counting waves cool? What about aqua socks on the sup? Mixing gay with gay to much? Seriously they seem like a good idea in the super shallow, rocky water. But I suppose you should not be crashing in the first place...

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Launiupoko! I'm jealous. It really was a pain not having a car last summer. Not the arbiter of cool, but I counted waves for sure. As far as reef shoes, I bought some, but never really used them. Crap to carry. Less is more. I did cut my feet open on the coral and you have to take that very seriously or it will not heal. Go to the nearest hose and flush out every bit of whatever's in there. Then neosporin and seal it up with bandaids. Repeat every time you get out of the water. At night clean it and use peroxide to dry it out, don't use a bandaid at night after the first night.

Everybody crashes. The coral will get you. I saw plenty of people with wounds that just wouldn't heal. So scary. One chick went to the hospital for a week with something called Mercers(?) that antibiotics couldn't respond to.

3 months in, 3 to go. Air temp 82, water temp 75, beer temp 35. 85 days or so in the water. Traded the 11'6' Coreban for 10' naish 32" wide. Bought 10' Second Wind 26" shred stick. Learning, learning with the occasional wave punch in the face. Searching for the rogue gnarlers, watch for sea turtles!

Dropping!

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...23263621_n.jpg

Just kidding here I am on typical wave...

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...74222452_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...98624567_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...08686336_n.jpg

I still get a kick out of sitting in the AC and then forgetting how hot it is outside...

If you learn to surf in just 20 years, then you are doing good. With our current lack of cold and fluff, I wish I was in the warmth, surfing in trunks and being distracted by thigh bits on touristas in their awk bikinis. Sounds like the good life to me

I tried surfing for the first time in Costa Rica a couple weeks ago at Playa Grande. I popped up and stayed up to the beach on the first foam pile I tried. After about 1/2 hour I caught a wave and was hooked. Then I was paddling like mad for a wave and my shoulder gave out (partial disco). Surf instructor gave it a yank and it popped back into place and I kept going. I caught about 3 more green waves and popped my shoulder out 3 more times over the next hour. I should have stopped after the first time but was too keen (stupid) to catch more waves. My shoulder was slightly out of place for the next 2 days until I went zip lineing and it gave a little pop and felt much better. Time to start doing some shoulder work to make it strong enough for this sport cause it is a fucking gas.

My 3 daughters were stoked too. My oldest managed to pick it up fairly well but surprisingly the to family athlete wasn't that good at it. It was good to see my book worm daughter out getting at it.

I've been throwing down pushups whenever it occurs to me. No gym time required. I'm also doing handstands against the wall and trying to do those pushups. So hard - started with maybe just an inch drop and now down to about 4". My son can put his head on the ground and come all the way up. I'm also swimming laps when I can, for like half an hour.

Hoping that gives me a head start on the summer. Last year was a pathetic sh!tshow.

So are you going to dedicate to surfing? It is so fun, but it sure does require a lot of time in the water. Well for me anyway - slowest learner of all time.

Just got my first surfboard. Looking forward to getting in the way, fucking up your waves, and generally gaping all over the place :D

First day down in Newport I went at learning to surf like I do most things, using sheer brute force. Turns out that having your hands over your head and pulling down pushing up while bringing your feet up as hard as you can isn't a good idea. First time I've had a back ache in two years.

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using TGR Forums

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Originally Posted by neufox47

First day down in Newport

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CA or RI?

If you are in Cali, please shoot me a PM so we can get in the way together.....:)

Just reread this thread...good reminders in there.

If any of you are in San Diego and want to go out in 2-3 foot longboard terrain with a kook, I'm in.

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Originally Posted by PowerWhore7

CA or RI?

If you are in Cali, please shoot me a PM so we can get in the way together.....:)

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And if its on the least coast shoot me a pm if ur ever up in Nh/ME area.

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Newport RI Powerwhore. Hopefully getting my shit together enough to go to Santa Cruz in Sept with my brother, but we'll see. I definitely want to get up to NH / ME, MPPG. Will hit you up when I do. Although right now my surfing is just embarrassing.

