Surfing for the first time tomarrow...any tips for me??

Question

Well im 18, male, and ive done pretty much every land sport...skateboarding, snowboardin, u name it...but not many water sports and ive always wanted to surf...im going to be renting one tomarrow and surfing for the first time tomarrow...im not going to be getting any lessons so if anyone has anything tips and could tell me what to do in the water and beforehand like how much of that wax i should put on it and such...........thanks

Answer 1

I love to surf, and I am really happy when other people learn to enjoy surfing, too. But what you are saying worries me a bit. You say you aren't into water sports. Well, 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. 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.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=F-P50PreKlU&f...

Lessons are usually the best way to start, unless you have lots of pals who surf who can teach you.  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.

I learned how to surf on my own, but that was 42 years ago, and there were a lot fewer people in the water. The line up wasn't crowded, and older guys and my friends spent time being informal instructors. And aside from that, I had spent years before that swimmming, body surfing and body boarding in the ocean. By 13 or 14 I had years of ocean swimming experience. I spent almost all of my teen years, swimming, sailing, surfing, scuba diving and fishing.

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 56, 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. Instead of worrying about how much wax to use, you should be learning how to handle yourself in the water, and how to stay safely out of the way of real surfers.

Skateboarding and snowboarding can help you with the balance aspects of surfing. But these sports are no where at all like surfing. You have to know how to paddle out, get into the line up, then at the right time, paddle and catch a wave. It's only once you stand up the the balance issue becomes important. Swimming ability is the most essential part of surfing.

There are far too many people in the water today, who are lacking the water skills to surf safely. There are also too many people in the water today who have no idea about surf etiquette, who get in the way of more excperienced surfers, creating bad feelings and dangerous conditions.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=1Nk_ewTk3Us

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 2

if ur  surfer for the first time, you need someone with you that knows how to surf

maybe a friend or a random surfer

but dont get on your knees right before you stand up, cause you will lose your balance and fall

put enough wax to allow your feet to grip the board

Answer 3

well if you are surfing for the first time tommorrow you definetly want to rent a longboard,do not rent a short board because its less bouyant and more for addvanced surfers.rent a longboard because its the easiest to learn to ride and you can catch a wave no matter what surf there is.

-p.o.h.(peace out hoe)

Answer 4

If you're not taking a lesson, get a friend who knows how to surf to help you.  Catching a wave and getting up are not easy if you've never done it before (and even if you have).  When you take a lesson, the instructor would hold your board as the wave approaches and give you a "boost" to give you momentum to help catch the wave.  Depending on the waves, I've seen some surf schools basically guide the student's board as they pop up to their feet.  This really helps the student get the feel of standing up while the instructor helps keep the board stable.

If you're our there alone, paddle like heck and just try to stand.  I predict you'll fall a lot.  Have fun!

Answer 5

to be perfectly honest with you, one important thing you should do---stay out of the way of other surfers. in a crowded lineup is the LAST place you want to be while learning to surf.

Answer 6

-you can never have too much wax on the board. when applying the wax, its better if you rub it on the board in a circular motion.

-I always throw sand on my board (after waxing it) so that it makes the board rough (that way I have a better grip on it when I catch a wave)

-make sure you wear a wetsuit or rashguard + boardshorts so that you don't get a rash.

-make sure that there is a leash with the board. (leash attaches to your backfoot... incase you didn't know, haha)

-when paddling to catch that wave, don't just expect the wave to give you a ride. You have to paddle hard until you actually feel the wave take hold of your board.

Don't give up paddling though.

well, these are just some small tips you should know when surfing

Good luck  :)