I have always dreamed of surfing since a little kid. I finally got the chance to and unsuprisingly loved it. But there is one problem. I dont know anyone who surfs. So i know jack about boards. My question is, does anyone know of a certain book or website that teaches the basics about surfing and/or the science of the board? A reply to this message would be much appreciated. Thanks.
As for the science of the board . . your looking at it. As for surfing, there is a website floating around called “teaching surfing” or something like that. I think it’s designed for a highschool class. It teaches the basics of everything from paddling out to shaping your own board. Go to Yahoo and type in “teacher’s guide to surgfing” and it will probably come up.
go to http://www.swell.com/sw/content/mag/index.jsp# and then to the right should be a list of topics and then click on surf school. just gives the basics but maybe it would help. Josh
I have seen a book at surf shop’s called surfers start up that covered things pretty well. There was also one for longboarding. Good luck and have fun! Scott
as far as learning how to make a board and the basics of surfing, there is a book called Surfboard by Stephen M. Shaw. you might want to check that out. there’s lots of other books and videos which will teach you how to surf as well. i believe Wingnut has one of two videos out. if you want to learn about board design… keep coming to this site. oh, and one more thing, if you want to learn to surf properly: never wear a leash - ever.
as far as learning how to make a board and the basics of surfing, there is > a book called Surfboard by Stephen M. Shaw. you might want to check that > out. there’s lots of other books and videos which will teach you how to > surf as well. i believe Wingnut has one of two videos out. if you want to > learn about board design… keep coming to this site. oh, and one more > thing, if you want to learn to surf properly: never wear a leash - ever. Novice surfer with leash much like young math student with calculator.
Novice surfer>>> with leash>>> much like young>>> math student>>> with calculator. Novice surfer without leash much like bowling for swimmers
I have always dreamed of surfing since a little kid. I finally got the > chance to and unsuprisingly loved it. But there is one problem. I dont > know anyone who surfs. So i know jack about boards. My question is, does > anyone know of a certain book or website that teaches the basics about > surfing and/or the science of the board? A reply to this message would be > much appreciated. Thanks. I have the following websites in my bookmarks http://facs.scripps.edu/surf/l2surfII.html http://www.watertrader.co.uk/magazine/surfing-guide.htm http://www.surfingvancouverisland.com/surf/learn.htm http://www.blackmagic.com/ses/book/ch4.html Good luck! Håvard
In an ideal world - learn without a leash. But, you must be kidding telling some guy who has never surfed before to go out and “never, never wear a leash.” Most likely this guy’s going to be on a 10 foot log and the minute he paddles out he’s going to loose that thing and the first time he gets up, he’s gonna loose it, and the next 200 times he gets up he’s going to loose it. I don’t know about you, but the breaks I surf are already dangerous due to overcrowding, I really don’t want a bunch of rookies out there without leashes. It’s bad enough to dich your board with a leash.
I dislike haiku!
I dislike haiku! I will assure you any haiku I uttered . . . unintentional
in this day and age telling a beginner to surf w/out wearing a leash is like telling a new driver to not wear a seatbelt, because it’ll make them more aware. actually with surfing it’s worse they’re more liablr to kill the other guy…
in this day and age telling a beginner to surf w/out wearing a leash is > like telling a new driver to not wear a seatbelt, because it’ll make them > more aware. actually with surfing it’s worse they’re more liablr to kill > the other guy… On the contrary: I feel going without a leash makes one more aware and selective.I have seen too many people wearing “daisy chains” take off on a wave that is really not worth it’ only so they can bust a move, then let their board do as it may since they are wearing a leash, there is no real consequence for what they have done-and I have seen this happen in front of me and others when it is critical and detrimental, I guarantee none of thaat crap would happen if they weren’t wearing a leash- one 150 yard swim in would take care of that.
i dont think you were referring to me… but, just in case… im actually and advanced calculus student with no calculator. math sucks. -steve>>> Novice surfer>>> with leash>>> much like young>>> math student>>> with calculator.
