SKIMMER looking to learn SURFING

**hxcskim** · 06-27-2007, 10:26 PM

I wanna learn to surf but im a good skimmer. im thinkin about buyin a used board, should i get a short board, soft top, or wutever? im not sure i just dont wanna make a mistake and not be able to ride it. i took lessons years ago and the most trouble i had was with standing up and making the drop. any help?

**sloskimmer** · 06-27-2007, 10:45 PM

Whatever you do don't get a soft top. An easy board to start on would be like a 7'4" fun board and then you can always progress to a smaller board once you have the basics down.

**UmmmmIdk** · 06-27-2007, 10:51 PM

just practice on a friends board and see if it is worth the investment, im sure if u skim one of ur friends u skim with has a board.

**Mmm... Pasta** · 06-27-2007, 11:05 PM

Get something somewhere between 6'4" and 7'8" (depending on your size) and be ready to go over the falls a couple time. Then you'll start getting it. Have fun!

**Jim Gordon** · 06-27-2007, 11:26 PM

Once you stand up it will feel like a XXXXXXXL skim, it will turn a lot slower, so be ready for that. The hard part will be catching the wave and standing up!!! The bigger the board the easyer to catch waves, but the bigger the board the slower it turns

**doug** · 06-28-2007, 07:33 AM

you gotta start on a funboard, something a little over 7'. If you are a decent skimmer, you will catch on to surfing in no time, but even then the learning curve is still pretty big. You just have to learn to look at waves differently. Surfing will allow you tons more freedom in some ways, and restrict you more than skimming in others.

Personally I can't live without skimming OR surfing

**jesse** · 06-28-2007, 07:52 AM

i've just started surfing, and i've been skimming for the last 6 years or so, so i'm in your same boat...

i think the main frustration i get is that in skimming, once i get to the wave and either wrap it, or turn down the line frontside, i can do whatever i want on the wave face, and i can do it quickly. in surfing, the board moves like a sloth, and it's so difficult even to do something simple like a "cutback"

**PINKmachine** · 06-28-2007, 09:35 AM

swim a shit load at your local pool, I took to surfing pretty easy stood up on my first wave and rode for a bit, tried a turn and ate it. After a hour though I could barely get back to the beach my arms were so sore... Go swim and build those shoulder and back muscles and you'll be fine.

**Utah** · 06-28-2007, 10:38 AM

Paddeling is the biggest bitch for me. Mainly because I do not surf nearly as much as I skim...

**Jim Gordon** · 06-28-2007, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by PINKmachine

swim a shit load at your local pool, I took to surfing pretty easy stood up on my first wave and rode for a bit, tried a turn and ate it. After a hour though I could barely get back to the beach my arms were so sore... Go swim and build those shoulder and back muscles and you'll be fine.

Yes if you take a month off surfing, your arms will feel so weak! You will have a hard time catching waves. Surfing is like 80% arms, skimming is like 80% legs.

**ZapBulletRider** · 06-28-2007, 11:39 AM

I disagree w/ all the funboard suggestions, ONLY because you say you are a good skimmer. Go ahead and get a shortboard, you'll be able to handle it if you're a good skimmer.

**sloskimmer** · 06-28-2007, 11:49 AM

Skimboarding won't help at all for learning how to pop up.

**ZapBulletRider** · 06-29-2007, 12:14 PM

pushups will help with popping up. He's going to have to learn to pop up whether he gets a funboard, a shortboard, or a longboard. The reason to get a funboard is that it's more stable than a shortboard but more maneuverable (for a beginner especially) than a longboard. But if this kid is already a pretty good skimmer, he's not going to be wobbly for very long. So why waste your money on a funboard when you're going to outgrow it in a month or so? I was lucky enough to have one to use (my dad's) when I was learning, and I was already a skater & skimmer, so I outgrew the funboard after a few weeks. Saved my money for a shortboard. If I hadn't had the funboard I would have still learned to surf almost just as quickly, just would have been a little shakier at the start. I just think it's shortsighted to buy a board that you're going to outgrow once you get it down. Not that funboards aren't good to have in your quiver. But I wouldn't want one as my primary.