Moving or visiting SC? Plenty if great beginner waves here. And you be coming during a good time of year. October tends to have the best weather and November the best surf. September can get real good in both fronts.

MPPG, I'm gonna be in Maine soon for a spell. But I hear there will only be waves if you give rog a hug.

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Originally Posted by Ottime

MPPG, I'm gonna be in Maine soon for a spell. But I hear there will only be waves if you give rog a hug.

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hahaha. I can do that for some summer waves! Rog has grown on me (like a painful hemroid) over the last couple years.:biggrin:

If the surfs up when you visit give me a shout.

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Originally Posted by My Pet Powder Goat

hahaha. I can do that for some summer waves! Rog has grown on me (like a painful hemroid) over the last couple years.:biggrin:

If the surfs up when you visit give me a shout.

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I'm here everyday. And I happen to like hugs:D could be a waist hi wind bump Saturday. Maine mini? In Holliston mass for funeral stuff right now. Hot as fucking balls. 97 degrees in a suit :eek: can't wait to get back in the ocean tonight........rog

Dying to get on the ocean, but I have a bachelor party in jay peak this weekend. Bummed because it Sounds like it will be surfable this weekend for the first time in a while

^^^^^^you won't be missing much, at all. maybe august.............

rog

Long time skiing lurker came back because I thought there was a surfing forum here. This thread says pretty much my story. One lesson in Hawaii two years ago and one last week in Redondo and I'm hooked. Just got a used 10' soft top as a starter board and ready to go. Anyone else in similar skill in SoCal hit me up and lets flail together. I'll have the GF in tow as she's as stoked as me.

Of course we now need pictures of the gf. You know the rules around here.

Not is SoCal, but there are a few folks around here that maybe a few years ahead of you but are still welcome to newbies. PW7 I believe does a Thursday night chill session at San O. An he often has beers. I'd shot him a PM if I were you.

cabbie

pw7 and myself sometimes do thursday evening's at San O. Can't make it this week, but I think next week I'll definitely be up there. PM me.

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Originally Posted by jtran10

cabbie

pw7 and myself sometimes do thursday evening's at San O. Can't make it this week, but I think next week I'll definitely be up there. PM me.

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x2....

I am leaving for Mammoth this afternoon but will be back on Saturday, so next Thursday the 25th lets do San-O for sure. Lets coordinate next week but everyone should join us for gapetastic night of getting in peoples way and flailing. :biggrin:



thread jack:
Going to climb Half-Dome tomorrow and I am pretty nervous (not a climber & afraid of heights), is there anything I need to know....?

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Originally Posted by PowerWhore7

x2....

I am leaving for Mammoth this afternoon but will be back on Saturday, so next Thursday the 25th lets do San-O for sure. Lets coordinate next week but everyone should join us for gapetastic night of getting in peoples way and flailing. :biggrin:

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I'm so gapetastic, would love to join. You mean San Onofre State Beach, like an hour from San Diego? Not sure I can come, getting a work schedule soon I hope, but would def like to meet up. What time do you guys show up at the water? It's probably some brutal commuter traffic to get there...

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Originally Posted by SheRa

You mean San Onofre State Beach, like an hour from San Diego?

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Yes, good spot for all abilities (especially beginners), there is ZERO attitude and it’s a decent LB wave. You expect people to get in your way and you are expected to just smile and move on. :)

Pretty sure j-tran comes up from the SD area and doesn’t seem to hit heavy traffic, but he will have to confirm that. We usually jump in the water around 6pm and surf for a couple hours, then IPA & grub time around the fire. It’s super fun and we all pretty much suck at surfing so it’s all good. :biggrin:

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Originally Posted by PowerWhore7

thread jack:
Going to climb Half-Dome tomorrow and I am pretty nervous (not a climber & afraid of heights), is there anything I need to know....?

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1. That's funny cause you climb some serious stuff this winter, and

2. Don't look down, and

3. Save the IPAs for after

Have fun