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Hi everyone!

Seeing as there are a lot of newbies (including me - newbish) to surfing thought I'd share some instructional videos I've found on youtube. I do urge everyone to have lessons either from a school, coach or an experienced friend before heading out for a surf. Being able to swim is imperative in my opinion. Do not be a danger to yourself or those you're surfing with - know your limits and gradually push those limits :)

Watching videos on surfing and surf instruction gets the movements in your head. Combined with getting out there and doing it, practising pop ups at home and visualise yourself doing it, these should help you advance faster than just paddling around without a conscious knowledge of what you're meant to do. Keep doing it and it becomes an unconscious process and with much less effort.

Bear in mind that surfing is always a work in progress. Keep at it - it takes time. With any session of say 1.5 hours you might actually get to practice something a 1/2 dozen or even a dozen times on a good day. Realistically you've got to do something dozens of times before it becomes a natural process - think about when you learned to drive - how many times did you go out before you became comfortable at it and naturally checked your mirrors and changed gears without conscious effort? With surfing, each session is so different, so variable, some days you catch heaps of waves, some days none. That's all part of it, stick with it.

Also beneficial is improving your general strength and fitness. Doing lat & delt work at the gym, squats, pushups, yoga, swimming & running are especially complementary to your surfing skills.

Being part of a fantastic group of surfers like this meetup group is especially encouraging and inspirational...not to mention tons of fun as well! Thanks Mr. Sefton - you've inspired me to get up at 5am on weekends, we're done and had breakfast before I'd normally get up. Loving it thank you :)

Everyone please add any comments/input/advice/experience you have for us!

See you out the back
Miki

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