Jonathan Block

Saturday, I get up at the crack of dawn to drive to Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica. I had registered for the surfing classes earlier in the week, and have the general location of where my surfing for beginners class will begin on a printed set of directions. I arrive and spend a while trying to find the actual spot that the class will start. After signing a waiver promising not to sue if I get hurt, I pick up a smokin’ hot wet suit and booties and I’m off to the bathroom to change.

When I return, we each grab a surf board and head out to the beach. There are about 15 students and 4 instructors. For about 45 minutes, we learn about the absolute basics of surfing including timing waves, how to pop up, how surfers choose who gets what waves, how to paddle around. We spend a lot of time on the beach just practicing the pop-up maneuver required to stand quickly on your feet. Soon after, we’re ready to jump in and try out what we learned.

The ocean water is freezing. There’s no way in hell anybody would swim in that water with just a bathing suit. I’m nervous at what its going to feel like when I actually enter the water with my board. As I enter, I mentally brace for the worst. It’s cold, but not so cold that I am freezing. I’m amazed at how well the wet suit repels the freezing water temperature . It’s just at that comfort point where I can *almost* not pay attention to the temperature of the water, although it does make my hands hurt.

I spend the next 2 hours in the water paddling around on my surfboard and practicing what I’ve learned on 2-4 foot waves. Suprisingly, I am able to stand up almost 5 times (depending on what you call standing up). Most of the times I got up, I was really totally out of control but standing nonetheless. Noontime arrives, and the class ends. We return all of the gear, and I’m off to my weekly volleyball game.

Sunday, same deal. I’m out at the beach this time again by 9AM, only this week, my friend Josh is there to meet me and take the class. He’s got some experience surfing so he’s impatient during the instructional portion of the morning. When we get into the ocean, the water seems colder than yesterday, and we’re in a more difficult area where the waves are a little bigger. I have a lot of trouble getting out because I don’t do a good job of padding out where the waves are small. Instead, I seem to spend most, if not all, of my energy trying to paddle out into waves that only toss me back to shore.

After 45 minutes, our instructors move the whole “class” of students down the beach to an area where it will be easier for us. With my energy drained arms, I’m able to continue paddling and making wave attempts for another half hour. Finally, I give out from exhaustion and have to take a rest.

As the class ends, I take note of where the local place is to rent gear for the next time I decide to come back and just surf. Board rentals are only $15 for the day if you can get them back by 5PM. I thought this one would be easier since I snowboard, but I underestimated surfing’s difficulty. I’ll definitely do it again especially if I’m in warmer waters.