That’s so annoying but unfortunately, as we all know, so true.

Like most adults, I am in a hurry to master these waves, do bottom turns, smash top turns and hang five with the best of them and yeah, also learn the ‘surf lingo’.

When we saw how awesome these surfers looked trimming the waves in front of us, we were told that it took them literally thousands of hours of practice to get that good. It’s said that it takes around 10,000 hours of practice to go from a complete novice to expert in any new sport or new skill. So when you are about to surf for the first time in a beginners surf lesson, it can be a little disheartening to realise  you are beginning what looks like a lifetime’s work.

Luckily, once you hit the water to catch your very first wave you realise that learning to surf is instantly rewarding. Within a few minutes we were all having a blast and realised you don’t need to be an expert to start having some fun. Unlike a few other sports I have tried, this sport of surfing is going to be fun to learn.

Now I’m looking forward to the hours ahead. And the sooner I get the basics down, I can move on to the next step, so this is where I have ended up at the iconic Scarborough Beach in Perth, Western Australia.

Scarborough Beach Surf School

I’m learning with the crew at Scarborough Beach Surf School, the oldest surf school on the planet and the best Surf School in Perth. They came up with the idea of teaching locals, school kids and tourists how to surf in organised classes back in 1986. So I knew I was in good hands. Before this first surf school started, most surfers went through the ‘school of hard knocks’. No one would teach you- you had to work it out for yourself.

The first step is to be measured up for your wetsuit and surfboard. The wetsuit must be skin tight (but not suffocating) to keep you warm. I am surfing in winter, so am provided with a 4mm thick full O’Neill wetsuit that looks like new. The first lesson we are told that the bigger the surfboard, the easier it is to catch a wave and get up to your feet (and also stay there and keep my dignity!). We do spend a lot of time laughing at each other.

Catching Waves

Now it’s time to learn the new skill of catching waves. This is a pretty essential skill for surfing. You might now look like a surfer but if you can’t catch a wave you can’t surf. Our surf instructor showed us how it’s all about timing and learning  how to ride a wave on your board, on your belly.

My instructor talked me through the position you need to adopt, how to hold the board and look over your shoulders waiting for the wave. Then you need to push forward and slide onto the board, positioning yourself in the middle so as not to over or under-balance. After a few times being dumped into the ocean, you soon learn not to get too far forward or too far back on the board.

There’s no rush with any of this. Take your time to get it right and understand how the waves work – it’s fundamental to everything else you’ll do on the surfboard.

Surfing Lessons Perth

Next it was time to learn to ‘pop up’ and stand. Watching the experienced surfers do this on the waves, it looks so easy. But doing it in practice is not so easy, even when stationary on the beach.

Our instructor broke it down for us into simple movements. The key is to watch and then practice. Get it right, because when you add a wave into the equation it’s going to be ten times harder – so good technique now is essential. Once you’re ready it’s time to head out into the water and try it.

Don’t be disheartened at this stage – it is not an easy thing to do. You’re going to get thrown off, rolled over and generally battered around and dragging your soft beginners board back out is quite tiring. But you’ll also have enough adrenaline flowing through you not to care. With each attempt you get a little closer until suddenly, without quite knowing how, and looking like a baby taking its first few steps, you’re up. Not for long – it’s short-lived for sure – but you know what standing feels like and that was definitely standing!

As I progressed through this first surf lesson I got to my feet a few times and rode a couple of waves to the beach. Our instructor spent time with each of us in the group, gave us individual tips and then moved on to the next person.

Surf Courses Perth

I have now completed a few of Scarborough Beach Surf School’s Surf Courses and am now catching green, unbroken waves (small ones) and riding one of their Gnarly epoxy surfboards.

Learning to surf is a lot harder than I had imagined but it’s sure worth it. If you’ve been thinking about it for a while but never seem to find the time, then trust me, it’s well worth the effort.

Beginner surf lessons are essential, and the valuable insights, tips and experience of your instructors will definitely help you along the way.

