Hi All...I'm a 44 year old dad with the daddy weight and due a mid life crisis...can't ford the flash car and I used to hang around various beaches growing up using body boards etc...but never learnt to surf...so I need some help...I'm ok in the water, obviously not as fit as I used to be and want to get started with a board etc...any advice would be greatly appreciated..cheers benny

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BenLogan said..
Hi All...I'm a 44 year old dad with the daddy weight and due a mid life crisis...can't ford the flash car and I used to hang around various beaches growing up using body boards etc...but never learnt to surf...so I need some help...I'm ok in the water, obviously not as fit as I used to be and want to get started with a board etc...any advice would be greatly appreciated..cheers benny

Hi and welcome,would help if we knew your weight? Buy a cheap board with heaps of volume and catch as many waves as you can,its all about enjoyment not about making the world tour.

Thanks Macaha...I'm 6'0 and weigh about 95kg...totally agree as well mate it's just about having some fun away from work etc...cheers benny

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BenLogan said..
Thanks Macaha...I'm 6'0 and weigh about 95kg...totally agree as well mate it's just about having some fun away from work etc...cheers benny

Get something around 9 foot so its not too long (big) for you to handle in and out of the water,also 23 wide x 3 no less or you will be giving yourself a hard time for no reason.

Yep what Mac Says 9.0 - 9.3 x 23 x 3 - 31/2

Volume is your friend!!!!

GO hard and have fun going over the nose a few times before you start getting the hang of it. Once you catch that first wave you will be hooked!!

Hi Benny. Never too late. At 44 you have got a lifetime still to go. Would suggest finding a local surf school. Even hook up a few private lessons to get underway. These guys/ladies are really good at what they do, particularly if they know that you want to have a long term dig, cause believe me it will take a while.
But hey, if it was easy everyone would do it.

Don't ignore a big foamy, just to get you started, even if you only need it for a few months, it may prove a good investment.

It won't hurt you and it won't hurt anyone you may hit.

If you don't like surfing you have not waisted too much cash.

You just need to make sure you can get to your feet, once you're up, the rest comes naturally so you can then think about a good hard board (NSPs are not good hard boards)

Stick to the small white water and stay away from other surfers

Look for rips, they're your friend for getting out the back.

Don't grab the rails when you go to pop up, the water can force your hand off the rail and it also puts your hands too far apart, making your chest closer to the board at full arm extension. Basically have your hands beside your boobies for the pushup.

When you do pop up, get your feet a comfortable distance apart, with knees slightly crooked and your body centred above your feet. Don't have your feet too far apart because you won't be able to shift your balance quickly enough.

Paddling is probably the most important part and the one thing that will bugger you the most, it's good to have sore shoulders at the end of the day, but not if you got no waves, your hard work should count for something.

Avoid chicken wing paddling, that's quick shallow stroked well away from the edge of the board.

You don't need to make you hands look like a paddle, having your fingertips 5 to 10 mm apart is fine.

Do a few deep and regular strokes when the wave is approaching, then the hard fast ones only when the wave is several meters from you.

You will feel it when the wave has you, don't keep paddling if that feeling is not there, it just wastes energy.

Unless you really must, don't paddle out too hard in white water, it's mostly air and you're just wasting energy.

95kg is not your only consideration, you're from VIC, so there's a good chance you're going to use a lot of rubber for a good part of the year, that's going to weigh you down further, so volume is definitely your friend until you learn to surf well.

You'll need to start with something close to 24" wide, more importantly, don't go under 23" wide, don't let anyone talk you into a board 3 inches thick or under, make you minimum thickness around 3 1/4" (I surf a 3 5/8" and a 4" at 110 kgs)

Lastly, when you have finally learnt and you start to rip, send this back to me and tell me to start taking my own advice

That's awesome! Thanks heaps mate...don't think I'll be sending you advice anytime soon though! Ha! Yes from VIC and agree think I'll have a witty on most of the time, not sure we'll even get a summer at this rate!

