It’s perfectly acceptable and, actually, highly recommended to take a surfing lesson when you’re just picking up the sport. You might think surfing is logical and that you will have the natural ability to pick it up right away, but the reality is that surfing is a very awkward sport when you first start out and there are tons of little tips that you can acquire only from a surf instructing professional.
Surf lessons can be private or in groups and last for about an hour. You will likely ride on a completely foam board that is nearly 10 feet long and very lightweight, which catches waves easily and gives you a lot of float. Most surf schools guarantee that you will stand up on a wave. If you don’t, you can usually come back for another lesson for free until you do. It might appear unnecessary and dorky, but a beginning surf lesson will likely accelerate your surfing ability more than the trial and error of learning on your own. If you go it alone, your learning curve will likely be slower, more painful, and in some cases more dangerous.
Another thing you must keep in mind is that friends who surf are not the same as surf instructors. Some of your friends may have been surfing for years, but if you ask them to go surfing with you to help you learn, they could well be worse than your least favorite middle school teacher. You and your experienced surfing friends might paddle out together, but your friends might leave you treading water at the lineup while they’re catching all the waves.
That’s why you are much better off shelling out the $50 or so for a first lesson. Surf instructors get paid to answer questions and push you into a wave. Their main goal is for you to have a good time while riding your first wave. To take full advantage of the time you have with your instructor, it is advisable to prepare a list of questions you can ask. There’s no limit to the silly or stupid questions you can ask a surf instructor, so fire away.
Surf instructors take their students to beginner surf breaks that are usually a bit crowded. This will be a most humbling experience, but you will be among others who are in the same boat as you. One thing is for certain: Wherever it is you go with your instructor, he or she won’t paddle you out to a break that you can’t handle, so you know you will be safe and taken care of. For this reason, surf lessons ensure that you will paddle back out another day wanting more. Goodness knows you don’t want to be in over your head or get injured and be too scared to try the sport again. So start off on the right foot by taking one surf lesson. Once you get that initial lesson out of the way, you’ll feel far more confident going it alone thereafter.
About the Author:
Robb Bailey works for South Coast Surf Shops, San Diego’s premiere surfboard distributor and surf apparel dealer for more than 30 years. He has been inducted as a lifetime honorary member of his college surf club, the Cal Poly Surfer’s Association, and has traveled the world surfing for the past 11 years. Find out more about Robb at SouthCoast.com
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Surfing Lessons: an Hour Well Spent
|
|
Quiksilver Men’s Perfecta Long Sleeve Surf Tee $31.89 |
|
|
New Womens 7 ROXY”Crunch”Surf Swim Long Board Shorts $32.99 |
|
|
Boys Hurley long sleeve surf brand shirt 6 NWT $24.00 $13.29 |
|
|
Boys Hurley long sleeve surf brand shirt 4 NWT $24.00 $13.29 |
