How would you learn to surf?

I don't surf on surf boards, but if I wanted to learn, I'd get someone experienced to give me some tips, and see if they would let me tag along. There are a few people around here, who offer surf lessons. Bobby J might be able to tell you were to go to get some basic pointers.

Talk to Jim Caldwell at Ono in Seaside. He'll take you behind the store and have you surfing in 10 minutes.

I wouldn't bet on that, but will look into it!! I've been threatening my family for two years that I'd learn to surf. They laugh. I've decided that 2008 is my year. If I can't learn locally, my last resort will be the Disney surf school.

I've read up a bit and spoken with a few folks. Currently, I am practicing the "pop-up." It is more strenuous than it looks. I kayak in the bay fairly regularly and do nordictrack. I swim in the summer. I don't really do anything that requires balance or too much strength.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Jim has longboards that your granny could ride. They are plenty wide for a walker if you need one. lol

Jim has longboards that your granny could ride. They are plenty wide for a walker if you need one. lol

this might be the laugh of the week.

Jim could definitely teach you how to surf if you can catch him on the beach; he's a great guy and he has a great surf shop. Also, I know a guy of who teaches surfing on a regular basis, his name is Ryan DeVore

Contact Ryan at Kidzbeach. He operates behind Watercolor Inn and in Grayton Beach. Even if you are not a kid I am sure Ryan will teach you for a price. His website has rates and contact information. Here it is:

http://kidzbeach.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Click on the UTUBE video on the home page; it will give you an idea of how you would learn. There are some older guys on it too.

Also try

www.rideonsurf.com
Matt, Vanessa and Reif Cassidy
Ride On Surf School in Destin
850-582-2593


I would wait until spring or summer; it is harder to learn in a wetsuit. Another option is to go to Costa Rica; Nosara in particular; it's an easy wave. There are surf camps that have lessons and there is a lot of surf so you can learn more in a week there than a month here. The shot of me on the left was taken in Costa Rica at Playa Negra.

Don't pass up the opportunity, I have been surfing 30 years and I have done just about every sport out there and surfing is more fun than all of them combined. There is just nothing like it. Good luck and good surfing! Dave

start with a really big, stable board...

Thanks Dave!

Here's the video

YouTube - Summer 2007

I would wait until spring or summer; it is harder to learn in a wetsuit. Another option is to go to Costa Rica; Nosara in particular; it's an easy wave. There are surf camps that have lessons and there is a lot of surf so you can learn more in a week there than a month here. The shot of me on the left was taken in Costa Rica at Playa Negra.

Don't pass up the opportunity, I have been surfing 30 years and I have done just about every sport out there and surfing is more fun than all of them combined. There is just nothing like it. Good luck and good surfing! Dave

Thank you. This is just the kind of information I was looking for! I will definately wait for warmer weather.

Those little kids in the video make it look easy.

First off: Thank you Dave for the vote of confidence, and thank you Kurt for the posts of my 3 small compilations of surfing, skimming, kayaking, and snorkeling that you posted of our summer this year in Watercolor.

My name is Ryan DeVore and I have been providing lessons and instruction on Ocean Sports for over 6 years locally on 30-A.

We do offer lessons and instruction for all ages, not just kids. Kidz Beach is a spring/summer program designed for kids to become introduced to ocean sports and new friends.

We also offer Surf and Skim Skool, which are private lessons for all ages and genders offered by appointment throughout the year.

If anyone has questions, feel free to email me and I would be happy to help you in any way that I can.

I will also post another thread/discussion on surfing that people can ask questions and discuss our local surf and ocean sports.

Cheers!

Oh, and we do get good surf here (as Dave, and Bobby, and the rest of us know) you just have to jump when it shows up. (even for us longboarders)
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Chandler Williams took this of me in Oct. of 2007. (Blue mountain Beach)

Good stuff!

If you didn't already know how to surf, how would you learn here in SoWal? Assume you aren't young and have no surfing friends.

One of the best things you can do is start going to beach when the waves are up. Meeting the surfers and just getting wet. If you follow swell you almost become a weather man. Ask a surfer anytime what the weather will be tomorrow. He/she will always know. Once you begin to understand when swell is in the water you can start showing up at the beaches surfers surf at and probably get some good tips. I think the best way to learn to surf is to learn to paddle around in the water. Once you master that workout you can work into getting up. Standing up on a surfboard is a small part of surfing. Good luck and give Ryan a call. BTW, Ryan great photo!

^^^

One of my goals for 2008 is to set up a surf club. Once I have the format down I will post on SOWAL. Stay tuned....

"SoWal Surf Club"???

Im not sure if it will be that name exactly, but yes there will be a surf club coming soon!