Height matters in surfing?

Question

So, I'm a pretty good surfer. My problem is I kinda get really tired. I'm very little. 18 almost 19, but 5'1'' and a 100 pounds. And people say I'm not better at surfing because of that. They say surfers need longer limbs or something. Really? Is that why I'm not better? People just say it's because I'm too little.

Answer 1

On the contrary, the best surfers in the world are smaller. Look at Kelly Slater (three time world champion), he's only 5' 7".

Since surfing is all about having the speed to make sections, excellerate through turns, and launch off the back of a wave; the smaller the surfer, the easier it is for the wave to push him/her.

To get better you just need to spend more time riding. Improving at surfing is all about time on waves, not time in the water. Make sure your actually riding as much as you can and not just waiting for sets or watching friends. You will get better, it just takes a little work.

Answer 2

Remember that MR is 6'2"and Slater 5'7". Two of the best ever. Height makes absoutely no difference.

Answer 3

That's silly, height doesn't matter. You just need to build endurance. Just surf more and as often as you can, you won't get tired as fast. Good luck, and don't let anyone tell you can't! =)

Answer 4

no i know really small people i know and they rip. so i think there just teazing you

Answer 5

...they are trying to discourage YOU...sounds like they might

succeed.

...BUT!!! practice, practice and more practice only make you

capable to surf...

...physical fitness is another requirement for stamina and stroking for a wave and breath control...

...the size of the WAVE and type Break are factors to prove

your own ability to do the tight drops or long, pulling barrels...

...the equipment will be standard issue until you really feel able to handle size of wave, your style of riding and board.

...the only one to stop YOU is YOURSELF...good drops, long

rides and get chambered...enjoy.

Answer 6

being little has NOTHING to do with it. being a bad condition has everything to do with it. Look at how tiny some (most) Olympic women gymnasts are, and look at their strength and endurance.

You need to get into condition. Spend lots more time in the water than you do on line. Run, swim, lift weights or do calisthenics (and yes, lots of women lift weights).

In some ways, being small might be a real advantage, with less body mass, you can ride a smaller, more maneuverable board. Most women don't grow much after 18/19, so figure that is as big as you will get, unless you put on weight (which, if it is muscle, is not necessarily a bed thing).

I am almost 56. i

I am too fat, and my gym membership expired in may, without my noticing. However, I can still surf. I have been swimming in the ocean since I was 6 or 7, so I am sort of 'conditioned' to it. You are young, and I know with enough exercises and proper nutrition, you have it made.

Now, get off the computer and go surfing!

Answer 7

If you are a larger person it is much harder because in order to do cutbacks and stuff u need to have ur knees bent and b low and tight to the board.  If your limbs are longer, its harder because u have to learn not to control your board with your limbs but u must control the board with your body and NOT by swinging ur arms,  i know this kid that does it non stop and i actually beat him in a surf comp because he got minus points for widely swinging his arms around to do moves.

Answer 8

if your shorter your center of ballance in lower, which is good.

if your big beefy and buff, then obviously the hard parts (paddling...) are easier. it really depends.

Answer 9

no, you just need to practise, there are many small surfers out there that are very good. you just need to work alittle harder that the basket ball players!

good luck!

edit. if any thing its better to be small, that way you can ride a shorter board(easier to moves on small waves) also it's better to be small in competitions sometime because you make the wave look bigger.

Answer 10

Being shorter gives you the advantage of a low center of gravity. Rarely do surfers taller than 5'10" crack the top 44 pros.

However, being a girl, you have more narrow shoulders and need a more narrow board for paddling. To make up for that loss of float, get a board a bit thicker so you wont work so hard paddling. Consider more volume in the nose so you don't have to get a longer board and sacrifice your turning radius.

Little Jon Jon Florence is tiny and rips. At the Vans Triple Crown, his problem was not having enough weight to get down the wave in time for the barrel. But I suppose you don't have that problem.

To fight fatigue, eat healthy, exercise for endurance and stay warm out in the water with a good wetsuit and keep paddling for waves to keep your body temp up. Small people get cold easier because they don't have the layer of blubber to insulate them.