...i Surfed!!!

[gnarlydorkette]

Well, we didn't actually SURF today, (Sorry AJ to mislead you)... I learned how to get up, paddle,do the seaturtle flip...

First of all-- let me back up the story a bit...
I grew up as a "surfer's girl"... my dad and brother were surf-frenzes... I used to hang ten on my dad's surfboard whenever he caught a wave (I was four or five years old-- small enough to lie down on the toe on my dad while he got up and surf for me) and my brother always took me with him to beaches whenever he ditched his first *and second* periods in high school (and me ditching my elementary days) so I could watch after his towel, keys, money etc while he was out on the waters. I was his guard (and sandcastle-builder)...

But after age of 7, my little "surf" family broke down... My dad was out of the picture. My brother joined the Air Force. I was left behind with no formal surf teaching from either Dad or my brother.

I always LOVE the beaches. I can bodysurf (swim like a dolphin bascially), boogieboard, swim into the huge waves (like a lifeguard would)... but never surf. I found out that my university actually OFFERS surfing as an one-credit course... I decided to pursue it for my sake. I feel such a hypocrite for living in San Diego and not know how to surf.

Allright now yall are up to the chase...
I just had my class today for surfing (its formal name: ENS 148)...
and I HAD FUN!

The kids were SO nice... they didn't stray away from me as if I was some kind of a freak (mind you, my university has 35,000 students and out of that, there is only 15+ deaf so a lot of students are not exposed to Deaf at all and it is EVIDENT in my semesters at the university)... They actually interacted with me-- talked with me and SMILED... yes, frigging hearie college students SMILED at me.
I do have an interpreter with me... and yes she swam in the water and did her job excellent. She wants to take the surfing class so we make a good team!

For you surfers who want to know: The water was 67degrees... I didn't have my wetsuit but it wasn't all that bad (during the summer, I swam in Finland's lakes and the water over there was 55 degrees-- BRRRRRR! so I think it helped increasing my threshold with cold waters)... I definitely will get a wetsuit when the waters start to drop to 61degrees... I am having difficulties to find a fitting wetsuit. There are not many sizes in women's and whatever that can FIT me is usually too loose at top (for non-surfers-- this spells bad news because that means the cold water can get into my neckhole and stays inside of my wetsuit and therefore nulls the point of having a wetsuit!)...

so if you got an ex girlfriend's size12 to 14wetsuit storing away in your closet-- GIMME!

Just feeling like to tell the world that surfing is FUN. :fruit:

 

[Vance]

Three cheers for Gnarly

Keep it going with surfing! I'm curious about that course you took, what's 'seaturtle flip'? I like to surf but not as much as I do for snowboarding.

It is great that they treat you quite well as I expect them to be. btw, boogieboard is a fun sport (or activity)! You're lucky to born into "surf" family even if it was just a short time. All of my family members are not interested in surfing or snowboarding (my youngest brother is interested in snowboarding).

 

[gnarlydorkette]

Three cheers for Gnarly

Keep it going with surfing! I'm curious about that course you took, what's 'seaturtle flip'? I like to surf but not as much as I do for snowboarding.

It is great that they treat you quite well as I expect them to be. btw, boogieboard is a fun sport (or activity)! You're lucky to born into "surf" family even if it was just a short time. All of my family members are not interested in surfing or snowboarding (my youngest brother is interested in snowboarding).

Turtle The instructor called this manuever "seaturtle" but the point is being called "TURTLE"... let it be called "chiense boxer turtle" or whatever it is all same.
A paddling maneuver to help reduce resistance when paddling through whitewater, by rolling the surfboard upside down (with the fins up), and then holding on to the rails of the surfboard while underwater as the whitewater passes overhead. Used especially with longboards because the board's increased flotation makes duckdiving (the preferred method) difficult.
* see illustration

Basically you paddle then hold on the board and tilt sideways (before the big wave comes!) until the wave passes you and you roll back atop your board. Ta-DA!
My interp was like, "aww I don't want to get my hair wet..." and she went ahead and did the seaturtle and went back up and interpreted again.

