Bodyboard To Surfing And What Are Some Good Surfboards?
Thursday, September 24th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Okay I have been bodyboarding for while and i want to try surf… I am 6′ 200 lbs 25 year old guy with great athleticism… Is 25 too late to learn surfing? Plus how hard is to surf compare to bodyboarding… I have no problem catching waves on a bodyboard… And lastly what kind of board should I start with in socal… Honestly don’t wanna start with fun or longboards… Thanks for reading!
Category: Learn to Surf
September 24th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Certainly at 25 you are not too old. My son-in-law didn’t start to surf until he was 25. However, he was (like you) very athletic, and he was an accomplished sailboarder.
Lessons are the best way to start. Lessons can come from a professional instructor, or surfing family members or experienced surfing friends. 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. The last thing experienced surfers want is for inexperienced people to just grab a board, rush into the surf and get in our way. Lessons shorten the learning curve significantly. And they help keep ignorant, un-prepared kooks out of the water and out of the way of more experienced surfers.
Beginners should take advantage of renting boards and wetsuits while taking lessons. If it turns out you don’t like surfing, you haven’t wasted a whole lot of money on gear that you are not going to use. When you are ready to buy, don’t waste your time on line, go to a good local surf shop to discuss your size (weight is import, height isn’t), skill level and local wave conditions. After over 43 years of surfing, I still get my surfboard buying advice from good local shops in the places where i surf.
Almost ALL instructors will start you off on a longboard. It is just too difficult for most people to learn how to surf on a short board. Most get quickly discouraged, and just quit. Now, over the years, I have seen some young surfers start out on short boards and master them in time. But it’s just common sense to learn on a long board.
When you are ready to buy please avoid popouts in general, and especially popouts made in third world country sweat shops by People who have probably never seen the ocean.
Here is a list of sweat shop popouts:http://bp3.blogger.com/_hPACOtZKKko/RkST…
And here is why to avoid ALL popouts:http://www.mckevlins.com/nopopstory.htm
Anybody who would give you SPECIFIC advice as to what size or type board to buy on-line is foolish. Anybody who would take that advice is more foolish
And, I know there are lots of nice kids who want to share information with you on line. But don’t take the advice from youngsters, who may know even less than you do about surfing, a surfboard is a big investment. I hope you are mature enough to read through the BS that lots of people throw at you on line. You don’t know anywhere near enough about surfboards to by one from an on-line web site without getting disappointed. Don’t waste your time on line, go straight to the source, a good local shop
September 24th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
You’re starting on a longboard, especially at your size, now swallow your “pride” and do it… paddling for waves is completely different and then you have to pop up which is also completely different than bodyboarding, there’s really no way for you to be able to start on a shortboard. Feel free to give me a thumbs down and buy a shortboard, but you’ll just end up giving up and not get into surfing… Believe me, every surfer had to learn somewhere (with me, it was an 8′0 sponge that I still paddle out into almost double overhead surf frequently when I don’t want to shorboard)
September 24th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Its pretty hard to learn at your age. You need serious dedication to be good. I would start with a longboard. You will have more fun and get better much quicker. If you want to start with a shorter board, try a 6,7 squash tail about 2.5 inches think and 19inches wide. That will allow you to get the feel of a shorter board before going to a more high performance model.
The honest truth is, that if you are 6′ and 200 pounds, you are probably a little too muscular or fat to be a good surfer, especially in so cal little waves. If you were in Hawaii you would be OK, but it is weak down here. The lean and mean guys are better suited for these waves. You might need to shave a few pounds, which surfing can help you do.
Good luck. And know your own ability, dont paddle out to the best break and start dropping in on guys, you’re gonna have a bad time.
Best,
J
September 25th, 2009 at 1:36 am
When I was learning to surf I found that the hardest part was popping up onto my feet after catching the wave without falling off. Surfing is a lot harder than bodyboarding, but 25 is definately not too old to learn. It sounds like your pretty tall I would get a board thats at least about your same size, small boards are really hard to balance on when starting out. When I learned, I lived in Virginia Beach though so Im sure the waves in Cali are a lot bigger. Its a lot of fun, and I hope you like it.