Thanks again mate greatly appreciated
Cheers
Benny

Hey mate...thanks for the reply...good idea re surf school...my oldest lives on the mornington peninsula so there's a few schools down there i can tap into...thanka again...cheers
benny

Thanks mate...really appreciate it.
cheers
benny

I'm sure ad we've got a 2 year old as well so I'm hoping if I get back into the water she can get into it as ever eventually...thanks for the reply mate...cheers
benny

Hey Benny,
I was in the same boat as you 18 months ago, bodyboarding when I was younger, nil stand up, but wanted to have a crack. I had lessons at a surf school which paid off in spades, I still suck but the learning curve was definitely shortened. My advice - lessons, listen to the advice you find on here and surf as much as possible. As someone else said have fun.

Hey Benny, if you are after lessons on the Peninsula get in touch with Fraser a Salty Surf School. Ripping bloke, and great teacher. He'll get you up and about in no time saltysurfschool.com/

I have never surfed a foamie but when I was surfing in Costa Rica the boat driver for us had one. Threw it in the water and the s**t he was doing on a foamie was mind blowing. Quickly made me realise we are all suckers for owning so many boards!

so good Benny

the key to surfing was given to me a few years back... i asked...what is the trick to this surfing gig anyway? , knowing that there is a trick surely that would get me ripping in no time!!

the answer i got was a gem.... but not what i wanted to hear.

practice

thankfully it is surfing so happy to practice.

enjoy the moments bro.... this is about to ruin your life

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McHenry said..
Quickly made me realise we are all suckers for owning so many boards!

WTF

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Macaha said...

McHenry said..
Quickly made me realise we are all suckers for owning so many boards!

WTF

He must've started drinking early, that is crazy talk... especially for a bloke that invented the term McHenring on Ebay??

Benny, if you start be prepared to get addicted. you'll crave it when you can't do it and probably not appreciate it enough when you can..

I've just finished Barbarian days and he explains what happens when it gets into your blood better then any I've read or could explain.

Great post by OB and lessons are a great idea too.

So I'll ask a similar question cause a few blokes have been there and got the TShirt.
So

Any suggestions for someone in a similar situation but
Has no time to surf, probably surfed 3-5 times a month in average over the past few years.
used to surf a lot and now has hit the, the old injuries are playing up,not so flexible, not so fit, has a 2 year old, getting to middle age wall..

Things that were easy just aren't anymore. I take off look up the front and think, that's a long way away

So what tips if any do the blokes that have done it have to keep surfing through,
and finding time too surf during the kid phase?

and then later in life??

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SP said..

Macaha said...

McHenry said..
Quickly made me realise we are all suckers for owning so many boards!

WTF

He must've started drinking early, that is crazy talk...

Ok I'll let it slip THIS TIME

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SP said..

Macaha said...

McHenry said..
Quickly made me realise we are all suckers for owning so many boards!

WTF

So I'll ask a similar question cause a few blokes have been there and got the TShirt.
So

Any suggestions for someone in a similar situation but
Has no time to surf, probably surfed 3-5 times a month in average over the past few years.
used to surf a lot and now has hit the, the old injuries are playing up,not so flexible, not so fit, has a 2 year old, getting to middle age wall..

Things that were easy just aren't anymore. I take off look up the front and think, that's a long way away

So what tips if any do the blokes that have done it have to keep surfing through,
and finding time too surf during the kid phase?

and then later in life??

Divorce

OP your answers are above..

SP im like you except i got way sick at Christmas and just finding some health now. And its hard when your unfit and struggling. I paddled out one day and my heart was beating out of my chest,took the fun out of it . Duckdiving is the worse because you not only lose your cardio but your strength as well which really sucks when you are dying after ducking 6 2footers

The guy runs the high performance surf clinics said to me squats and push ups. Push ups can even be standing up and using a table as it all helps.

I have also been given a copy of yoga for surfers tgat i have found to be really ****ing hard.... but just as benificial and i am starting to enjoy the progress. In fact it is changing my whole day now.