I was having a hard time to stablize my board while paddling because my hips kept swerving... I will learn in time to paddle without moving my hips (habit to swim in the water instead of swim ON the board)...
AND I GOT MY OWN WETSUIT!! It is new. All for $107.74 (I was mistaken when I told 'Gatsu it was 109$). I kept asking the saleswoman questions about how snug the wetsuit should be, how to keep it clean if stained or whatever (not by urines, I promise you), et cetera. She didn't mind me asking-- I think she found me legit since I asked all "right" question... "How many mm thick is this? I cannot find the information on the wetsuit. Is this brand good since I will swim in 65degree and gradually to 61deg so will this suit keep me warm?" et cetera.

 

[Nancy]

I am happy for you Gnarly! Sounds like you are having fun in your class and your classmates are treating you well. You are lucky you learned to surf beforehand (just for a short time), so you got a good start.
Glad to hear you got a new wetsuit for the class!

 

[gnarlydorkette]

Ah... I tried to surf...

Second week of Surfing class

My god. The wetsuit worked like a miracle. When I shuffled my feet in the ocean, I could feel that the water was cold.. but once I dived in-- no problem-o! It was ... nice. Not warm, but not cold. My interp had a spring wetsuit and was chattered the whole time! :-X

The waves were... BIG. Thanks to the high tides (the peak is at noon with over 5 feet waves). I am not talking about Hawaiian-sized waves... but the waves were BIG for Mission Beach which is infamously known as the worst beach to surf. It usually have 2 feet waves... it is a good family and sunbathing beach, although. Good place to boogie-board.

SURF: 3-5 ft. - waist to head high' fair
AIR/WATER: 62°-70°/66°-70°

Once I paddled into the ocean... the waves were brutal, I am telling you. I was becoming very successful and pro at doing the seaturtle flip! It was hard to stay ahead of the waves instead of being pulled back toward the shores. I was able to kneel on my board... some kids already were able to stand up on their boards... :fu2: I was jealous of them. (not entirely, but I was like "aw, COM'ON! Why cannot I do that too?!")

My interp did stand back for a while to make sure I was doing right to the instructors' content... once the intructors gave me a roger, she took the board to the beach. She did find it hard! She said she liked the "whitecaps" better because it was easy for her to practice to get on her board and kneel... getting comfortable with her board, bascially.

There were several occassions when I just laid still on my board and let the waves pushing me toward the shores. and then finally the fins caught on the sand and I fell forward... and still was pushed by the waves. The waves' current were strong ALL WAY to the berm! My goodness.

I think I will post weekly about my surfing class. YAY!

 

[AJ]

lol why would ur interp wear a spring suit in cold water like that?

hey look im glad ur having a lot of fun surfing. thats what its all about. turtle flippin is fun. wait until u get to a short board then u start duck diving. dont give up, which i dont think you will.

surfing is great. its a great way to relax and also a way to get out your anger and frustration.

its like poetry in motion. hard to explain, but im sure u know what im talking about.

 

[javapride]

i gotta get myself a new surfboard hummm thats my X mas pressie LOL will borrow dad's cuz thats beginners surfboard perfect for me im gonna attack on surfing I WANNA SURF! will talk to my gurl and have her teach me some and then on my co worker's day off will ask her to show me HOW to surf right cuz i can not be living in hawaii like a hypocrite and not surf! already know to surf in the boogie board wiped out a couple of time its FUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN can't wait to do it again! :-D

 

[gnarlydorkette]

AJ > The interp's spring wetsuit was a rental from the place where we borrowed surfboards (foamy ones)... She is looking for her own wetsuit. I gave her a lead to the store where I got mine from. Hopefully she will be covered up nice by next week's classes!

Exactly, javapride: that is how I felt-- a hypocrite for not knowing how to surf even though I grew up on beaches all over in San Diego!

Try to use a longboard-- it will give you stability until you get used to it-- and then you can crave out the waves with a shortboard if you want!

 

[Nancy]

I felt bad for your interpreter who chattered the whole time -- I know how miserable that felt in cold water! (it made me think of the Titanic victims -- alot of them were in frigid water, but it was much colder than the temp you and your terp went into) But glad to hear she's looking for a wetsuit to keep her warm.

I am glad you are still enjoying the class!