Surfing Questions! Please help.?

Question

Where I live, surfing is a really big thing. I want to learn how to do it so it can give me something to do at the beach. I mean, with all my friends out there catching some waves with their surfboards, i'm doing the same but with a boogie board.. Pretty pathetic i know.

I feel like im not taking advantage of where I live. People would love to be here and surf everyday when i dont even know how..

SO i have a few questions..

-How hard is surfing on a scale of 1-10?

-What can i do OUTSIDE of water to help/prepare me on the real thing (skateboarding, snowboarding, etc)

-Should i wear a wetsuit? Whats recommended for the swimwear?

-Will i be able to reach the bottom of the water? (Im not the best swimmer in the world, but then again im not the worse.)

& any other advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Please help you guys, thanks!

Answer 1

Okay..some good answers here. I'll just add a few things...

Try a larger, thicker board than what  more experienced guys are using. They will float you better, you can paddle easier, and balancing can be easier.

A wetsuit is needed this time of year....get a 3/2mm, a surf shop employee will help you. Remember that wetsuits are very tight and restrict movement but you'll get used to it. In the warmer months you can use a spring suit which is thinner neoprene with short sleeves and legs.

As for exercising...skateboarding is very good. Some people say that an Indo board is good for learning to balance but I've seen people eat sh#t on them hard. Work out with dumbbells to improve arm strenght because your gonna be doing alot of paddling in the beginning. Stretching helps too.

Become a better swimmer and learn to hold your breath longer.

And one more thing,,In Northern San Diego county is a state park called San Onofre. It's TheBEST place to learn because the waves are very mellow even when it's big and there's lots of room so you don't have to worry about crowds.Good luck.

Answer 2

The others did a great job at answering your question, but I would just like to let you know how great it is going to be once you really get yourself into the surf lifestyle. I too got into surfing just as a fun activity to do, but after a while it just becomes a way of life. You will have some of the best times of your life if you stick with surfing, but it will take some patience. The learning curve for surfing is steep, especially in a very competitive environment like southern california. It will be worth all of the effort though.

Best of luck

Answer 3

take a surfing lesson or two

wetsuit will increase bouyancy (easier swimming)

W/S will also protesct you from jellyfish

Good luck!

Answer 4

you body board, you are already familiar with wave structure and dynamics.

la jolla shores, right in front of the parking lot; stay north of the checkered flag or lifeguards will *****

7'6" egg board or anything like it

have a leash

it's december, 3/2 wetsuit will do

walk with your friends to Avenida De La Playa for Jeff's Burgers afterwards

just get out, do it, and have fun.

Answer 5

Oceanside harbor,  Buccaneer Beach in Oceanside

Beacons in Leucadia

Ocean Beach

Surfing is only as hard as you make it.  Just get out as much as you can in small to med. surf and do it, do it, and do it. Surf every chance you get

If it's your thing you'll know it.  It's not just a thing to do it's the ocean letting you have a little fun and adventure.

When you get good don't miss out at Swami's

There is certainly nothing wrong with body boarding either it's just not surfing.

Skateboarding, snowboarding, wind surfing, they all help.

And if it's just too big for you certain days make sure you hang out and see how the locals do it.  Where the breaks are, etc etc.  I've been surfing all my life and I still get stoked watching

Answer 6

San Diego is a good place to learn how to surf.  First, make sure you have the right board.  If you try learning on a short board you'll get frustrated and might want to give up.  Talk to the people in the surf shops to see which board is the best for beginners and your body size.  I would definitely buy a used one.  I would most definitely use a wetsuit since the water temperature this time of year is in the upper 50's.  Summertime it's close to 70 and you can get by without one, but most people will use a spring suit.   Jellyfish aren't a problem in San Diego, but make sure you stir your feet in the sand to scare away any sting rays.  When you're in the water, the surf breaks in pretty shallow water so you should be able to touch the bottom with no problems.  I would try Mission beach when the surf isn't too big.  Surfing is not hard, but it would be much easier if you surfed with someone who already knows how to surf so they can give you pointers on how to position yourself on your board and on the wave.  No matter how good or bad you are, surfing will be one of the funnest things you will ever do!

Answer 7

I'm gonna warn you now, don't go to maveriks.  Now here's what you need to know.

How hard is surfing on a scale of 1-10?:12

What can I do outside of the water to prepare?:indo board, indo boards are about $120 and are basically a board that you balance while riding on a barrel.

Should I wear a wetsuit: right now? yes. during the summer, yes and as for reaching the bottom of the water maybe if you ride near the shore.  I surf so far out I can't even go to the bottom on full breath.  Wel stay safe out there, good luck.

Answer 8

first off, as a surfer myself, on a scale fro  1-10, 10 being the hardest, surfing to begin is about a 1 1/2..... and once you get your first wave, about a negative 13 on hardness.. :)

second, find the right board. one to start off with would be a longboard. and when you are surfing with a longboard, make sure your chest is about where the logo of the board is.  depending on your height a board of about 8-9 feet would be perfect.

third, it really depends, wearing a wetsuit, on the weather. wetsuits are really just worn for warmth, but since you are in cali, i would worry about it. but i would recommend a rash guard ( you can usually find these at Costco easily in the summer, cheap too). don't forget to wax your board too!.

and if you will be able to reach the bottom of the water... it really depends on the beach...

hope i helped! get out there, and have fun... that's the main thing. but may i warn you, once you catch your first wave, you're hooked!

surf's up!