Beginners Guide To Surfing - Express The Learning Curve Lesson 1
There a few steps you need to take when learning to surf.
1: Start with the right surfboard
2: Practice how to paddle on your surfboard
3: 3rd learn how to duck dive or roll
4: 4th catch that first wave
5: And finally how to pop up, or stand up
I would like to cover these steps in a few different articles, so in this article I will start at the beginning, how to choose the perfect surfboard for a beginner. Now unless you got money and time to burn, don't go out and buy the best looking board in the shop, start out with a low quality board you can ding up.
You can get yourself a brand new surfboard after you got your balance on a big old board. So the first thing to look for is size, you want something with plenty of floatation. If the board is to small it will also sink and create more drag when paddling, the bigger the board, the more floataion you will have, and the bigger you are, the more floatation you will need.
I suggest starting out on a big board first, you will be able to get your balance faster, and then move to a smaller board sooner. Look for something above 6ft 8inches long, 7ft to 8ft is a good starting size. If you intend to ride long boards then you can go much longer look for a Malibu up to around 12 ft.
The larger the board is, the harder it will be to turn, manoeuver, and get out past the breakers. So your first board should not necessairly be oversized, or cost a fortune. Get a cheap 7ft or 8ft board that has a few dings, this will just be to learn on, and once you've mastered the basics you can trade it in. When choosing your first board, dings don't mater, however you don't want the foam showing. If the fibreglass is peeling off, water will get into the foam, and weigh the board down. So don't choose anything too fancy, but make sure its going to float, and can be paddled easily.
Whatever board you buy, remember it should be at least 2-3 inches thick and at least 19-24 inches wide. You don't want a board built for manoeuvrability, tricks and turns, because they are lighter and require more skill to ride. So don't worry about the shape or number of fins.
Next make sure you get a good leg rope. You have to have a legrope, it will save your life. Stay away from big surf untill you get used to your board, and have some experience. The legrope can fling the board back at you in big swells, but you really should not be out there when starting out anyway.
A leg rope is essential for any beginner, and even the pros should have one. You see the ocean is a treacherous place, you may be a strong swimmer in a pool, but the ocean has hidden dangers. When you fall from your board, and you will fall, you wont have time to grab it before the wave takes it away, and you will be stuck without floatation.
Even the strongest of swimmers, will use up a lot of energy and time, trying to reach their board. The surfboard will be light enough for the waves to pick it up and move it away, however you will have to much drag in the water. Besides the obvious danger, of the sweep taking you into a rip, the hassle of swimming into shore will ruin any session, trust me you don't want to be stuck without a surfboard.
When choosing a leg rope, get something reliable and strong. Unlike your first board you want quality, this is your life saver. You can keep this, and transfer it to your new board once you get it, so don't worry about it being wasted on an old board. Also don't get something to long, the longer the rope the more tension it can build up to spring the board back at you with force. Stay under 8ft.
Now you should have a surfboard picked out, big, old, and cheap. So it's time to practice, read the next few articles in the series, then head out with your mates.
