you don't need to grip with your feet
and less feeling is probably an advantage at first, given how often I smacked my feet on my board when I was learning.

I'm not anywhere near exceptionally fit, and I certainly wasn't when I started. It's similar to swimming, but surfing tends to use your shoulders in a slightly different way, and works your upper arms harder than swimming. It's harder on the rest of the body as well.

Also, I've got a massive bruise on my shin, and I discovered last night a bruise about 6 inches long and an inch wide across my belly, where I must have got hit by my board without realising it....
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 9:43, 2 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Right, that does it
Recommend me a good beach where I can hire some kit and get a lesson, I'm going to give this surfing lark a go one weekend this summer.
( Labia Majora You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 9:46, Reply)

I recommend Saunton Sands in North Devon
it's very forgiving, and chances are if there's surf I'll be there anyway
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:02, Reply)

Then I shall investigate this further
Cheers!
( Labia Majora You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:05, Reply)

no worries

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:09, Reply)

it sounds painful
but it looked so much fun. If I lived near the sea I definitely would. Can it be done in autumn/winter?

When watching the film last night, my sister came in as Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze were wrestling in the water and when she saw it, she quoted from the Mighty Boosh 'you have to marry me now, you've seen my downstairs mix-up.'
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 9:48, Reply)

The last time I went
was in October, and it was ok then with a half wetsuit. I wouldn't want to try it in winter, but I would love to go again sometime.
Surfbash anyone?
(berk, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 9:58, Reply)

nice idea
do you live near the coast?
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:01, Reply)

Sadly I do not
in fact I probably live as far away from the coast as it's possible to be in the UK - in Birmingham. I used to live near Blackpool though, I'm not sure which is worse...
(berk, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:03, Reply)

fair enough
but a surfbash would be amazing if there was a b3tan that lived close to a decent beach
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:05, Reply)

Vipros has a house
and he can surf. All we have to do is persuade him he wants to host...
(berk, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:06, Reply)

trouble is it still takes over an hour to get from my place to a decent surfing beach
which is why I go camping a lot.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:09, Reply)

camping surfbash then :)

( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:12, Reply)

I'm always up for that
except for this weekend, when I've just called one off.

that's mainly because I did it last weekend and with sonisphere next weekend I need a break
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:15, Reply)

sounds reasonable
but yeah should definitely try and organise this
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:20, Reply)

the difficulty is that it would be weather and surf dependent.
not such an issue for me as I live nearby, but for others travelling from some distance it could be a pain.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:24, Reply)

it really is both of those things
I surf all year round, but from December till April you tend to wear a horribly expensive 5mm wetsuit, boots, gloves and hood, which all make it harder to do.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:03, Reply)

I'm undecided
I'd give it a shot this summer before need for specialised equipment rather than just a rental, but since I'm going to row this Michaelmas term, I might be stronger if I wait
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:07, Reply)

rowing will help definitely as it works the back , shoulders and arms

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:08, Reply)

I'm hoping that I can become good again
used to do it, loved it, would be nice to pick it back up
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:11, Reply)

I haven't rowed anything for years

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 23 Jul 2010, 10:17, Reply)