Hi all fellow paddlers,

Even though I’ve been wind surfing and kite boarding in waves for the last 25 years, I must admit, I’ve never learnt the art of surfing.

I’m at the stage of catching a few waves now and then but never consistently.
I’m aware it all takes time and practice, but is there any DVD’s etc out there available for entry level surfing?

Any help would be appreciated.

Ian
Mt Gambier

I'm a fairly competent although not very talented surfer and I started fairly late in life. I guess I can't do all the snappy moves but I can catch waves and get satisfying rides. Normally if I take a new surfboard out the first few waves are really good and confidence building.

I had my first session in the surf on a SUP and I found it quite difficult at first. On a small wave on a surfboard you paddle along a bit, wait until the tail starts to lift, give a few quick strokes and pop to your feet and off you go. It's very easy to spin around and stroke into a late takeoff on a small wave.

With the SUP I found it difficult to maintain direction and timing the burst of acceleration to get going and catch the wave. If I was too late with the acceleration it was hard to overcome the inertia of the big board. If I was too early I needed to swap the paddle to maintain direction and speed. I'm sure it only requires a bit more practise but it wasn't super easy first up.

Paddling out was easy and fun and popping over waves was easy. Sometimes I would paddle on my knees just for a few strokes to get some momentum up. Getting caught side on meant a drop in the drink but the waves were small and I didn't take a beating.

On the plus side, once I worked things out I was catching waves 20 metres further out than the few other surfers and ride much further in. When I caught waves I gave myself a couple of hoots which is not something I normally do :) . Between sets I could cruise about and check out the reef and stay comfy warm in a light wetsuit.

The other thing that was a little difficult was recognising catchable waves. It's easy to see sets when you're standing there but some of the smaller waves are almost invisible until they hit the reef and suck out. They are perfectly ridable on a SUP as long as you can recognise them and get up to speed far enough out.

My plan is to practise kick turns and hard acceleration from rest. I think this would make a big difference in wave count on small waves.

Sounds great JonathanC...btw...SHQ are organizing a big week of wind/kite surfing and SUP'ing this Nov at Sandy Point..Just up the road from Waratah Bay.

It should be good.

DJ

Ahuh! The 11'2 UB crew are finally emerging
Welcome fellas
Dreams are made of peeling empty waves. Ingredients... just add water 11'2

hey Ian, will give you a call next couple of days about bridgy, narrawong is probably better, just a bit more hollow, so need to pick the right one or you get hammered, keen as to check out pebbles, if its too big for the sup will take out my shortboard. Where is it ?