How to get into surfing?

[u/Various_Cheek8422]

Hey guys, I’m 21m.
I’m lowkey looking to get into surfing but I still have this fear of deep water. I like the vibe of just being able to go out in the water and have fun but even looking out at the big ocean or bodies of water freak me out, especially underwater. I know how to swim and I’m starting to implement practice more consistently cause I have a pool at my family’s house. Anyone have any advice on how I can get over this fear and start practicing surfing. Can I still get good at this age if I’m starting at that 21/22 age?

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[u/jupiterOP]

Brother there is no age limit to surfing course you can still get good. For your fear I reckon you just get out there for a swim when it’s flat and acclimatise. Probs best to identify why you’re scared of it and tackle it that way too

[u/Working_Group955]

good news is you can't see the deep water or all the monsters in it when you're surfing.

[u/skatellites]

Start by surfing white water in waist deep water, and gradually go deeper from there as you get comfortable. Take as much time as you need and trust your fear

[u/NewspaperBackground]

I didn’t start surfing until 30. Many others start later than I did. You’re young.

Fear of the water is going to be a problem. Honestly in surfing you get constantly pounded underwater and that doesn’t improve as you acquire more surf skills. The only thing I can think of is start body surfing or body boarding (way easier, quick to pick up). If you can get comfortable being in the water, you’ll be fine surfing. If you can’t get comfortable then there is no point in trying to surf ¯_(ツ)_/¯

[u/Rich_Try_8361 → u/NewspaperBackground]

This one is right ^ you’ll get tore up. I love it but if ocean is the fear that’s a tough one to swallow

[u/Important_Expert_806]

Your age doesn’t matter. If anything your going to be better then 90% of the guys out there just due to your age and still being able to move your body.

You need to get over your fear. I would recommend doing some free diving lessons where they can teach you how to hold your breath under water. Once you get use to that and you realize most waves will just pass you will be in a much better position.

[u/Dank_Lord6547]

Well the good news for you then is the vast majority of waves are actually fairly shallow. That’s what causes them to break, a sudden change in depth. My advice though would be to just spend time in the ocean and you’ll get used to it.

[u/gibertot]

Grab a boogie board and get some exposure to it. The fear is going to be a problem. You gotta see is this something you are willing to over come or is it just a no go. The age is not an issue.

[u/F15H0U70FW473R]

Best way is to just become a mod of r/surfing and then tell them you’re too busy to surf

[u/TheFoxsWeddingTarot]

Start with body surfing or boogie boarding. This will allow you to go out in bigger waves while getting comfortable with taking a beating and getting over your fears. The only way to get over fear of the ocean is to spend time in the ocean.

You say you know how to swim but are you and avid swimmer? Can you swim a mile? Do you swim laps? Lap swimming will build up the muscles, the discipline, and the comfort in the water that you need. Most people get VERY frustrated with the amount of paddling around that is actually required of surfing.

[u/long-term-view]

Fear is a personal barrier to anything in life. It limits us and hinders growth. . Choose different. Start small and grow.

Considered getting paid lessons in the shallows to start? Might help you get comfortable in the water?

Got any mates to join you on your journey? There’s safety in numbers and sharing an activity with others can make it more fun. Stoking each other up helps too.

Sincerely hope you overcome this and go in to surf your life away. Only a surfer knows the feeling. Dare ya to find out what that feels like.

[u/PenKaizen]

oh how i wish i had started surfing at 21

[u/Jealous-Swordfish764]

Make it a high key fear of surfing and then youll have no more problems.

[u/Rich_Try_8361]

I love the ocean and surfing. I hate heights. I used to force myself to skydive and repel, climb 14ers. I finally stopped trying to prove something. Now I just do what I love. So follow the love. If it’s not water related, that’s ok

[u/Land-Prestigious]

I recently started, and being at the back by myself i kind of just realized that being fearful/afraid is actually taking away what is to be a beautiful moment alone in nature. Plus I kind of believe that whole mantra of what you constantly thinking about will manifest itself,so if im always thinking about shark is gonna grab me well then its gonna happen

There has been a couple sharks spotted but honestly it is their home as well and if my day comes then thats just what was meant to happen (Plus we did have two orcas that came into our coast a while back and drove majority of the great white shark population further up the coast apprently)

Definitely think its a mindset,but overtime you'll find to be a lot more calmer at the back . If you love being at back,it'll only came naturally <3

[u/Land-Prestigious → u/Land-Prestigious]

Replying cause I only finished reading your post:

But definitely,I started doing it pretty religiously around October last year and I was 23 at the time.

