Comments on: A Newbie’s Guide To Surfing http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/05/15/a-newbies-guide-to-surfing/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:59:50 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Tim Patterson http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/05/15/a-newbies-guide-to-surfing/comment-page-1/#comment-54017 Tim Patterson Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:18:25 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/05/15/a-newbies-guide-to-surfing/#comment-54017 I hadn't read this post before - really a pleasure to find such a gem in the archives. One of your best, Ian. And Cedric - that story about flying down the coast looking for sharkless surf is just amazing. I hadn’t read this post before – really a pleasure to find such a gem in the archives. One of your best, Ian. And Cedric – that story about flying down the coast looking for sharkless surf is just amazing.

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]]> By: Cedric Pieterse http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/05/15/a-newbies-guide-to-surfing/comment-page-1/#comment-53952 Cedric Pieterse Fri, 15 Feb 2008 08:56:11 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/05/15/a-newbies-guide-to-surfing/#comment-53952 Ian, how can you do this to me! I was almost over my withdrawal symptoms... After reading this, I am really missing my home-town, Durban on the East Coast of South Africa. An average of 6 foot waves and water temp of no lower than 20 degC! I grew up on a surfboard, and here is Sweden, this is one of the things I really miss :( I used to do dawn patroll before work in the mornings, get up at 5 am, hit the waves at 5:30 untill 7:30, take a shower, and be at work at 8 am. Almost every day. It kept me sane, sort off... There were days when the surf was cooking, and I never made it to work, only to deal with irate customers the next day, and as they were shouting down the phone-line I would sit back and smile at the memories of the nice left-hander I caught the previous day. I had a partnership in an aeroplane, a little two seater tail-dragger and my partner in the plane was also an avid surfer. I made up a aerodynamic pod underneath the aircraft to hold two surfboards and we fitted fat wheels for beach-landings. We would take two weeks off work, and fly down the Wildcoast of South Africa and look for the ideal spot, land, pitch tents and surf untill it hurt! There were no roads to a lot of these beaches, as it is very remote, so we had the surf to ourselves. Sometimes a great-white would come by, and we had to fly to another spot, scouting for shark-free water (easy in a plane!) and hit the surf. At night we would make a fire and listen to Joan Baez while a freshly caught crayfish was crackling on the coals. Those were ZEN moments... Ian, how can you do this to me! I was almost over my withdrawal symptoms…

After reading this, I am really missing my home-town, Durban on the East Coast of South Africa. An average of 6 foot waves and water temp of no lower than 20 degC! I grew up on a surfboard, and here is Sweden, this is one of the things I really miss :(
I used to do dawn patroll before work in the mornings, get up at 5 am, hit the waves at 5:30 untill 7:30, take a shower, and be at work at 8 am. Almost every day. It kept me sane, sort off… There were days when the surf was cooking, and I never made it to work, only to deal with irate customers the next day, and as they were shouting down the phone-line I would sit back and smile at the memories of the nice left-hander I caught the previous day.
I had a partnership in an aeroplane, a little two seater tail-dragger and my partner in the plane was also an avid surfer. I made up a aerodynamic pod underneath the aircraft to hold two surfboards and we fitted fat wheels for beach-landings. We would take two weeks off work, and fly down the Wildcoast of South Africa and look for the ideal spot, land, pitch tents and surf untill it hurt! There were no roads to a lot of these beaches, as it is very remote, so we had the surf to ourselves. Sometimes a great-white would come by, and we had to fly to another spot, scouting for shark-free water (easy in a plane!) and hit the surf. At night we would make a fire and listen to Joan Baez while a freshly caught crayfish was crackling on the coals.
Those were ZEN moments…

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]]> By: Sophie http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/05/15/a-newbies-guide-to-surfing/comment-page-1/#comment-53673 Sophie Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:28:09 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/05/15/a-newbies-guide-to-surfing/#comment-53673 see, I've never surfed, but I've windsurfed before and it was the best feeling i ever had when I actually started moving. I really want to try surfing, but in england, it all depends on the weather - it really is no fun being in the water when its -5oC and raining :P see, I’ve never surfed, but I’ve windsurfed before and it was the best feeling i ever had when I actually started moving.

I really want to try surfing, but in england, it all depends on the weather – it really is no fun being in the water when its -5oC and raining :P

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]]> By: Andy http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/05/15/a-newbies-guide-to-surfing/comment-page-1/#comment-3271 Andy Wed, 16 May 2007 15:10:24 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/05/15/a-newbies-guide-to-surfing/#comment-3271 Great article Ian ... good to see people getting stoked to surf! There really is nothing like it. If you are thinking about getting into surf some more, head on over to <a href="http://www.wanna-surf.net/" rel="nofollow">Wanna Surf</a> for some more surf tips. I decided to just jot down some of the things that helped me to surf better, maybe you'll find them helpful! :) Great article Ian … good to see people getting stoked to surf! There really is nothing like it.

If you are thinking about getting into surf some more, head on over to Wanna Surf for some more surf tips. I decided to just jot down some of the things that helped me to surf better, maybe you’ll find them helpful! :)

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]]> By: ian mackenzie http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/05/15/a-newbies-guide-to-surfing/comment-page-1/#comment-3210 ian mackenzie Tue, 15 May 2007 20:42:13 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/05/15/a-newbies-guide-to-surfing/#comment-3210 dave -- sounds like you've had your share of "sock in a washing machine" moments. i probably would've paid the $40 as well... just easier to avoid confrontation. also about surfing, i also forgot to mention the "water everywhere" thing. that's where days after you're still draining sea water out of your ears and sinuses. good times. dave — sounds like you’ve had your share of “sock in a washing machine” moments. i probably would’ve paid the $40 as well… just easier to avoid confrontation. also about surfing, i also forgot to mention the “water everywhere” thing. that’s where days after you’re still draining sea water out of your ears and sinuses. good times.

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]]> By: Dave http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/05/15/a-newbies-guide-to-surfing/comment-page-1/#comment-3207 Dave Tue, 15 May 2007 18:49:02 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/05/15/a-newbies-guide-to-surfing/#comment-3207 My first surfing experience was in Hawaii at age 13. I got up, and had a great time, and bad sunburn. My second experience was 2 years ago in Costa Rica. Again, I got up, and had a great time, and got a bad sunburn (notice a pattern). When I tried to rent a board and go out on my own after the lesson, the tide had changed, and I got clobbered by a wave breaking close to shore, which spun me around, causing my head to hit the front of the board, cracking a giant chunk off. An Australian said the board had probably already been broken in the same spot as "boards don't break that way" and suggested I not pay to get it repaired. I paid the $40 cause I'm a pushover, and was just hapy to return to dry land in one piece. My next attempt will be in Australia. The experience reminds me of snowboarding, which I'm glad I learned at a younger age (19)! My first surfing experience was in Hawaii at age 13. I got up, and had a great time, and bad sunburn.

My second experience was 2 years ago in Costa Rica. Again, I got up, and had a great time, and got a bad sunburn (notice a pattern).

When I tried to rent a board and go out on my own after the lesson, the tide had changed, and I got clobbered by a wave breaking close to shore, which spun me around, causing my head to hit the front of the board, cracking a giant chunk off.

An Australian said the board had probably already been broken in the same spot as “boards don’t break that way” and suggested I not pay to get it repaired. I paid the $40 cause I’m a pushover, and was just hapy to return to dry land in one piece.

My next attempt will be in Australia. The experience reminds me of snowboarding, which I’m glad I learned at a younger age (19)!

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