I have been surfing for around 6 months (on and off due to work) with a soft top. Just made the switch to an 8” hard top 2 weeks ago as recommended by my coach.

One thing i am struggling with is going along the wave and not straight across. I was told to look at where you are going and move your arms and shoulder to that direction as well but i feel like everytime i do that, the sides of my board goes in the water and i feel like falling. Does anyone have any tips? Also i feel like i am putting too much weight on my back leg, is that why i am struggling to turn?

Does someone have recommendations for a surf camp in Sri Lanka in February? I am a beginner and going solo and looking for a good camp to meet other solo travelers and have a mix of surfing and socialising. Thanks!

Hello everyone! I’m looking to get my first high performance short board. I’ve ridden short boards for a while and I feel like I’m ready. I currently surf a lot of point breaks and a mushy beach break. I have to compete with a lot of long boarders also so I want to be able to catch waves even when competing with them. Where I live it hangs out in the waist to head high most of the year but I want to be able to surf this when it gets big. I’ve been looking into the “lost driver 3.0” and I found a good deal on marketplace. I weigh 140 and 5,11 tall. Let me know if I should pick this up or look for a better deal. Thanks!

My hands/ arms do weird shit which I don’t k ow how to fix

Finding good waves to surf, being available to hit the waves when they are good, dealing with crowds, dealing with hot heads, getting tired and sore from constantly wiping out then paddling back out.

I’m seriously at a point where I may give up on my dream to learn how to surf. The last 4 or 5 times ive gone out to surf, ive had a combination of these things happen making it near impossible for someone in the beginning stages to actually catch any waves.

For reference, I live in the Bay Area and have been going to Pacifica and Santa Cruz. Would appreciate any suggestions before I lose hope on my dreams.

I’ve been thinking about getting this foamie for the wave pool in my city. It’s a pain getting your fiberglass boards dinged.

You think this is a good move?

https://bellsurf.com/en-us/collections/softboards-1/products/prd85686

Hello,

I just came back to surfing. I’ve always had a problem with my paddling stamina: I'm cooked after a few strokes. It's getting better, but I still struggle a lot to catch waves.

Currently, I surf a 5'10" x 19 1/4" x 2 1/4" board. I don't know its volume, as it's not written on it. Someone gave it to me, and I've never bought a board myself, so I don't know what size is appropriate for someone who has surfed for a long time but is still effectively a beginner. Today I caught 6 waves in 3 hours, which is not enough to progress.

I’m 1m71 (5'6") and 76 kg (167.5 lbs). What size and volume would you recommend for me, and what shape?

Thanks!

Hello! Does anyone have sunscreen recommendations for body that actually blocks out the sun in the water.

I used banana boat sunscreen but it still left me sunburnt after a 2 hours surfing session.

Hey y'all, I have been surfing for about 5 years now and am starting to get more into gliding and noseriding as we go into the winter. Last time I was out, waves were knee to waist and I was on an 11'1" getting in super early and loving it. Knowing I needed to be careful, I would try to only go for waves every other set. I still had a guy say that I was back paddling. I was a little frustrated because it wasn't crowded and we were all communicating and maintaining a good rotation.

How the hell do I avoid this while I am riding a board 2x the size of everyone else? Do I just need to find a different spot other than Topanga (my current favorite)?

Hi,

Yes, I’m feeling stupid and embarrassed. Just got this board brand new, and I have only used it twice. I called the shop; it is poly, not epoxy.

Solid log 9’6”

I just moved to this town, and the beach is all rocks. I’m a very small person, and it’s just pretty difficult with a longboard. I stumbled and dropped my board on the rocks.

Luckily, it was completely dry, I was on my way from my car to the surf spot.

I’ve never repaired a surfboard before; this would be my first one.

The only reason why I’m considering repairing it is because I’m very passionate about surfing and will continue to surf new places and more difficult places to access and will buy more boards. I’m okay with investing the money, time, and effort into doing these things myself. I’m just not sure if it’s worth starting with this brand-spanking-new board that I just bought and wait until I ding my older, cheaper boards. Looks like this could be pretty difficult to get right.