**DJ-NJ** · 06-29-2007, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by ZapBulletRider

I disagree w/ all the funboard suggestions, ONLY because you say you are a good skimmer. Go ahead and get a shortboard, you'll be able to handle it if you're a good skimmer.

i agree. i was only 10 years old, i taught myself on a shortboard. 6'6" i think it was. i was young, but i was already skateboarding and sand skimming. its all the same concept. just buy yourself a used 6'2" - 6'6" and practice, practice, practice.

a good technique i learned was to lay the board on the beach. and pretend to paddle then a wave comes [pretend] and pop yourself up. it gets you in the flow of poping up when a wave comes

DISCLAMER: DO NOT DO THIS IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR PUBLIC BEACH, YOU WILL LOOK LIKE A TOTAL KOOK

**Luff** · 06-29-2007, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by DJ-NJ

i agree. i was only 10 years old, i taught myself on a shortboard. 6'6" i think it was. i was young, but i was already skateboarding and sand skimming. its all the same concept. just buy yourself a used 6'2" - 6'6" and practice, practice, practice.

a good technique i learned was to lay the board on the beach. and pretend to paddle then a wave comes [pretend] and pop yourself up. it gets you in the flow of poping up when a wave comes

DISCLAMER: DO NOT DO THIS IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR PUBLIC BEACH, YOU WILL LOOK LIKE A TOTAL KOOK

6'6" is a beast of a shortboard.

**Jaleez** · 06-29-2007, 01:53 PM

when i first started i got myself a 7'9

very stable and a very good beginner board

and if you want to learn to surf
just search for '' learn to surf '' on youtube

**DJ-NJ** · 06-29-2007, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by Let Fire Fall

6'6" is a beast of a shortboard.

it was actually very thin and short in width. i dont remember the name. something like world ..[something] im not sure.

thats what 100 bucks gets you for your first board haha

**sloskimmer** · 06-29-2007, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by DJ-NJ

it was actually very thin and short in width. i dont remember the name. something like world ..[something] im not sure.

you mean a gun?

**Mmm... Pasta** · 06-29-2007, 09:00 PM

Especially for a ten year old...
Learn on a shortboard if you think you can hack it. It'll just add extra time to being able to get up and ride. You kinda have to guage how fast you'll learn against how fast you'll get discouraged...

**joemotocross06** · 06-29-2007, 10:25 PM

http://youtube.com/user/Podsurftv

just watched all 12 lessons..

**pbjef99** · 06-29-2007, 10:26 PM

youll learn fast if your a good skimmer

**doug** · 06-30-2007, 07:36 AM

zebra I started on a shortboard too, it just takes longer to catch on if you do it that way

**doug** · 06-30-2007, 07:37 AM

Originally Posted by jesse

i've just started surfing, and i've been skimming for the last 6 years or so, so i'm in your same boat...

i think the main frustration i get is that in skimming, once i get to the wave and either wrap it, or turn down the line frontside, i can do whatever i want on the wave face, and i can do it quickly. in surfing, the board moves like a sloth, and it's so difficult even to do something simple like a "cutback"

once you are on a performance board and learn how to get speed on a surfboard, you will quickly realize how much more you can do on the waveface on a surfboard

**jesse** · 06-30-2007, 07:52 AM

yay

**Jim Gordon** · 06-30-2007, 07:58 PM

When I first started, it took me a long time just to catch the wave and stand up. I'm glad I had a longboard to learn on!

**solvenTim** · 06-30-2007, 08:44 PM

have you tried skurfing. if you can paddle in on a skimboard then you should have no trouble on a surfboard. then i think youll be ready to buy a board by preference and not by skill level.

but i dont surf so i dont really kno