I am obviously not a surfer...

[Big Guy]

So, I was in Maui last week and I decided to finally try surfing. I arranged for the lesson with the concierge at the hotel.
When I got to the class location, I am greeted by the 2 instructors, Josh & Jeff. 2 surfer dudes from California. They call everyone like "dude" like... they were a mix between Beavis and Butthead and Bill and Ted excellent adventure. Josh was the "smart" one, he basically did the lesson by himself, Jeff (with the hat below) would only repeat what Josh said. I wished I had a video camera it was hilarious.

After about 20 minutes orientation and learning how to get up on the board, we finally get in the water. The 2 Js holding your board and when the wave comes, they give you a push. At the second attempt I finally made it up for a few seconds.

Because we were only 3, we constantly had to paddle back to the instructors with little of no breaks. Paddling is not an exercise I am used to. After my first upward surf, I dislocated my shoulder while paddling. It happened many time before so it popped back in immediately. I did another run where my wife took the only picture as I fall . on the way back out, the shoulder dislocates again and stays out. There I am in the waves on a surfboard with a shoulder out of its socket... I took deep breath to relax my muscles and finally get it in place. I rode the next wave to the beach and returned the shirt and shoes.

I liked the feeling of the wave pushing on the board. The waves were at most a foot high, I have a new respect for the big wave surfers. It's just not for me.

I then spent the afternoon in our cabana next to the pool drinking Fire Rock Pale Ales to kill the pain.

[mottmcfly]

I can read this a hundred times and all I'm going to see is "so it popped back in"

[OffRoadie]

I know what you mean about the paddling. I tried surfing once and got exhausted trying to paddle out.

[guero]

right on serge, give ya credit for getting out there and trying!

[dubl_xl]

MMMM...Fire Rock Pale Ale! My favorite!

[kanga]

It's not like riding a bike! Surfing is my other passion.... it takes real commitment to get it going. Glad to hear you gave it a go!

BTW, the second pic looks like your diving in after a fire rock PA.

[Shannon]

Many many kudos to you for trying. Surfing is one of those sports that has the longest learning curve. And damn, you still paddled back out after your shoulder dislocated the first time? You are one tough DUDE.

[CPATCRASH]

Oh well. You gave it a shot. I haven't surfed for a long time but it was fun when I did. Is the shoulder OK now?

[J_Sims]

Originally Posted by Shannon

Many many kudos to you for trying. Surfing is one of those sports that has the longest learning curve. And damn, you still paddled back out after your shoulder dislocated the first time? You are one tough DUDE.

Long curve but magic when it all comes together


Props to you, for getting out there and going for it...

[Big Guy]

Originally Posted by CPATCRASH

Oh well. You gave it a shot. I haven't surfed for a long time but it was fun when I did. Is the shoulder OK now?

I was sore for a few days only, but 2 days later I played volleyball in the pool all afternoon. Nothing that a few beers wouldn't fix.

BTW, I just noticed the red bathing suit behind me in the first picture...

[back_of_the _pack]

BTW, I just noticed the red bathing suit behind me in the first picture...[/quote]

More noticeable at full size (rather than the thumbnail)

[northshore]

Much respect for the water and you attempting it!

[Waldo]

Props for trying. If you're curious, then give it another shot sometime. I have a longboard you can try and I'll be happy to save you the $$ on a lesson (I'm not a fan of surf schools!).

kanga - is your s/n a refernce to Ian "Kanga" Cairns?

Shannon - good call on the outrageous learning curve of surfing. In fact, I've been at it since I was 15 and I'm still a noob. A substantially older noob!

[sasquatch9billion]

It's cool that you finally tried it. Mtn. biking is my favorite sport but I have to admit that surfing is the closest to a spriritual experience as far as sports go. I can't wait to get a new board and start going back out again.

[kanga]

Originally Posted by Waldo

kanga - is your s/n a refernce to Ian "Kanga" Cairns?

Kanga-roo! The nickname my surfing amigos in Costa Rica gave me years ago...

[Dino Brown]

Great Story!

[SheDevil]

The surf instructor was cute Oh and yeh....nobody tells you that paddling is probably the hardest part of learning to surf. I won't tell you how bad it gets in big surf or the joys of trying to manage those logs when you're cast in a set and tired. Eventually it just starts to get easier...just like mtbing (well except you guys try to find ways to make it harder at that point) Good job...don't give up forever...it's a soulful activity.

[Wrecker]

Great job and surf report. I'm not sure that I'm balanced enough to try it (mentally or physically)