Anyone got any experience / advice?
Somewhere warm ideally.
Ta.
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Surfing Holiday for beginners?
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Posted 4 months ago #
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It's a bit like snowboarding / skiing. Well worth doing the basic learning in the UK and stepping up from there. It is more about practice, practice, practice than anything else I've done.
Loads in Devon, Cornwall, Wales and once you're in a wetsuit and wet, you're warm anyway.Posted 4 months ago # -
Go somewhere where there is lost of other things to do - it is amazingly hard work as a beginner and you will want breaks (well I found I did). After about 3 hours I was exhausted. I did manage to catch a few waves though which I was very happy about.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Costa Rica, Pacific coast
Posted 4 months ago # -
I stood up on a sponger years ago, skated for years and successfully snowboarded without lessons so personally not too worried... not so sure about the Mrs.
Just fancy it as an alternative to pure beach holiday hence the warmth.
Posted 4 months ago # -
My sister has been with Atlantic Riders in Portugal 3 times (the first time with no surf experience at all) and loved it...
Edited to say it wont be warm there at the moment, summertime only for sure!
Posted 4 months ago # -
Posted 4 months ago #
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Just head to Vigo in Galicia, Spain.
Take a 5.3 with you and get wet.
Posted 4 months ago # -
We went here a few years ago.
http://www.sagresnatura.com/surfcamp/index.html I'd recommend them. We went in february, they thought it was freezing, the sea was about 15C and the air about 20C. Which IME is comparable to a Devon summer.
I'm fit, and a strong swimmer but I didn't manage more than 3-4 hours in the water a day so you'll want something else to do. It was the off season when we were there so v. quite but I like that.
Morocco is a good option so I'm told. I've surfed in NZ too but that's a little bit far as is Australia but I heard a rumor of some good beaches.
In this country my recommendation for a beginners beach would be Saunton sands. V. Quite, huge with a nice gentle long break so it's easy to catch waves and then you get a decent ride. I've found some breaks to be too steep for learners as by the time you've caught the wave, stood up you then need to be somewhere else as the shoulder has moved on. Makes it very hard.
Most of my surfing experience is sat in a kayak, but I've occasionally dabbled with a board out of curiosity.
Posted 4 months ago # -
A great place to learn is Sri Lanka, laid back waves, warm water no real dangers. Also some better waves for if you improve..
Posted 4 months ago # -
Cheers, some great info' there. Now to convince the lady... who wants to go skiing but I'm silly busy at work until April
Posted 4 months ago # -
Morocco
+1 for saunton
Errant Surfing?!? do holidays and seem a good setup (no personal experience)
or Scarborough in February for the hardcore introduction
Posted 4 months ago # -
I would suggest a basic course in the uk along the lines of 3 consequtive days with a 2 hour lesson each day maybe hire a board and practice a bit on top depending on how fit you are.
It really uses muscles that you are unlikely to use in general life and really takes its toll.
A couple of 3 hour lessons is enough to get the basics under your belt, then it is just a lifetime of practice ahead of you.
I learnt at Polzeath in cornwall and the surf school their wass excellent as I am sure are most.
Posted 4 months ago # -
went with http://www.surfsouthwest.com/ to Biarritz - waves, local facilities etc. and Rapture Surf to Morocco - again great company but I'd say for a total beginner not right as they weren't 1:1 tuition.
Start swimming or pushups now.
With a decent wetsuit everywhere is warm (*IMHO)
If you have a localish 'place' I suggest starting there with local surf shop etc. You do need tuition to get basics right but after that it's practice, practice, practice.
Saunton is a nice break.
edit (after 'pure' beach hol) if you want a watersports beginner holiday Sunsail/Neilson do windsurfing/dinghy (and mtb) etc and I'm pretty sure you can holiday and book a course so maybe if you google trawl there'll be a surf company doing ditto. Also think can have a non participating partner and they have a few hot locations.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Saunton is good but you need to go during the week when it's less crowded. You can virtually walk out to the breaking wave and that saves your arms a bit. Get a 9'6'' mal, easier to paddle, catch smaller waves further out the back and more forgiving of errors. Make sure your wetsuit fits properly otherwise that can be exhausting and/or chafing. Spend lots of time practicing the pop up move on dry land.
Posted 4 months ago # -
There used to be a bloke on here .....
Posted 4 months ago # -
geoffj - I was just thinking about him.
RIP SmurfMat
Posted 4 months ago # -
just buy the t-shirt like everyone else, its easier! ; )
sarcasm aside, i'd go ask the question on magic seaweed if you are set on abroad. basically you just need to go somewhere with a reputable school, canaries would be a good call if you could find a location with such a school. warm water, weather and cheap to get to. maybe look at massapolomas on gran canaria.
in the uk, just take your pick from any of the main surfing areas. i was at a beach today, horrid conditions, and a surf school was out with around a half dozen total beginners.
i'd watch the biggest is best advice as well, you can go to big and you can go too small. it all depends on your fitness, size, weight and agility.
wherever you go respect the locals, learn the rules and learn to handle your board not dump it at the first sight of 6cm of foam like so many do these days...
http://ross-phillips-surfs.com/2011/the-pecking-order/
if you head down to cornwall give me a shout and i'll point you in the right direction.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Bali. Nuf said.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Basque country, you can nip off for some quality mountain biking too.
Posted 4 months ago # -
surfing is for hippies... you're not a hippy are you?!
(are you on bouncy bike tomorrow? torm is joining us so should be a good size group
)
Posted 4 months ago # -
What happened to surfmatt???
Posted 4 months ago #
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