Are you happy where your surfing is?

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Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Joined: Sep 10 2010
Posts: 14
Points: 26

Are you happy where your surfing is?

Hey Everyone,

There's a thread on here called you are what you are or something to that effect and it got me thinking today about where I am in my surfing or lack there of. So here is where I'm coming from, I'm been trying to go shorter with my boards the last 1.5 yrs and haven't improved one bit. I thought I was doing well with a 8'6 quad that I caught a lot of waves with got to my feet most of the time and was able to go down the line a bit. Now I have couple different boards 8ft and under that are just not going the way I thought they would. So I feel I have wasted the last 1.5 years trying to go shorter because that's what the goal is right? Well maybe not it's to have fun and it hasn't been fun most of the time. I know a lot of you have been surfing for a lot longer than me but are you happy where you are at? Some have gone from longboards to shortboards and back again. Others have just longboarded or shortboarded or ride everthing. I really think I need to go back to what I had in the beginning which is that 8'6 quad that made it fun for me. I lurked on here for awhile before I joined and I see all these boards that I mind surf and some that I had made that were way above my skill level. What is my skill level right now I'm not sure but I think I should go back in time so to speak. So here are two questions, are you happy where surfing is no matter how long you have been doing it, and do you think a 8'6x23"x3.5 to 3.75 would be good for me? My dimensions are 5'8 and 260. Thanks for your help.

Paul 

Joined: Dec 7 2009
Posts: 56
Points: 72

Re: [pes78] Are you happy where your surfing is?

Sorry to be straight forwad and I don't mean to be rude but 5'8" and 260 is the problem and not the length of your board. I am 5'8" surfed most of my life accept short hiatus (8years) where I packed 80 extra pounds which I worked hard for a year to get rid of and go down to 160. I feel great surf great for my age (41) and I am riding boards of all shapes and sizes w/ my smallest being 5'6" and biggest 9' nose rider. Take care of your self and surfing will take care of you.

Aloha

Joined: Jul 12 2004
Posts: 386
Points: 308

Re: [pes78] Are you happy where your surfing is?

I'm not happy where my surfing is at, I'd prefer it was going on in some much warmer water with much stronger surf!

Location: Huntington Beach, CA, USA
Joined: Dec 28 2005
Posts: 3371
Points: 6840

Re: [pes78] Are you happy where your surfing is?

pes78 wrote:

Hey Everyone,

There's a thread on here called you are what you are or something to that effect and it got me thinking today about where I am in my surfing or lack there of. So here is where I'm coming from, I'm been trying to go shorter with my boards the last 1.5 yrs and haven't improved one bit. I thought I was doing well with a 8'6 quad that I caught a lot of waves with got to my feet most of the time and was able to go down the line a bit. Now I have couple different boards 8ft and under that are just not going the way I thought they would. So I feel I have wasted the last 1.5 years trying to go shorter because that's what the goal is right? Well maybe not it's to have fun and it hasn't been fun most of the time. I know a lot of you have been surfing for a lot longer than me but are you happy where you are at? Some have gone from longboards to shortboards and back again. Others have just longboarded or shortboarded or ride everthing. I really think I need to go back to what I had in the beginning which is that 8'6 quad that made it fun for me. I lurked on here for awhile before I joined and I see all these boards that I mind surf and some that I had made that were way above my skill level. What is my skill level right now I'm not sure but I think I should go back in time so to speak. So here are two questions, are you happy where surfing is no matter how long you have been doing it, and do you think a 8'6x23"x3.5 to 3.75 would be good for me? My dimensions are 5'8 and 260. Thanks for your help.

Paul 

Paul if you just want to have fun stay with your dimentions and enjoy yourself. Don't worry about what others may think. Just have some fun. To be hard on yourself is not the ideal of having fun. Surf for yourself not others. Forget the EGO Maniacs. There are so many in surfing. Who cares. Have fun. Focus on Core Training and Modify your Diet if you want to go to the next level. However if you don't want to work on you physcial conditioning that's OK too. Have your 8'6 x 23" x 3.75" made and enjoy you life without conforming to the status quo!