Also SP the grom is getting to the riding bodyboards and foamie age. I know of grom who is going to look like she is 102yo after tbis summer

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SP said..

Macaha said...

McHenry said..
Quickly made me realise we are all suckers for owning so many boards!

WTF

He must've started drinking early, that is crazy talk... especially for a bloke that invented the term McHenring on Ebay??

Benny, if you start be prepared to get addicted. you'll crave it when you can't do it and probably not appreciate it enough when you can..

I've just finished Barbarian days and he explains what happens when it gets into your blood better then any I've read or could explain.

Great post by OB and lessons are a great idea too.

So I'll ask a similar question cause a few blokes have been there and got the TShirt.
So

Any suggestions for someone in a similar situation but
Has no time to surf, probably surfed 3-5 times a month in average over the past few years.
used to surf a lot and now has hit the, the old injuries are playing up,not so flexible, not so fit, has a 2 year old, getting to middle age wall..

Things that were easy just aren't anymore. I take off look up the front and think, that's a long way away

So what tips if any do the blokes that have done it have to keep surfing through,
and finding time too surf during the kid phase?

and then later in life??

I just told my wife surf season is from March to November book whatever **** you want in Nov-Feb cause chances are I won't be available when its on

Shes pretty good about it and knows that I will go flat knacker to make it up when the surfs poophouse

If its good I will usually just try and crank out as much surfing as I can if its marginal I will keep it to 45min or an hour...if its **** I don't bother

Be when you get home you got to scoop the kids up and take them off the boss's hands until the next surf is due or do the housework or whatevers

You going to be very tired most of spring and autum when the surfs good I will get up early surf for 2-3hrs come home take the kids surfing for a couple of hours and then bike ride have a bite to eat and then hit the surf for another few hours come home cook dinner and fall asleep at 8:30 hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Tux he wanted a solution not some spoilt bloke rubbing his nose into it yeeeeooow

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chrispy said..
Tux he wanted a solution not some spoilt bloke rubbing his nose into it yeeeeooow

Hahahahahahahah....most people reckon its about balance...I agree its about balancing on your board


Nah to be honest a few years ago I had a look at myself and decided to focus on the things that were most important to me in life

1. Wife and Kids
2. Surfing
3. Core group of mates I've had since I was 12

Once I dropped all the other stuff I found there's a ton of time to do the things you love bacause your not at the pub for some work drinks, catching up with some people you barely know, worrying about extended family bull****, etc etc...

Read a book called "The Art of not giving a f*ck" very good book and will help you prioritise

Thanks for the great posts boys.

Some real food for thought. Guess it comes down to prioritizing what is important to you and arranging **** around it...



This made me laugh today, similar subject...

www.betootaadvocate.com/breaking-news/man-45-in-critical-condition-after-midlife-crisis-lands-him-in-hospital/


Man-45-in-critical-condition-after-midlife-crisis-lands-him-in-hospital

CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT

A local father of three is in hospital today with two broken fingers, a fracturing a hip and a severe concussion after a midlife crisis left him for dead on a suburban embankment.

Andrew Loughton (45) was found by a bushwalker, head-to-toe in lycra at around 8:00am this morning.

“He looked like he had been trying to fill a void left in his life after having a family” said the bushwalker, Dave.“I knew once I saw him face down, covered in grazes and lycra, that this was a result of a transition of identity and self-confidence,”“That and the looming mortality that men struggle with in their mid-to-late forties,”

Loughton’s brand new Cannondale bike was also found at the scene, several metres away and on the other side of a guard rail.

A paramedic on the scene described what he saw as a first respondent.“It was a very unfortunate sight,” he said.“We found a man who’s wife hasn’t let him go to the pub in three years,”“It’s hard to tell this early but I would say it’s safe to assume that he only has daughters…

With one that is approaching puberty and can basically only communicate through passive sarcasm.”It is reported that Loughton is currently on the mend at the Betoota Royal Hospital, with his wife already sending him text messages explaining why this whole bicycle thing was a ****ing stupid idea from the start.