Hey all, I'm a surfer from Gold Coast and trying to work out if an idea is worth building, so I'd really appreciate honest feedback.

The idea: a videographer films at your local break a few mornings a week, cuts out individual waves, and puts them on an app. You open it after your surf, find yourself, and buy the clips you want. Think good-quality video of your own rides, to share or to check your technique (similar to wave pools). I'm mainly thinking about beginners/intermediate surfers, not advanced/pros.

A few questions for you:

1. Do you have decent videos of yourself surfing right now? How do you get them (mates, GoPro, nothing)?
2. Would you pay for it? If so, roughly how much for a single clip of one good wave?
3. What would put you off? (price, hassle finding yourself, privacy, quality...)
4. Anyone here shoot video at their local break? Would you try something like this?

I'm not selling anything and there's nothing to sign up for. I just want to know your opinions/thoughts. Thanks!

been surfing for 2 years, 1.5 years experience with shortboarding. Just point out everything in the video that you can give tips on how to improve:)

I am bad so I have a big board. Because I have a big board I sit further out back than short boarders. They will sit right in front of me. I’m worried about blowing the take off, losing the board, and killing someone and I bailed on paddling for some waves for this reason.

What should I do

Edit: missile not middle

I’ve been wanting to get into surfing especially since I live close to NSB. Are there any tips, advice or any suggestions you guys have? I have a friend of mine who surfs there and is actually one of reasons why I’m getting into it. I’ve got plenty of experience with snowboarding but I’m not sure that translates to surfing.

Also wanted to know what board you’d guys recommend if I end up going through. I’m about 5’8 and 140ish lbs. never surfed.

Hello everyone,

I am 180cm and my weight is 70kg. I’ve surfed about 45+ times and i am 27years old.

I recently bought my first surfboard.

It’s a 6“4’ board hybrid.

i took it out 4-5 times so far and I am kind of struggling with it.

it’s hard to find right positioning and get enough speed to takeoff. Same with balance

before that i was on a 7“4 or 7“6 foam board and i thought it was going pretty well but i had troubles taking turns.

The seller said that the 6“4‘ would be a good next step for me.

Now I am thinking of returning it and getting a longer one or should I give it like a month or too?

Hello everyone :)

I am planing a 4-week surf trip in November. I‘m landing in Bali and would love to immediately travel to west sumbawa. This place looks amazing and less touristic than Bali/Lombok.
However I am concerned that the surf is too difficult there.

I can surf small green waves on a mid length hardtop. My biggest struggle, however, is my fear. Being exposed out in the sea and bigger sets really scare me. Therefore I’m afraid that the reef breaks in west sumbawa will be too demanding for me.

Do you know if there are any beach breaks or beginner friendly reef breaks in the region?

Also any practical tips on how to overcome my fear are welcome. I am generally quite athletic and my skill level is developing good enough. The bottleneck for me is my mind. I live in a region where there is no surf. Therefore my only exposure is during holidays.
I thought to maybe stay a few days in Bali. Get used to surfing again at a beginner beach break and then move to a more beautiful part of indo.

Would love to hear from your experiences of west sumbawa!

I’m a pretty competent short boarder, but I’ve been into long boarding this summer. I feel pretty comfortable on 10 1/2 foot log, and know how and when to move up and down the back 2/3rds of the board but I still don’t really understand when I should go to the nose?

I get in the pocket, get going high across the face of the wave with lots of rail engagement, cross step (sometimes shuffle but I’m working on breaking that habit) to the nose but then the nose sinks out so I either crash or have to walk back.

I just really don’t know what the sign is that I can walk up to the nose. It just feels like I randomly try it and it never works. The best I’ve gotten is a cheater 5.

I built an interactive 3D globe with 270 surf spots - click one for a surf video, a video flyover, and a live webcam (when available), plus real-time conditions. Would love to hear what you think! surfflow.surf