|
|
Nice Linen – Surf Bathing, Long Beach, California c1940 $2.99 |
|
|
Vintage Gotcha Long Sleeve Shirt Large Blue White Surf $25.00 |
|
|
RASH GUARD Long Sleeve Anti-UV Dive Surf Snorkel #14 $21.99 |
|
|
RASH GUARD Long Sleeve Lycra Shirt Dive Surf Snorkeling $21.99 |
|
|
LONG BOARD COMPLETE SKATE SURF BRAND NEW TURBO $80.99 |
|
|
FCS Auto Surf Racks Soft 1-3 Boards Long Short Used 1x $0.99 |
|
|
Surf Board Ocean Gear custom long board 7′ 4″ $225.00 |
|
|
RASH GUARD Mens NEW Surf wetsuit XL X-Large LONG SLEEVE $23.98 |
|
|
Quiksilver Boys XL Long Sleeved T-shirt skateboard surf $5.99 |
|
|
QUIKSILVER SURF ✦LONG SLEEVE✦ SHIRT ▶NEW◀ BOYS L (14/16 $5.25 |
|
|
OCEAN SURF BATHING LONG BEACH, CA 1904 $19.97 |
|
|
New Womens 3 ROXY”Cinch”Surf Swim Long Board Shorts $32.99 |
|
|
New Womens 0 ROXY”Cinch”Surf Swim Long Board Shorts $25.99 |
|
|
New Womens 5 ROXY”Cinch”Surf Swim Long Board Shorts $32.99 |
|
|
SURF LONG BOARD BEACH USA SPORT OUTLET COVER PLATE #4 $5.99 |
|
|
Surf Dogs “Hanalei”, size”M”, Long sleeve $6.50 |
|
|
Deluxe Beach Pool Surf Swim Float Mat 72″ Long – NEW! $12.99 |
|
|
NEW WIGGLE SKATEBOARD long street wave skate surf board $9.99 |
|
|
SPLIT MENS SURF SHIRT SZ.MED.LONG SLEEVE BUTTON SHIRT N $12.00 |
|
|
Men’s Hollister Surf Shop Long Sleeve T-Shirt Tee Red $5.00 |
|
|
LONG GONE DADDY O’s Married 7″ NEW surf estrus mummies $5.99 |
|
|
NEW NWT Mens M Long Tropical Cargo Surf Shorts IN GEAR $1.95 |
|
|
Bathing in The Surf-Greetings from Long Beach,Ca. UDB $13.99 |
|
|
ROXY Jr. Womens 3 Long Boardshorts Surf Shorts PRFCT $3.99 |
|
|
New Skeleton Woman Surf Too Long Statue Figure Skeleton $23.99 |
|
|
New Pc Topper Surf Too Long Skull Head Figure Statue $19.99 |
|
|
VTG RON JON SURF SHOP SKATE LONG BEACH ISLAND NJ SHIRT $9.99 |
|
|
New Skeleton Woman Surf Too Long Collectible Sculpture $14.99 |
|
|
New Pc Topper Surf Too Long Statues Sculpture Skeleton $13.99 |
|
|
New Long Yellow Foamie Board SurfBoard Surf, GREAT DEAL $78.95 |
|
|
Long Board Surf Fin 10″ – 10 Colours To Choose From! $49.61 |
|
|
NWT Quicksliver Long Sleeve Surf ShirtL Boys Med BLACK $9.99 |
|
|
NWT Quicksliver Long Sleeve Surf Shirt 14-16 Lg HOT $9.99 |
|
|
RASH GUARD Long Sleeve Lycra Shirt Dive Surf Snorkeling $21.99 |
|
|
KOMBI SURF Long BOARD BEACH WAVE VW Camper Hippie ART $17.99 |
|
|
! Necklace Real Shark Tooth Vintage Surf Long Board N3 $0.89 |
|
|
“Surf Too Long” Skeleton Figure – Internet Laptop Skull $11.95 |
|
|
BOYS SURF STREET LONG BOARD RIDERS SWIMSUIT NWT M 5 / 6 $5.99 |
|
|
SKELETON/SKULL – SURF TOO LONG STATUE/FIGURINE *DETAIL $15.00 |
|
|
RASH GUARD Long Sleeve Anti-UV Dive Surf Snorkel #8 $21.99 |
|
|
! Necklace Real Shark Tooth Vintage Surf Long Board N3 $6.24 |
|
|
RASH GUARD Long Sleeve Lycra Shirt Dive Surf Snorkeling $21.99 |
|
|
SURF LONG BOARD BEACH USA SPORT DOUBLE SWITCH PLATE #2 $6.99 |
|
|
Burton analog dress shirt skate surf long sleeve RVCA $12.50 |
|
|
ROXY SURF LONG RED WRAP SCARF SIGNATURE SNOW BOARD SKI $0.99 |
|
|
! Necklace Real Shark Tooth Vintage Surf Long Board N3 $0.99 |
|
|
mens AMERICAN EAGLE surf long BOARD SHORTS gray 32 $8.99 |
|
|
Large & Super LONG Genuine Surf Tumbled Sea Glass GREY $4.95 |
|
|
BILLABONG LONG SHOT 2 Boardshorts 32 FLORAL surf shorts $47.99 |
|
|
3 Diff Postcards of People Surf Fishing,1-Long Island $1.25 |
|
|
LONG BEACH CA Surf Motel Apts 1950’s Vtg Car Postcard $6.00 |
