Surf Lessons - Worth it?

**Colorado_Freeskier** · 04-04-2008, 05:28 PM

I'm going to be out in San Diego in May with some buddies and we want to give surfing a try. Should we drop the cash for a lesson(s) or should we simply rent some gear and give it a shot?

**glax** · 04-04-2008, 09:14 PM

Like most sports, you can probably figure it out if you are athletic and comfortable in the water, but a lesson will get you up and riding much faster.
If you can afford it, take the lesson. Even just a couple hours will make the progression much faster.
Have fun

**Microcosm** · 04-04-2008, 09:38 PM

I'd say at least one or two lessons and then practice, practice, practice! One lesson will be good for getting the basics down and for just learning about the general feel of the waves and the ocean and how everything.. works I guess. Also, you'll learn how to keep yourself and others safe in the water/ how to safely get past a broken wave without pummeling someone else with your board. Sounds stupid, but I see a lot of people with no idea what they're up to doing risky things.

**ProHoHater** · 04-04-2008, 10:20 PM

Save your money dude. Learn the hard way, because there is no easy way in surfing. Find a spot with no one out, even if it sucks, and start catching white water. Avoid other surfers at all costs or get prepared for a beat down.

Once you get used to paddling and can stand, the best thing to do is go to a spot where people are catching waves and watch it for a few hours and figure out how the lineup works. Watch the best dude and just keep watching him for a while, not just how he surfs, but more importantly what he is doing in between waves. Watch and learn, literally study the wave and whats going on with the line up, but for the most part until you have a clue you should try your hardest to avoid a crowd at all cost.

This process should take about ten years.

**Chiz** · 04-08-2008, 11:55 AM

It depends what you want out it.

If you are taking a day to try surfing and play in the water, don't take a lesson. grab some boards and jong it up.

If this is a week of surfing (or whatever) I think it is totally worth taking a 2 hour lesson (or whatever) to learn the basics, then jong it up. At least then you have an idea of what you're doing (or more likely, not doing).

Seriously, if you can get some help on getting up the first time, you're way ahead of the game

**crusoe** · 04-10-2008, 05:33 PM

dont commit to more than 1-2 max, unless/until you find someone fueling your progress -- 1:1 or small group key
not like skiing-90% instructors do little real watching/eval/useful feedback once you get beyong the "heres how you paddle, here's how you pop up" demo.

**Colorado_Freeskier** · 04-10-2008, 08:36 PM

Thanks for the input...we should be able to 4-5 days in so we'll book a semi private lesson.

**willywhit** · 04-11-2008, 08:05 AM

KITEsurfing lessons, waaaay more worth it than someone teaching you to paddle paddle paddle, stand up.
check it out

http://www.westcoastkiteboarding.com/instructors

tell em willywhit sent ya

West Coast Kiteboarding's home office is located in San Diego, California. Lessons are available in San Diego and in San Quintin (Baja, Mexico).

Please send us an e-mail at:
lessons@westcoastkiteboarding.com

Or Call us at 619-813-2230

**boarddad** · 04-11-2008, 12:13 PM

Rerun, but the jist of what I was going to reply.

I know this will draw the ire of Vince, but if you are only going to be at it one week you might as well get a boogie board and some fins instead. It took me 2 solid weeks going out every day before I could make a solid turn on a board. I kind soul told me when I was learning that I'd fall down about 200 times before I got it - that was right on the money. Was it worth it? Absolutely, but then I've never lived more than a couple of hours from decent surf since I learned. If you are just out to "give it a try" I'm going to go out on a limb and say it won't go as well as you might imagine.

**willywhit** · 04-11-2008, 02:19 PM

http://ps2.ign.com/dor/objects/16014...?download=true

practice at home, before you get out in da lineup

**cito** · 04-15-2008, 11:34 PM

Willy, you think?

**douchenozzle** · 04-16-2008, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by cito

Willy, you think?

doubtful.

I think I know some guys from NH that know him.

**cito** · 04-17-2008, 09:48 PM

Transitive property? Not the point. Don't know dick regarding surf lessons. what I do know is more gear, resposibility, and a shitload more.

What's the question again?

**willywhit** · 04-17-2008, 09:59 PM

just learn to kitesurf .... unless you're gonna move to Oahu.

**cito** · 04-17-2008, 10:07 PM

Not a stud kite surfer, but can kill it on the break switch, not the point. The point is that I dont know dick with surf teaching shit. To me, and anyone else with a half a brain, if ur gonna teach, well maybe teach how to surf first before teaching how to understand swell, then surf, then sail, then....too many variables yo. Fuck it, ur fucked if u cant do shit from super early.

