Forum menu
I'm potentially going for a weeks' surfing in the summer, which is something I've never done before. For obvious reasons it might be a good idea to learn to swim first, which is something I never learned to do as a kid.
I'm not afraid of water, and I'm comfortable briefly going under the water. I just can't float or make forward progress.
I've got 6 months to learn, and I'll need to pass a swim test (100m, followed by 2 minutes treading water, all while wearing coveralls). What's my chances?
If you keep turning up and putting the effort in I'm sure you can do it.
Good !
6 months should see you ok with the level of confidence you have.
Try to go in between lessons though to practice what you were taught ..that will make a huge difference .
Best of luck
I learnt in my 30s in less than 6 months. Get to an adult class, you'll be fine.
Yes. I taught myself from the book Total Immersion..It's a great book..
I could already do a little bit of breast stroke but went from swimming one length and the lifeguard asking if I was ok!! - to doing around 100+ mostly front crawl lengths in an hour.
I used a keyhole float to get the correct movement and breathing etc.
Just stick at it, and go regularly, in between lessons.
Get a monthly pass for the pool so it works out cheap if you don't have a gym membership.
Even if you only go and do 10 minutes some days, just keep practicing. Some days you will hate it.
You will get there.
I could do "save my life " breast stroke, but at the age of 45 was talked into doing a triathlon, so had to learn crawl. It took a while to get it so that I could do 4 lengths none stop. Then it was just a case of stretching the number of lengths out bit by bit.
Did my first Ironman triathlon at age 49 with a 2.4 mile swim in 1 hou 18 minutes.
It was actually a really good thing to learn a whole new skill at a ripe old age.
I learned at 20.
Apparently I now look a natural....
Can do 750m in 11-12 minutes in a triathlon situation now.
Had a very good coach though and I swear that was the key. Self teaching only gets you so far.
Wife's just taken up masters swimming and is making huge leaps and bounds with her swimming - she could swim before but now she can "swim"
I learnt around the age of 25.
I'm not confident in water, but was swimming in perhaps 5 or 6 lessons...
Once I could swim, regular visits to the pool along with continuing lessons, really helped!
Get something booked!
Biggest difference for me was just putting the lengths in (along with some reading up). After a while it started to make sense and got a lot easier
29. Self taught ok at breast stroke but poor at front crawl. Only this year (39 now) learned to swim underwater without a nose clip. Always wanted to do a try but was put off. If i did i would want prof lessons.
You have a great goal to aim for mate!
I can't surf but I would spend while days down in Cornwall body boarding during or camping holidays.
Laying on the board and seeing a huge grey wall of water coming at you is both scary and hugely exhilarating all at once!
Man, I miss Cornwall and the beaches there. 🙁
Thanks for the encouragement! Funny you should mention Cornwall; I suspect it'll be Newquay we'll be going to. Don't think I've ever been down that (certainly not since I was a kid, anyway).
Despite spending lots of time in a pool as a kid, I didn't learn until I was 22. 8 Weeks basic training was what it took, fancy joining the Navy and not being able to swim! I didnt get much stick at all...
I still only swim breast stroke 24 years later, but it does me just fine.
Duffer - Member
Thanks for the encouragement! Funny you should mention Cornwall; I suspect it'll be Newquay we'll be going to. Don't think I've ever been down that (certainly not since I was a kid, anyway).
I knew it would be Newquay!
You'll love it bud!
Most of the body boarding I used to do was just one cove away from where you'll be surfing,a fantastic beach, Crantock.
Check it out if you get the chance. You can hire boards from there too.
If you just don't get on with surfing just buy a cheap body board as it's much easier to learn and still a massive buzz when you get a big wave!
More so perhaps as you're down in the water so the waves appear much bigger from that angle.
You'll never forget the first time a big wave crashes on top of you and you're thrown around like your in a washing machine!
Just remember, the human body is naturally buoyant... You will come back to the surface. 😀