Kind regards,

surfding

Joined: Jun 19 2007
Posts: 3105
Points: 2355

Re: [surfding] Are you happy where your surfing is?

surfding wrote:
pes78 wrote:

Hey Everyone,

There's a thread on here called you are what you are or something to that effect and it got me thinking today about where I am in my surfing or lack there of. So here is where I'm coming from, I'm been trying to go shorter with my boards the last 1.5 yrs and haven't improved one bit. I thought I was doing well with a 8'6 quad that I caught a lot of waves with got to my feet most of the time and was able to go down the line a bit. Now I have couple different boards 8ft and under that are just not going the way I thought they would. So I feel I have wasted the last 1.5 years trying to go shorter because that's what the goal is right? Well maybe not it's to have fun and it hasn't been fun most of the time. I know a lot of you have been surfing for a lot longer than me but are you happy where you are at? Some have gone from longboards to shortboards and back again. Others have just longboarded or shortboarded or ride everthing. I really think I need to go back to what I had in the beginning which is that 8'6 quad that made it fun for me. I lurked on here for awhile before I joined and I see all these boards that I mind surf and some that I had made that were way above my skill level. What is my skill level right now I'm not sure but I think I should go back in time so to speak. So here are two questions, are you happy where surfing is no matter how long you have been doing it, and do you think a 8'6x23"x3.5 to 3.75 would be good for me? My dimensions are 5'8 and 260. Thanks for your help.

Paul 

Paul if you just want to have fun stay with your dimentions and enjoy yourself. Don't worry about what others may think. Just have some fun. To be hard on yourself is not the ideal of having fun. Surf for yourself not others. Forget the EGO Maniacs. There are so many in surfing. Who cares. Have fun. Focus on Core Training and Modify your Diet if you want to go to the next level. However if you don't want to work on you physcial conditioning that's OK too. Have your 8'6 x 23" x 3.75" made and enjoy you life without conforming to the status quo!

Kind regards,

surfding

Words of wisdom

Ken
Exotic Designs Surfboards

Location: San Marcos, CA 92078, USA
Joined: Dec 23 2004
Posts: 3057
Points: 2606

Re: [surfding] Are you happy where your surfing is?

what Surfding said.....yes.

Get a board that works for you. You are a thick guy. You need a thick board....nothing wrong with that.....

Ray

Joined: Dec 21 2010
Posts: 155
Points: 224

Re: [pes78] Are you happy where your surfing is?

not really - been back at it for almost a year after 2 years off due to living in canada and snowboarding instead.

really enjoying it again though which is better than being happy with how I'm performing.

my 60 hour a week job isn't the best for keeping fit, shaping boards on the side and surfing...

Location: Newport New South Wales 2106, Australia
Joined: Jul 14 2010
Posts: 161
Points: 353

Re: [pes78] Are you happy where your surfing is?

I found my surfing became most comfortable when i got onto a board that was 23inches wide and 3inch thick, i dont have to worry about the board and it became more about the wave and then moved onto how i could improve on that wave. my board is 6.0 so if your going an 8ft plus board thats 23 wide i think that'd be perfect for going back to just having fun, which is what its really all about. 

Location: Atlantic Ocean
Joined: Dec 26 2005
Posts: 717
Points: 940

Re: [pes78] Are you happy where your surfing is?

I just turned 42 and am in my 30th year of surfing.  I am not happy at all with where my surfing is.  I am surfing as good as 20 years ago thanks to advances in the sport and equipment but the big problem is paddling.  30 years of wear and tear from surfing and my neck, back and now my right shoulder are all having problems.   Will likely need rotator cuff surgery sometime soon.  Getting out, duck-diving and paddling back out are all a problem.  Surfing is a cake walk though.

Location: Manasquan, NJ 08736, USA
Joined: Feb 28 2011
Posts: 487
Points: 598

Re: [pes78] Are you happy where your surfing is?

The Storms are brewing in the atlantic and i am about to be happy when they arrive to jersey. as for my skill i am always looking to improve; as with everything i do.

If you can build it. Stoke will come

www.ARCsurfboards.com

Joined: Oct 18 2009
Posts: 230
Points: 275

Re: [pes78] Are you happy where your surfing is?

I'm 62 and just glad I can still surf at all anymore. 

Have neither the reflexes nor the athleticism I once did, but am otherwise in pretty decent shape and still having as much fun as ever.  Still ride overhead waves when I get the chance. 

Surfing is the one thread of continuity which has run through my entire life's history.  Feel like a kid again whenever I go in the water: it's what keeps my batteries charged and keeps me from getting depressed about being on the (hopefully) long downslope toward the big dirt nap.

My two modes of existance are pretty much "surfing" and "waiting to surf some more" (though there are other things that I like to do "while I'm waiting").  Not exactly a philosophy that's likely to bring fame and fortune.  None the less, I'm content.

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