ditching the leash teaches you to not lose your board. you’ll learn that after the first time you lose it, have to swim in, and find your board all dinged up. you wont ever lose your board after that. another thing surfing leash-free teaches you is wave selection. you figure out pretty quickly which waves you are going to lose your board on, and you dont want to do that (like i said above). better wave selection makes you a better surfer. and having 9 yards of ding string doesnt help anything. it does more bad that good. it gets tangled up and you’re more likely to fall. you can still hit someone when you have a leash on. sure, it might save a swim once in a while, but you wont learn to surf clean and properly. but as far as the swim goes… most guys could use it.>>> On the contrary: I feel going without a leash makes one more aware and > selective.I have seen too many people wearing “daisy chains” > take off on a wave that is really not worth it’ only so they can bust a > move, then let their board do as it may since they are wearing a leash, > there is no real consequence for what they have done-and I have seen this > happen in front of me and others when it is critical and detrimental, I > guarantee none of thaat crap would happen if they weren’t wearing a leash- > one 150 yard swim in would take care of that.
i dont think you were referring to me… but, just in case… im actually > and advanced calculus student with no calculator. math sucks. -steve Steve, No, nothing personal… mine was just a far too thinly stretched comparison… I actually tend to agree with you about the pros and cons of most leash use. Dale
ditching the leash teaches you to not lose your board. you’ll learn that > after the first time you lose it, have to swim in, and find your board all > dinged up. you wont ever lose your board after that. another thing surfing > leash-free teaches you is wave selection. you figure out pretty quickly > which waves you are going to lose your board on, and you dont want to do > that (like i said above). better wave selection makes you a better surfer. > and having 9 yards of ding string doesnt help anything. it does more bad > that good. it gets tangled up and you’re more likely to fall. you can > still hit someone when you have a leash on. sure, it might save a swim > once in a while, but you wont learn to surf clean and properly. but as far > as the swim goes… most guys could use it. Steve: I agree!
Just curious if you consistently surf with out a leash. If so, what do you ride?
Steve: I agree! 50 years ago i would agree too. todays crowded lineups just don’t leave room for this dangerous learning curve. yeah it sounds good on paper…problem is i don’t see most leashless kooks actually learning the lesson. they just look like a fool swimming after their overpriced logs bouncing on the rocks…like said before, malibu, san o, tourmaline, maybe…otherwise its just a nightmare to witness.
Just curious if you consistently surf with out a leash. If so, what do you > ride? Hey, Sid, I
m slowly healing after a severe leg/ankle break (9 screws and long steel plate)... prior to that, I used a leash probably about half the time, depending on where when and what I was surfing. My attitude when entering the water has always been to surf as though Im not wearing one. I ride surfcraft that are generally, small, relatively light and often approaching neutral bouyancy. Some are hard, soft, flexible or stiff, thin or thick… either shallow-keeled or no fin(s) at all, with running edges so sharp they will easily cut. Many are high performance surfmats weighing an average of 18 ounces…imagine something like that breaking loose and rocketing sideways toward you in the whitewater! I have spent (no pun intended) most of my life as a designer, builder and test rider of conventional shortboards, kneeboards, surfmats, paipos, bodyboards, as well as infrequently bodysurfing and riding a surfski, etc. I do not use a longboard, but have a deep appreciation for them, and have spent many years surfing, closely observing and participating with people who prefer these craft in nearly all conditions. Seven thoughts: (1) Were all guests. (2) Its all surfing. (3) Everyone has to start somewhere. (4) Kooks, and whatever their means of surfing, come in all ages, shapes and sizes. (5) Ride gnarly enough waves, locations or times and you won`t have to worry much about other humans. (6) With or without a leash, skilled or not… over-crowding, in all of its manifestations, remains the greatest (internal) threat to surfing. (7) Treat others as you would like to be treated. Dale