The surfing was brilliant

by Tess McMahon on 10/08/2009, 3.44pm

The teacher (Mike) was so good at helping build my confidence and teaching me the techniques to ride the waves. After some warm up and practice on the beach, we went into the sea and with Mikes’s guidance I followed the four stages from lying to standing. The first few times I wobbled and went into the sea fairly quickly, but then I found my balance and to my astonishment rode the wave all the way in!

The weather and sea were in the perfect condition for learning and I progressed, step by step, from simply trying to balance to taking off on my own and going all the way to shore. If I didn’t get in a stable position I curved round and came off, but that didn’t stop me. When I didn’t get it I was into the water, but when I did, it was amazing! It was so exhilarating and I was so delighted; I had never expected to make such progress.

Afterwards I saw myself (and others) on the big screen that was being projected on the beach. I saw myself riding the waves right in to shore, sometimes with a look of concentration, sometimes laughing with joy. It was great!

I really want to go again and perhaps do another class at the same surf school. But I want some other 50+ people to come with me!  It seems to me that as long as you love the sea, are reasonably supple and want to have a go you will probably manage – with a good teacher like I had to teach the technique and give confidence.