The post Practice makes perfect appeared first on Surfing Lessons Perth Scarborough Beach.

Buying a Surfboard

With surfing, once you’ve caught that first green wave, all you do is crave more.

It’s a low-cost way to enjoy your exercise, reduce your stress and enjoy the life-long friendships you will make on your quest to catch those perfect waves.

If you’re brand new to the surfing world it can be a little overwhelming.

New vocabulary, equipment, and experiences mean that there is a lot of info for you to digest.

Our customers have told us that googling for cheap surfboards Perth, for the first time was frustrating and confusing. Opinions varied on all the information needed to pick the right board.

They browsed dozens of websites trying to gather all the details to make a good decision. The more they looked and the more questions they asked, the more confused they became.

We knew there had to be a better way to find all the necessary details to buy the right surfboard.

That’s why we created this blog.

Our iconic world of surfing isn’t just another sport or hobby. It’s our way of life.

Should I buy a Softboard?

We recommend buying a softboard if you just want a board that is relatively safe to use and you are not that serious about surfing. They are great if you just want to have some occasional fun.

Price is always a factor when buying a softboard, regardless of your skill level.

So here at Scarborough Beach Surf School we stock 3 different models of soft surfboards.

• our low price Gnarly Soft Board,
• our DSS (Double Sided Slick) High Performance soft board.
• the Softboards Australia – PU Foam Soft Board (the number one choice soft board for surf schools

Should I buy a used surfboard from Gumtree?

Just like buying a second hand vehicle, a used surfboard can have a number of things wrong with it. Things that, unless you’re an experienced surfer, you would never see.

We have also seen many people buy the wrong size surfboard (usually way too small) to suit their level.

We often hear “I bought it because it was cheap” or “It included a board cover and leash (+ a set of steak knives!)”

The surfboard you just bought is useless if you can’t catch a wave with it or it sinks when you stand on it. It might look great under your arm but can you actually surf on it?

Experienced Friend

Even getting advice from that ‘experienced’ mate can set you back. They will be thinking about what they learned to surf on many years ago and that might not be suitable for you today.

Buying the wrong shape and size is very easy to do when you are a beginner.

So here at Scarborough Beach Surf School we want you to surf for the rest of your life and we will give you the right advice on what board you will need for where you want to surf. We’ll also consider the right size and shape for you to progress to the next level.

We’re not saying don’t buy a second hand surfboard. We even sell used surfboards!

What we are saying is, unless you know what you are looking for, buying the wrong used surfboard can be a mistake.

Fibreglass or Epoxy Surfboards?

When you buy a beginner to intermediate surfboard, we recommend a fiberglass or epoxy mini-mal or funboard.

Typically as a beginner you are aiming to buy a surfboard that is stable under your feet and makes catching white water and small green waves a breeze.

The bummer of buying something too big (8 foot and over) and too stable is that once you are up to your feet, you can hardly turn your board.

This is why we have designed our beginner to intermediate range of mini mals and funboards with the widest range of surfers in mind.

This means each surfboard will be forgiving while learning, yet will also present new doors to open around every corner while your surfing progresses.

Gnarly Mini Mals and Gnarly Funboards

We have designed this range of mini-mals and funboards personally and taken into account all the key elements needed for stability – thickness, width and concaves.

All our surfboards also combine the critical elements of maneuverability – rocker and rails.

We have made our boards with all these elements working together. This means you can get a board that is stable and maneuverable, which is exceedingly important as a beginner to intermediate surfer.

Bottom line – as a beginner you want a surfboard that is affordable, easy to learn on and will be a blast to ride as you get better.

As we sell our surfboards warehouse direct, we can also cut out the ‘middle men’ and sell our boards at wholesale prices to you the public.

We’ll give you an honest and educated answer to all your questions here at Scarborough Beach Surf School.

Visit our warehouse and have a chat to us about what board will suit your new ‘way of life’

Our new stock of Mini-mals and Funboards coming in August 2016.

The post Which Surfboard Should I Buy? appeared first on Surfing Lessons Perth Scarborough Beach.