From shingren@aol.com Wed Jan 22 07:57:17 1997 Newsgroups: alt.surfing Subject: Learning curve slow, aggro for six months, have totalled three waves where From: shingren@aol.com (Shingren) Date: 22 Jan 1997 07:57:17 GMT I was wondering when I'm going to hit the lip for the first time. I've been surfing at least 3 times a week for the last six months, I'm 20 and live in San Diego. The best I've mustered is a couple of backside runs for about 20-30 yards and that is IT. I'm not retarded and I don't have any nerve disorders (hence I don't lean or walk in circles without realizing it). The stoke of sitting in 55 degree pollution and eating shit 10 times in a row 4 times a week is beginning to wear down. I swear all I need is one lip smack and I will believe that there is hope for me, but if I don't get that by this summer I give props to all you real surfers and we can talk about selling my board j/k. Seriously does everyone really suck hard for a year or is it me? From shull@cats.ucsc.edu Wed Jan 22 08:25:45 1997 Newsgroups: alt.surfing Subject: Re: Learning curve slow, aggro for six months, have totalled three waves where From: Stephen Hull Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 16:25:45 +0800 Shingren wrote: > > I was wondering when I'm going to hit the lip for the first time. I've > been surfing at least 3 times a week for the last six months, I'm 20 and > live in San Diego. [rest snipped] Shingren, If you are surfing as much as you say you are, you are behind the curve a little. My first thought is equipment. You may not have enough board for your size, skill, and experience level. Second, where are you surfing? Look for a spot that is easy to catch waves and gives you time to stand, turn, and get some down-the-line speed. Until you master these you won't be doing any "off-the-lips". Practice getting up fast at home (tape an outline of your board w/center line on floor) until you can do it quickly with balance. Finally an experienced surfer could probably give you some good advice after watching you for 15 minutes that will save you a lot of time from now on. Try to hook up with someone for a session or two. On the bright side, you have already mastered a great many requisite skills and your conditioning is well on its way. With the right board, advice, and conditions, you could have a series of amazing breakthroughs very soon. Finally, stay out of the pollution. da hulk,RSO From tbmaddux@alumnae.caltech.edu Thu Jan 23 17:46:19 1997 Newsgroups: alt.surfing Subject: Re: Learning curve slow, aggro for six months, have totalled three waves where From: tbmaddux@alumnae.caltech.edu (Timothy B. Maddux) Date: 23 Jan 1997 17:46:19 GMT In article <19970122075701.CAA24257@ladder01.news.aol.com>, Shingren wrote: >I was wondering when I'm going to hit the lip for the first time. I've >been surfing at least 3 times a week for the last six months, I'm 20 and >live in San Diego... I think you've missed the point of it all. Sure, getting a new move down is great, but not hitting the lip 'yet' isn't something that should bring on bouts of depression. >Seriously does everyone really suck hard for a year or is it me? "The best surfer in the water is the one having the most fun." Read that a few times. During the first week of this month I was in the water with a guy who'd been surfing for 20 years. He was still slow getting to his feet and admitted openly that his size limit (where his increments of fear got too big) was in the head high range. He was stoked out of his mind, though. Strangely enough, his good humor was infectious and I soon found myself pretty stoked-out on the crappy little waves. I'd like to say I suddenly perfected aerials as a result of my good attitude, but I didn't. I just had a good time. -- .-``'. Timothy B. Maddux, Ocean Engineering Lab, UCSB .` .`~ http://www.engineering.ucsb.edu/~tbmaddux/ _.-' '._ "From the essence of pure stoke springs all creation." From keensurf@no.spam.cts.com Thu Jan 23 22:36:01 1997 Newsgroups: alt.surfing Subject: Re: Learning curve slow, aggro for six months, have totalled three waves where From: keensurf@no.spam.cts.com (Thomas Keener) Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1997 22:36:01 GMT shingren@aol.com (Shingren) wrote: >I was wondering when I'm going to hit the lip for the first time. I've >been surfing at least 3 times a week for the last six months, I'm 20 and >live in San Diego. The best I've mustered is a couple of backside runs >for about 20-30 yards and that is IT. I'm not retarded and I don't have >any nerve disorders (hence I don't lean or walk in circles without >realizing it). The stoke of sitting in 55 degree pollution and eating >shit 10 times in a row 4 times a week is beginning to wear down. I swear >all I need is one lip smack and I will believe that there is hope for me, >but if I don't get that by this summer I give props to all you real >surfers and we can talk about selling my board j/k. Seriously does >everyone really suck hard for a year or is it me? I can tell you it takes that long to learn how to bodysurf. Wave knowledge alone takes time. But relax. Put more emphasis on smoothness and the rest will come. Focus on the 'energy line', that is, where the critical edge is and where it is going. After you get the confidence you can make the wave, _then_ you can think about doing lip smacks. Think about why you're out there. It's to have fun, right? Those 30 yard rides were fun while they lasted, weren't they? You've got a whole lifetime to learn tricks. Don't get frustrated because you can't surf like a pro in one year. Relax and keep taking off. -- TomK keensurf@cts.com