|
|
NEW WIGGLE SKATEBOARD long street wave skate surf board $9.99 |
|
|
Deluxe Beach Pool Surf Swim Float Mat 72″ Long ORANGE $11.99 |
|
|
Deluxe Beach Pool Surf Swim Float Mat 72″ Long PINK $11.99 |
|
|
NEW WIGGLE SKATEBOARD long street wave skate surf board $9.99 |
|
|
NWT HURLEY COSTA MESA CA SURF LONG SLEEVE SHIRT BOYS 3T $29.99 |
|
|
Surf and Rocks by Long Island Artist Elliot Brooks $299.00 |
|
|
SURF LONG BOARD BEACH USA SPORT OUTLET COVER PLATE #3 $4.99 |
|
|
BILLABONG LONG SHOT 2 Boardshorts 34 FLORAL surf shorts $47.99 |
|
|
Charlie Don’t Surf! Shirt Air Cavalry Apocalypse Now $18.99 |
|
|
Charlie Don’t Surf! Shirt Air Cavalry Apocalypse Now $18.99 |
|
|
Charlie Don’t Surf! Shirt Air Cavalry Apocalypse Now $18.99 |
|
|
Charlie Don’t Surf! Shirt Air Cavalry Apocalypse Now $18.99 |
|
|
Charlie Don’t Surf! Shirt Air Cavalry Apocalypse Now $21.50 |
|
|
Charlie Don’t Surf! Shirt Air Cavalry Apocalypse Now $21.50 |
|
|
Charlie Don’t Surf! Shirt Air Cavalry Apocalypse Now $21.50 |
|
|
Charlie Don’t Surf! Shirt Air Cavalry Apocalypse Now $21.50 |
|
|
Necklace Real Shark Tooth Vintage Surf Long Board N3 $15.99 |
|
|
Hurley Industries Long Sleeve T shirt Surf Size XL $0.99 |
|
|
*BOYS* QUIKSILVER SURF Blue Long Sleeve Sweatshirt Sz S $4.99 |
|
|
Salty Liquid Tech Surf Surfing Long Sleeve T-Shirt M $9.49 |
|
|
SURF T-Shirt, S-L XL 2XL 3XL 4XL 5XL 6XL 7XL 8XL & Tall $17.95 |
|
|
SURF T-Shirt, S-L XL 2XL 3XL 4XL 5XL 6XL 7XL 8XL & Tall $17.95 |
|
|
RALPH LAUREN BOARD SURF LONG SHORTS NWT RLXMENNAUT LOGO $50.00 |
|
|
AXIST SURF SOFT MEN’S LONG SLEEVE BUTTON FRONT SHIRT XL $14.99 |
|
|
Vintage Cadillac Surf long sleeve surf street wear t-sh $14.95 |
|
|
NEW WIGGLE SKATEBOARD long street wave skate surf board $9.99 |
|
|
KITE board snowboard surf New long sleeve T-shirt XXL $17.00 |
|
|
New Mens BILLABONG Blue Long Sleeve Surf Shirt Small $17.99 |
|
|
The Breakers and Surf Long Beach CA Postcard 1915 $4.99 |
|
|
NEW ROXY SYNCRO LONG SLEEVE WETSUIT SURF TOP 8 PINK $22.50 |
|
|
NEW BILLABONG surf logo long sleeve fall shirt 2T $7.50 |
|
|
NEW WIGGLE SKATEBOARD long street wave skate surf board $9.99 |
|
|
Quicksilver Surf And Skate Long Sleeve T-Shirt M $9.79 |
|
|
New! Boys Guess (Skate,Surf) Long Sle Shirt – Sz 12 mo $10.79 |
|
|
New! Boys Hurley (Skate,Surf) Long Sle Shirt – Sz 6 mo $12.79 |
|
|
LONG BEACH CA SURF MOTEL & APTS 2010 E OCEAN BLVD $3.99 |
|
|
vintage 70s Brown STRIPED POLO T Shirt long sleeve surf $24.99 |
|
|
LONG BEACH, CA SURF AND BATH HOUSE 1909 $12.97 |
|
|
NEW Rip Curl Long Sleeve Hoody Sweatshirt Surf Surfing $25.00 |
|
|
New 9′2 Epoxy Longboard Surfboard Surf Long board PVC $499.00 |
|
|
SURF LONG BOARD BEACH USA SPORT OUTLET COVER PLATE #1 $4.99 |
|
|
**NEW 9′2 Epoxy Longboard Surfboard Surf long board** $425.00 |
|
|
NEW 9′4 Epoxy Longboard Surfboard Surf long board $425.00 |
|
|
OP Ocean Pacific Surf & Skate Long Sleeve T-Shirt XL $9.89 |
|
|
Lincoln city surf shop long sleeve tee surfboard oregon $27.00 |
|
|
Roxy Blue Hibiscus Flower Teen Girls Duvet Sham Set $79.99 Paradise Stripe Duvet Set – Multi Any surfer girl would be happy to come home and fall into a bed decorated with this lovely Paradise Stripe duvet cover set! Based on the designs of the celebrated young women?s sporting apparel brand Roxy, the Paradise Stripe duvet cover set spotlights cool, sea-inspired shades of cerulean blue and lime green accented with white and black. The face of the duvet co… |
