Having accepted that it is just not practical to take my windsurfing gear on family touring holidays (not just space issues but also time required to sail when you are on the move), I decided to try and get back into surfing. (I only did very little about 25 years ago before I got the sailing bug.)

So I bought a board and spent a few days in the waves on a recent jaunt to QLD, and I was rather frustrated at the amount of time spent in the water compared to the actual time spent surfing. Paddling, waiting out the back, fighting with others for waves (a lot of aggression out there, and no I wasn't dropping in on anyone.)

Compare this to sailing where 100% of the time is spent actually sailing and there is room for everyone. I'm now wondering if I should invest the time learning to surf properly. Will it give me the same buzz as sailing when I get better, or do I just enjoy a body bash in the surf with the kids when I'm on holidays?

Hey harrow, half the stuff you mentioned is exactly why I stopped surfing 2 years ago! Total reverse to you though- 25 years surfing, and now 18 months on a sailboard. Sailboard wins hands down. No paddling, no waiting for waves, no crap sitting in a line fighting over a few sets. Just add wind and your off. And if there's wind and waves, you're wave sailing anyway.

Personally I'd rather paddle my kayak around on a windless day than bother surfing with a crowd. But if you find a nice spot with decent waves and no people (rare), then surfing can be great fun when there's no wind. Maybe some family cruising on a sup (with mast track) may be what's needed?

To get "good"at surfing you either needs plenty of time on the water, or pure natural tallent. I guess it depends on your view on what good surfing is all about- having fun, or ripping great chunks out of waves. It can be both, but never over night.

Time spent with the family and kids is always a win-win.


Good luck with it.

Cheers

I'm the opposite. I used to surf and have only recently been bitten by the windsurfing bug.
My surfboard is now gathering dust but looks like i will break it out this week
Once you get to a competent level surfing is one of the best feelings you'll get.
Taking off, gathering speed getting under the lip and standing tall in a barrel is the best thing i have ever done. never get tired of it.
I am getting that sort of enjoyment now from windsurfing though. The thrill of launching of a wave or dropping into one is very similar.The best thing about it is time on water though.
Personally i use surfing as meditation or therapy. Time in the water is always healing and that time alone to think and just appreciate where you are (surf trips) is priceless.
To me windsurfing is more of a sport and exercise which no doubt i thoroughly enjoy, it' just a bit less "spiritual" for lack of a better word.

I was in similar situation a year ago. Tried surfing as only ever windsurfed (as a former Melbournian) but found it hard to get on a wave in Manly, due to crowds etc. Gave up on surfing left for a few years then the SUP's starting coming out. After one summer having no problems getting a lot of waves as you can get on the shoulder etc and surf the areas where the other guys can't get on the wave. Can't recommend the fanatic 9'6" allwave enough. Really stable (2in's does make a difference) (32in instead of most which are 30) and has a rig connection. Good zero wind alternative for Sydney.

Harrow said..

WA71 said..

What sort of board were you surfing?

A 7'6" mini-mal and a 6'2" fish.

SUP's look interesting. I was watching a guy try to get out through 6' sets at a beach break a little while ago. Boy was he getting crunched!!

I figure that surfing must get good when you improve, why else would they bother in the middle of winter? But then I think maybe they just haven't tried sailboarding and don't know what they're missing out on. A reach on a short board in 20+ knots is a feeling that's hard to match!

I wish I could windsurf and I love watching good windsurfers. I will get there.

Tbh Im not the greatest surfer but I find it very enjoyable, and yep rides are short but there is nothing like being powered up by the energy of a wave.

Grab your favourite epoxy surfboard (polyester will break), give it a solid coat of wax or a full length deck pad, add in a 8-10 metre kite (throw in about a year of practice), wettie and harness and bits and pieces and you've got almost every wind/wave combination covered up to around 30 knots in one sub-10kg kit.

If you're only interested in waves then consider a mat or body board and some good flippers (Voit Duck Feet are amazing).

Harrow said..

...

SUP's look interesting. I was watching a guy try to get out through 6' sets at a beach break a little while ago. Boy was he getting crunched!!

...

I was crap on short boards, ok on longboards and pretty competent on a SUP. The SUP was definitely the most surf bang for buck in terms of quantity and quality of waves. There is something supremely special about gliding along a green wall with the lip curling over your shoulder.

Unfortunately I was losing the will to live lugging a humunguous SUP around. Even my 8'11" short SUP is a pain. Even the slightest amount of wind can make SUP unpleasant when you're being blown back off waves in offshore, or battling cross chop in onshore conditions.

For overall funnest fun then board sailing wins (whether its windsurfing or kiting).

As a different slant on the topic Ive surfed my whole life until last few years due to buggered knees and the inability to "pop' up quick enough (left knee folds). Have been windsurfing for 20 plus years and am right into GPS sailing.
Then SUP came along and I reckon its the best thing for making the most of water time when there is no wind but you can utilise the option of getting out and catching waves or using light wind to do the same.
Covers all the options, any water time is a good thing. Great for getting the family into it too!!!!

GusTee said..
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Even if you are a cracking surfer at a really good location, whatever time you spend standing up surfing, you'll spend at least 10 times that to get back out to catch the next wave. That's hard to accept if you are coming from windsurfing where it's action most of the time.

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Technically you're correct. But if you adjust your expectations and pick your spot you can really increase your wave count. I have a spot that is usually a clean 2' close out beach break. I can get a wave every 2-3 minutes.

True the ride is only 10-20-30 seconds. You only drop in, do a turn, trim a bit, then ride out the dump, but the entire time is spent either paddling (which is fun on a SUP), turning or laying with the waves. In terms of surfing action and exercise it's almost non-stop. Paddling a SUP out over a breaking wave is a joy when you get the technique right. Add in a few gannets zooming by, the odd seal or dolphin and the occasional sea eagle and it is a beautiful thing.