Beginning Surfing?

Question

I want to learn to surf this summer. Any tips on technique or where to buy a cheap but reasonable board? I'd like to find a nice short board thats at most a couple hundred $$

Answer 1

everyone says no to this. but trust me, it works great... Go to a play it again sports and buy a top brand surf board brand new. Its much less expensive for just as good of a board.  Then, take a friend that surfs to a beach that lets you surf and have him help you and teach you how to surf.  Its how i started and now im getting air!

Answer 2

these type of questions get answered repeatedly every day. please next time you ask a question that might already be answered just look at the Q & A's that it already up there.

Chris K isn't kidding. we have probalbly seen these questions 50 times in the last month or so.

Answer 3

The best thing you can do is go to a local surf shop. If you can, get lessons and then advance to getting your first board (lessons will give you a good idea of the sport and if you actually want to continue it, and your instructor can help you get your first board). In absence of that, the best thing to do is get the advice of a local surf shop, they know the local waves best and can better assert what type of board is right for you. To find a local shop, either go near the beach and look around, or search www.yellowpages.com for surf shop.

Answer 4

For some reason, it seems like somebody asks this same question at least once every ten days! Chris K and Pro Surf already said it. If you just had taken the time to read the earlier questions and answers, we might have already put all the information you need out there for you.

Surfing is an ocean sport. before you decide to surf, decide to know and understand the ocean. Learn to be at home with its currents, rips, undertows and sometimes BIG waves. The original surfers were watermen (and women, both men and women surfed, but certain waves were reserved for royalty).

I spent almost all of my teen years, swimming, sailing, surfing, scuba diving and fishing. I even surfed in different places the Navy sent me, when it was possible.

There are good things about both long and short boards. I ride both (one at a time , of course). In the mid sixties, like almost everybody else, I started on a longboard. I went shorter and shorter every summer, during the 'short board revolution.' I have found some days that were just too small anything but a longboard. Just riding one size board is very limiting, conditions change daily in most places.

Surfing is an ocean sport, to do it right, you have to be at home in the ocean, with its currents, rips, undertows and sometimes big waves. I don't just mean being good at swimming in a pool, the ocean can be very unforgiving. I have seen lots of really good pool swimmers have to get rescued. You have to learn surf etiquette (so the experienced surfers in the line up don't want to drown you), how to paddle and take off on a wave, and how to ride a wave. You can't do that without an ocean.

Lessons are usually the best way to start, unless you are an adolescent or young adult with lots of pals who surf who can teach you. Go to a real surf shop. The folks there can hook you up with lessons, and even rent you a board to learn on. (and, it's going to be either a longboard or a funboard [mini-mal]) Just work on your basics, and after you feel good, think about buying a board, but don't rush into anything. It's only fair top tell you that you won't find anything decent for "a couple hundred $$". For that price, you are looking at a used board in poor shape (or stolen). You can't even get a good siofttop for two hundred $. And, please don't waste your time (or money) buying something on line.

Be careful of what you read here on line. There are lots of really well meaning young folks who have neat answers about surfing, but at 55, I tend to classify anyone under 25 as a kid. After I found this site, I figured that I could answer a few questions, and spread the 'good news' of surfing. After you learn to swim and master the ocean, get your REAL advice from a surf shop, where industry professionals earn their rent money selling surfboards. However, if they think you are just a 'kook' tourist out to rent a board, you won't necessarily get the best attention.

Most people learn best on long boards, although I have seen lots of surfers start on a short board and master it. In the long run, there are NO RULES on waht type of board you haven to learn on. Long boards are ideal for learners. There are also good internediate length boards to learn on, funshapes, mini-mals and some hybrids. That is why instructors use long boards of fun boards (or even softtops).

THE REAL BOTTOM LINE IS: Go to a Surf Shop, not a computer. The pros there can give you the right answers!!

Good luck. Once you try surfing (and learn the 'right way') you'll have fun for life.

Take the time to check out the links, especially surfingforlife.

http://www.surfingforlife.com/history.ht...

http://www.mckevlins.com/nopopstory.htm

http://360guide.info/surfing/surfboard-t...

Answer 5

Where I live, the east coast, they sell surfboards at Sam's Club. Pretty crazy huh? They look like decent boards and they come with everything...even a board bag. I think I would go take a lesson first with a rented board and make sure you like it before you go spending hundreds of dollars. Surfboards are like cars....that lose their value when you take them off the lot. :) Good Luck and happy surfing!

Answer 6

Why are you not tyr to enroll surfing training?