**cito** · 04-18-2008, 08:56 PM

Don't understand the notion of just learn to kite surf unless oahu bound. Sheesh, kite during downtime, and there's always flat/wait time no matter where u at. Not rocket science, if there's surf, surf. If flat and wind blowing, strap up on gear to get acclimated starting with smallest kite and get control/operations dialed in and do some hops. Unless shorebreak too tempting for womp/skim sesh to pass up or just too damn lazy to go thru the necessary pre-sesh diagnostics.

**willywhit** · 04-19-2008, 01:42 PM

nah, you're right , cito.
When it's windy enuf to kite, the waves are blown out for paddling.
No wind + swell= glassy waves or we just wakesurf behind the boat.
never paid for no geetar lessons, certainly not payin' for
no kitesurfin' lessons...

**cito** · 04-19-2008, 03:08 PM

When it's windy enough for kite, too windy to paddle out? Either I fucked up the interpretation or thats fucked up.

No fu icon regarding kite lessons whatsoever, one of the few oceanic sports that should require it. But yes super stupid shit and waste of money for a short term gack and no plan to revisit it. That's what

for.

**willywhit** · 04-19-2008, 03:25 PM

citococonut, onshore winds tend to knock waves down ie closeouts and offshore winds can prop up big swells. Just sayin'.....if it STILL doesn't make sense.
kiting in the waves is off the fun meter !
kitesurfing is a great way to plan a vacation with the wife.

Pray for wind

**cito** · 04-19-2008, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by willywhit

citococonut, onshore winds tend to knock waves down ie closeouts and offshore winds can prop up big swells. Just sayin'.....if it STILL doesn't make sense.
kiting in the waves is off the fun meter !
kitesurfing is a great way to plan a vacation with the wife.

Pray for wind

Yeah, still doesn't make sense. On shore winds dies down swell? Your shittin' me. Offshore wind jacks up swell? Sick yo, groundbreaking shit. Closeouts in every conditon, albeit less frequent and cleaner with money wind. Perhaps a newbie would actually, noneknowingly, appreciate the onshore sloppy shit, christ at least he/she wouldn't bitch about spray after another pullout/unsuccessful take off. I fucking hate coconuts.

**cito** · 04-19-2008, 09:57 PM

To each his own. As long as kite surf peeps have surf skills, word up. As for the rest of fucks that don't know dick and show pussy in clips to prove dick, fuck 'em.

**willywhit** · 04-20-2008, 07:52 AM

You've got a dirty whorish mouth.

That's bush. Bush league. YOU HEAR ME?

Everyone just relax, all right? Believe me, if there's one thing Ron Burgundy knows, it's women.

**cito** · 04-21-2008, 04:26 PM

Wait what?

**jayfrizzo** · 04-21-2008, 09:56 PM

Willis, that video looks more like kite-wakeboarding, complete with shitty music, hitting ghetto jibs, and lamely gyrating chicas. Shit, I've slid a tailgate on my skateboard. Whoop-de-do.

I'm not saying they shouldn't jib, and that kiteboarding isn't hella extremo rad -- those dudes go about a billion miles an hour. But you're gonna slide a rail on a kiteboard it should be in-line with the bigness and gnarness of the sport.

In short, they should boardslide piers.

J-

**willywhit** · 04-22-2008, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by jayfrizzo

Willis, that video looks more like kite-wakeboarding, complete with shitty music, hitting ghetto jibs, and lamely gyrating chicas. Shit, I've slid a tailgate on my skateboard. Whoop-de-do.

I'm not saying they shouldn't jib, and that kiteboarding isn't hella extremo rad -- those dudes go about a billion miles an hour. But you're gonna slide a rail on a kiteboard it should be in-line with the bigness and gnarness of the sport.

In short, they should boardslide piers.

J-

I've never been a fan of jibbing or bonking. Until you've seen the boyz in OBX slide a big gnarly dock ya can't appreciate how dangerous it is.

I'm all about big fast turns, on the snow and on the water. There's so much power in the kite, when you get a big wave pushing you, you can just depower the kite and cruise. Wave closes out and you sweep the kite hard, turn around and go out and find another wave.For 7 miles downwind, it's pretty friggin fun.

http://www.realkiteboarding.com/inde...ewsitem&id=516

http://photos.masskite.com/displayim...pn&cat=0&pos=0