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BenLogan said..
Hi All...I'm a 44 year old dad with the daddy weight and due a mid life crisis...can't ford the flash car and I used to hang around various beaches growing up using body boards etc...but never learnt to surf...so I need some help...I'm ok in the water, obviously not as fit as I used to be and want to get started with a board etc...any advice would be greatly appreciated..cheers benny

Gday mate, couldn't think of a better mid life crisis than surfing & plenty have started in there 40's. Plenty have started much earlier...at the end of the day it all comes down to how often you get in the water & your health to how well you go. Certainly won't hurt your health provided you pace yourself, people our age (I'm also 44) can experience heart attacks & strokes when we get back into something with the mind trying to overcome the matter (of our older bodies). I would also recommend a softboard, you can get some really good ones these days. You might be surprised at how well they can go

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SP said..


Any suggestions for someone in a similar situation but
Has no time to surf, probably surfed 3-5 times a month in average over the past few years.
used to surf a lot and now has hit the, the old injuries are playing up,not so flexible, not so fit, has a 2 year old, getting to middle age wall..

Things that were easy just aren't anymore. I take off look up the front and think, that's a long way away

So what tips if any do the blokes that have done it have to keep surfing through,
and finding time too surf during the kid phase?

and then later in life??

I understand were you are coming from. Its hard fitting in everything and although i do have time, i often don't have enough time to travel to good breaks so have to squeeze in what i can.

The key though is not to get disgruntled IMHO. I find i slip and start to surf worse and then i get frustrated and it becomes a downward spiral. If you can just enjoy it for what it is, enjoy the water and except your surfing will go up and down (especially when you don't get out often) then you'll relax some and find the enjoyment slipping back, less pressure and the surfing comes second nature..

One more point is if you can stay fit, that makes a big difference..


Thats how it works for me anyway, 44 and 100kilos, not pulling airs, but couldn't care less, i try and enjoy all the waves i can

Your kids will get easier. Mine are now 12 and 15.. Enjoy them whilst you can as you will sneeze and they all grown up.

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MickPC said..

BenLogan said..
Hi All...I'm a 44 year old dad with the daddy weight and due a mid life crisis...can't ford the flash car and I used to hang around various beaches growing up using body boards etc...but never learnt to surf...so I need some help...I'm ok in the water, obviously not as fit as I used to be and want to get started with a board etc...any advice would be greatly appreciated..cheers benny

Gday mate, couldn't think of a better mid life crisis than surfing & plenty have started in there 40's. Plenty have started much earlier...at the end of the day it all comes down to how often you get in the water & your health to how well you go. Certainly won't hurt your health provided you pace yourself, people our age (I'm also 44) can experience heart attacks & strokes when we get back into something with the mind trying to overcome the matter (of our older bodies). I would also recommend a softboard, you can get some really good ones these days. You might be surprised at how well they can go

Good reply Jb.


I stopped surfing completely when we purchased our first home and our first child was born,just so much going on and to do,so worked our butts off just to get by,sold the one surfboard I owned at the time and put the money towards timber for landscaping.

I live 5 mins from the beach I could surf every day if I wanted to but I couldn't surf every day like I did,still so much work to do so I get in work mode Mon to Fri. Staying fit is huge and buying a new board from time to time helps,its hard to fit everything in when you have a young family but find a balance that works for all.

Ben,

Never to old ,i surfed all my life up to when i was about 40 , then work commitments away ,living in Wa started kite surfing (still do it on surfboard)

Moved back to goldie 2 years ago and got back in to surfing , was like i never surfed , fell off more times than i got up, bought a mid with plenty of float from Ronnie Goddard , made it a lot a easier to get my stoke back but still took some months and still falling off more than i like to admit.

Now at 60 next week just booked into having a hip replacement in November and will be starting all over again back in the water in January , never to old and its the person having the most fun surfing who is the best, enjoy mate keep at it and you will get there and never give it up ,i intend not to