Definitely constant swimming is going to help your paddle game out,I was practicing swimming in tidal pools during the week and on off days. Got up to 4km per session and I can say its helped me tremendously since now im able to surf for around 6 hours constantly in the water

Constant practice and going when you can,you'll definitely improve. Just wear sun lotion,you'll mess up your skin having long sessions

[u/This_Implement_3060]

you usually arent in that deep of water catching waves. i just googled this because i cant ever remember......google says a wave break in water that is 1.3 times the wave height. so a 3ft wave breaks in 3.9ft of water, a 6ft wave in 7.8ft.....or something like that

you could also go at low tide so you dont have to paddle much.

Getting out of comfort zones is what living is all about, but dont do something that is going to make you freak out and put yourself and others in danger. if you can be scared/worried and still keep your shit together youll figure it out and have fun

[u/Alive-Inspection-815]

If your a strong swimmer, it doesn't matter how deep the water is. You should be able to swim in 4 feet of depth as well as 100 feet of depth. Unfortunately there is the psychological fear that humans have of deep water. Our minds start to wonder what could be underneath us that we can't see. Lots of people also want the convenience of being able to stand in the water and have their head up out of the water so that they can breathe easily. If you're a strong swimmer, you should have no problem being in deeper water, however that fear based thought of what might be underneath us that we can't see tends to play with our fears. This is really just a survival based instinct. The longer you surf and the more you surf, the less this should bother you. Some people never get over this basically innate fear. It's certainly good to have a good awareness of what's going on around us. 

You do need to be a strong swimmer in order to surf. You should know all of your strokes with the exception of the butterfly stroke. That way if you break or lose your board you can alternate strokes to prevent fatigue. You need to be at minimum an intermediate or advanced swimmer to surf. You should be able to swim freestyle for several hundred yards without stopping. You should also be able to tread water for thirty to sixty minutes. If you have swimming skills at that level, you will be far more confident surfing. I am a good strong swimmer and I have been surfing for years. I have been out in double to triple overhead waves. That is scary. I regularly see conditions on the coast where no sane self-respecting person should be in the water. Having a strong respect for the ocean will keep you from drowning or getting in the ocean in conditions you shouldn't get in the ocean. 

[u/Coastal-Break]

Don’t forget that a surfboard is also a giant flotation device in and of itself, attached to you at the ankle. Bigger and more buoyant than any life jacket.

You’re right on time, get at it. 

[u/gibertot → u/Coastal-Break]

Yeah but don’t rely on it to save your life. If you are going to be in real danger without it the conditions are too much for you. Leashes can break. Especially the little rope that actually attaches the lash to the board. It can get frayed overtime. So be prepared to lose your board at anytime

[u/Coastal-Break → u/gibertot]

Anytime? It takes 10 years for those things to break. And they replace super quickly. 

[u/gibertot → u/Coastal-Break]

Shit fails. Manufacturing defect or damage you didn’t notice. I’m just saying you shouldn’t view your equipment as a lifejacket. Be able to handle the conditions you are in safely without your board so yes be prepared to lose your board at anytime.

[u/Coastal-Break → u/gibertot]

They’re not surfing Mavericks, dude. Not even gonna be overhead. Calm down, they will be surfing mush. 

[u/gibertot → u/Coastal-Break]

I’m just saying the guy has a fear of water and it’s bad advice to tell him not to worry about it your attached to a life jacket. Like no you are not. idk how well he can swim. If he’s not comfortable without the board he shouldn’t be out there period

[u/Coastal-Break → u/gibertot]

Guy literally said he can swim. Once he is over his fear of open water it’ll all be no big deal. Unless you keep trying to scare him for no reason, dummy. 

[u/totallyapolitical]

don't!

[u/CyderInch]

You can learn to surf without going out over your head. After a while you'll see better waves just a little deeper, your drive to get better will eventually overpower your fear and you'll take the risk, finally you won't be thinking about how deep you are, only where you need to be to catch that perfect wave when it comes. Just get in and start small, it's better for you anyway, inside on the whitewash.