|
|
Girls Roxy Teen Pink Brown Green Dots Bed in a Bag $149.99 Seeing Spots Bed in a Bag – MultiThe face of the comforter and the shams features large scale painterly dots in aqua, lime, magenta and chocolate on a white ground. The aqua dots are embellished with Roxy?s heart-shaped logo. The 200 TC sheet set features the Roxy name in chocolate, petal pink, magenta and aqua on a white ground. A coordinating 20-by-54 inch body pillow cover features the Roxy na… |
|
|
Girls Roxy Teen Aqua Teal Lime Stripe Bed in a Bag $149.99 Summer Daze Bed in a Bag – MultiThe face of the comforter and shams features large horizontal stripes with diagonal bands of white polka dots, punctuated by the Roxy heart-shaped logo in teal. The 200 TC cotton sheet set features a stylized version of the Roxy name creating an all over chain-like geometric design in aqua on a white ground; the same pattern is used in two-tone teal on the 20-by-54… |
|
|
Love Song for Bobby Long $11.54 A Love Song for Bobby Long: Soundtrack… |
|
|
That Lucky Old Sun (+3 Bonus Tracks) $28.99 Includes 3 bonus tracks – including two duets with Carole King! Track listing: 1. That Lucky Old Sun 2. Morning Beat 3. Narrative: Room With A View 4. Good Kind Of Love 5. Forever She’ll Be My Surfer Girl 6. Narrative: Venice Beach 7. Live Let Live / That Lucky Old Sun (Reprise) 8. Mexican Girl 9. Narrative: Cinco De Mayo 10. California Role / That Lucky Old Sun (Reprise) 11. Narrative: Between Pi… |
|
|
Wordz $19.95 Journey to the Canary Islands, a terraqueous volcanic chain off the coast of Africa, check out the latest winter action at California’s classic point break, Rincon and experience the renaissance of surfing in Waikiki. See candid profiles of today hottest surfers; drop in on the current world champion, the always-functional Colin McPhillips, witness iconoclastic Joel Tudor ride evolutionary equipme… |
|
|
Flip’s Kryp Clips, Vol. 2 H30 TV’s Surf Sessions is a hard core surfing program featuring Hawaii’s hottest surf spots and surfers. Produced on Hawaii’s famed North Shore. Flip’s Kryp Clips are the choice sessions of these shows. So, drop in and enjoy the ultimate Hawaiian Heavy Water experience!… |
|
|
LongBoard Surfing Magazine Presents: On Fire – The Bear Hawaiian Pro Longboard Invitational The Triple Crown of surfing tests the mettle of the worlds’s best longboarders amid the challenge of Hawaiian winter waves. See blaxing performances from Joel Tudor, Bonga Perkins, Duane DeSoto and Kanoa Dahlin…. |
|
|
Flip’s Kryp Clips, Vol. 3 H30 TV’s Surf Sessions is a hard core surfing program featuring Hawaii’s hottest surf spots and surfers. Produced on Hawaii’s famed North Shore. Flip’s Kryp Clips are the choice sessions of these shows. So, drop in and enjoy the ultimate Hawaiian Heavy Water experience!… |
|
|
Scattered Archives Longboard Surfing DVD by Kyle MacLennan Featuring Longboarding at Malibu, Mexico and Central America $29.95 Kyle MacLennan, the producer of Perch, releases his new longboard film Scattered Archives featuring state of the art longboarding from Malibu Cove to Mainland Mexico and beyond. Kyle MacLennan’s new film, Scattered Archives, is an ode to the itinerant longboarder. From his home base in Malibu, California, Kyle and friends hit the road on an extensive trip through Baja, Mainland Mexico and on into… |
