Longboard Surf
Saturday, November 7th, 2009Longboard Surf
Longboards - The Best Way to Learn Surfing
Longboard surfing is the best way to learn how to surf. This is not to say that you can't learn on smaller surfboards such as a shortboard, but those boards will take much longer to learn on and amount to greater frustration along the way. Better to surf those boards later. Notice the title says the "Easier Way" not the "Easy Way". That is because I don't want to imply that simply using a longboard will make learning to surf easy.
Longboards are just more forgiving than other boards. People who just start surfing simply don't have conditioned shoulders. Conditioning comes with time and paddling a longboard will be hard enough but still much easier than a shortboard.
Longboards are more stable. Although less maneuverable than other boards it's the stability you want when you start out. This is especially true for performing the pop up and assuming the proper stance on the board. You can take more time getting to your feet (but still not too long) and also find foot placement a little more forgiving than other surfboards.
The gentle waves you will seek as a beginner are the perfect match for a longboard. The ideal beginners surf spot will have small, clean, slow breaking waves. Longboards are best under these conditions because they have maximum flotation and can catch these waves even when smaller boards can't.
Many beginners want to go to the coolest looking boards which is usually a shortboard. This is a common mistake that usually only leads to frustration in the water. You want to to be catching some waves, even tiny ones, as soon as possible. The fun you get will keep you motivated and after enough time and practice you can switch to a smaller surfboard if you desire. You really want to start out by taking a lesson. The instructor will usually start you out on a soft top longboard which is ideal for learning the basics. The other alternative is to have a friend that you know can surf take you out and show you the ropes.
Because of the paddle, stability, and small wave catching ability, longboards are ideal for learning to surf. Surfing mainly just requires persistence and practice. Anybody can learn to surf with a longboard and enjoy catching waves.
About the Author
Chris lives and surfs in the San Francisco Bay Area. Learn more about learning to surf and tips for longboard surfing
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