My little 9yo grandson has been hassling me to take him surfing. I freaked him out taking him to sandtracks a couple of months ago in sht conditions, then the next expedition saw him getting whacked by backwash at Scarbs.
I'm looking at this week being good and small around Perth metro. Any ideas where I should take him?.
Prefer a soft little sandy bank somewhere, not too shallow, (or maybe Cott?).
Its his first (third really) session, that I just want to find something soft and mellow for him to mess around in and get some confidence.
I got him a small fish, but thinking I might get him on my 6'2", wide thick board to start. (like a minimal for him) I have at least a hundred different pieces of advice re boards, but I'm happy to try him on my board to get him comfortable.
So any ideas as to a break around Perth this week to get him moving?
Ta.

Backbeach at Lano or Secret Harbour, both have shallow sloping sea floors with long lines of whitewater to learn on.

Try Mullaloo....quite tame, but good for the little ones to get a ride on the re-form.

Club cap is very nice.

Good advise. Brighton can be OK if the tide is up. Theres a spot known as gus's cove. Bit of secret spot so im not sure if I can divulge its ixistance athouth im half way through a jug of vodka listening to the stones after a great arvo catching up with old friends so i here we go. Just north of trigg point theres a carpark little reef out the back great place for the super groms. Keep it to yourself.

I second mullaloo. Probably one of the most beginner friendly spots around and if waves are too small, Beastsurf's spot is a good one if it is the same as what I am thinking.

Thanks guys. That should do it. Much appreciated.
Don't worry about your secret spots.
We'll only be there when its ankle high. I can only assume you'll be at home drinking vodka and listening to the stones when we're there.
When my grandkid is eventually ripping, I'll tell him to be nice to you guys if he sees you in the lineup.

Mate its worth getting him a softy as well suggest soemthing 7-8 foot, have a look at all the surf schools and this is what they use for the groms to get them going. Its worked well with my kids, I tried using one of my fish type boards approach and the fat stable softys are better to gett em going. Oldest daughter now rides my fish, a mini mal and her katana short board but spent most of last year on the softy at trigg, wave counts higher and fun factor is higher.

Cheers

Edit - Opps sorry just read the last part of your post. cheers mate. sands filling in at da point thats good for the groms as well.

Cheers

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quirkus said..

My little 9yo grandson has been hassling me to take him surfing. I freaked him out taking him to sandtracks a couple of months ago in sht conditions, then the next expedition saw him getting whacked by backwash at Scarbs.
I'm looking at this week being good and small around Perth metro. Any ideas where I should take him?.
Prefer a soft little sandy bank somewhere, not too shallow, (or maybe Cott?).
Its his first (third really) session, that I just want to find something soft and mellow for him to mess around in and get some confidence.
I got him a small fish, but thinking I might get him on my 6'2", wide thick board to start. (like a minimal for him) I have at least a hundred different pieces of advice re boards, but I'm happy to try him on my board to get him comfortable.
So any ideas as to a break around Perth this week to get him moving?
Ta.

If you like i've also got a 6' Elnino and a 7' Long board style (Hot tamale) if you want to borrow try them..My kids have now both moved to glass boards and only play on the foamies when lost of kids around..

One point is though to take them in clean conditions. It saps their energy too much when its choppy and scrappy. Also a mate of mine (who is great with teaching kids) showed me to push them in trimming and they get a lot better ride. Mullaloo is great as has been said and we often spend hours out their.

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shunter said..

Mate its worth getting him a softy as well suggest soemthing 7-8 foot, have a look at all the surf schools and this is what they use for the groms to get them going. Its worked well with my kids, I tried using one of my fish type boards approach and the fat stable softys are better to gett em going. Oldest daughter now rides my fish, a mini mal and her katana short board but spent most of last year on the softy at trigg, wave counts higher and fun factor is higher.

Cheers

Edit - Opps sorry just read the last part of your post. cheers mate. sands filling in at da point thats good for the groms as well.

Cheers

Thanks Shunter,, I asked all those questions re board,,, and I received a resounding "Quirky as soon as they get the gist , they're up and away and will only have the softie for two or three months" and the other one: " mate, toughen up get em used to the glass straight off".. so I took that road.

However,, I take on board all the other advice and will definately start off with some clean small conditions, and push him into trimming.
I'll give Mullaloo a shot first as its closer, then maybe move up to lanno, or secret habour.
Cheers & Thanks

Mullaloo was flat this morning , which is what I was kind of expecting. But never been there, so willing to check it out.

Plan B to Lanno. By the time we got there was starting to get a bit blown out, but definately the best choice. Nice 'shallow sloping floors' and a long bank, did the trick, despite the wind.
Have to go the early, next time to beat the Southerly/SW. Thanks guys.