[shadowplay]

Lol. Hopefully thats got your attention! But it is actually my question.... well sort of!

I came on the forum a couple of years back under a name i cant remember. Since then ive lost a couple of stone but still weight just under 15stone. (5ft 9" quite broad shouldered)
I am still "planning" to shift a couple of stone but regardless of that, for the last couple of years its been "this year i will learn to surf" and i never have actually done it.

So ive decided im going to book my self some lessons for the Feb half term (im a student here in Barnstaple so nice an close to Croyde etc.)

Question is, will i be able to surf? i guess i can, my fitness isn't too bad other than the extra weight as i play squash and badminton for about 6hrs a week in total.

What i would like to know is what do i need to take into consideration - not being the skinniest and the fittest?

If i were lookin to buy a board what would suit someone like my self?

Is it wise to just go out with a board and have a play about or should i have some lessons first? I can swim reasonably well.


Any help or advice greatly appreciated.


ToM

[Alsone]

No but the fitter / slimmer you are the easier it is.

I'm 15 stone and 6ft, and surf but it is considerably harder than if you're smaller and its more tiring. Specifically, the pop up is much more difficult and the extra weight will make you tire much more quickly leading to shorter surfing sessions than if you were lighter. Best thing to do is lose some more weight, but whether you do or you don't, don't let it stop you trying it. Apart from anything else, its one of the best ways of losing weight / getting fit there is, look around, you never see a fat local surfer - they all have six packs and I'm not talking beer here!!!

Al.

[Al]

I learnt to surf about 2 years ago at Easter and was just below 16 stone at the time. I was also sporting a couple of broken ribbs (they were nearly healed but giving me jip!!). It sounds like I have a similar build to yourself (I have a typical rugby player build) and I did manage to surf a little but not as much as the other guys.

Since then I have been quite a few times and I have lost a bit of weight and gained some more fitness and supleness. This means that I can jump up onto the board a lot quicker and with less brute strength, which caused me to tire more quickly, than I did before and I now catch a lot more waves. I also bought a board last year, a Bic 8ft 6 magnum. As it is quite a wide board, it is ideal for people like ourselves who are slightly larger as it gives you a lot of bouyancy so you dont sink!!!

I went this Christmas and I managed to catch just about every wave I went for, although I think I have put all my weight back on drinking and eating!!!

I hope this helps

Alistair

[ANCIENTWILLIAM]

Originally Posted by Alsone

No but the fitter / slimmer you are the easier it is.

Sorry fella but I don't agree. A few years ago at the height of my weight training at 5ft 11 & nearly 17 stone I was pulling all dayers with a few breaks inbetween. Pop ups no problem etc. etc.

The reason, fitness Cardio fitness ... that counts.

I haven't trained in a while now & the last time I was home, September 2006, I was nearly the same weight but fatter (no training) & apart from tiring easier as my overall fitness was down I was still surfing all day ... just a few more breaks

Mind you two weeks later despite being as fat my CV fitness was fantastic surfing most days all dayso the breaks lessened ... much to my other halfs disgust.

Well done with the weight buddy, its so much harder to lose than to put on ... trust me I know!

Just make sure you have the correct board for your height & weight which without will be bleedin hard work.

[shadowplay]

Thanks for replies.



Well i should be able to shift anotehr stone and increase overall fitness come Feb when i plan to try and get some lessons.

It seems so stupid to me living 9miles from Croyde and not surfing lol so i will have to learn!!!

Anyone got any recomendations of surfschools at Croyde?

ToM

[Alsone]

Originally Posted by ANCIENTWILLIAM

Sorry fella but I don't agree. A few years ago at the height of my weight training at 5ft 11 & nearly 17 stone I was pulling all dayers with a few breaks inbetween. Pop ups no problem etc. etc.

NP, but I think there is at bit of difference between being big through muscle and being big through being over weight. The extra strength and fitness through weight training will help overcome problems caused by the extra bulk. I'm not sure that was what the guy was worried about though.

Agree though that CV fitness is certainly the key.

Al.

[ANCIENTWILLIAM]

Weight training does provide the extra muscle etc. but you don't really get any fitness through it on its own. Hence why you have to combine cardio work out with the weight training.

[keona w]

my fitness is up and down like a yo yo and i have to agree with all views aired to a certain degree each.This year my fitness has suffered due to being not as young as iwas and also injuries stopping me doing my usual training(im used to 20 yrs of football training) .HOWEVER.... although i was tipping 14 st a couple of weeks ago(my heaviest ever,im 5:10 and quite stocky) i could swim and surf for what seemed like forever due to going to the gym 4 times aweek and purely doing cardio work,i never touch the weights.....so i agree with AW to a big extent.That said,when i was training to a high standard and maintaining my 12 st playing weight the body is a lot more flexible/supple etc which obviously aids surfing.Luckily ive always been able to drop weight easy(8lbs this week..yey) so i think its a happy medium,plenty of cardio and no worries if youre carrying a bit but try to maintain a reasonable ammount of fitness and then just build it up if poss.Nothing however should stop you surfing,just what you want out of it is up to you.