surfing vs SUP

[buddha]

I have never surfed in my life.

I am 54 years old.

I am mostly a landlubber with the only water sport being kayak fishing.

I tried SUP this past weekend and it looked fun.

I would like to experience surfing small waves just to say that I have done it nothing big.

Can an old goat actually learn to surf at my age?

Which has a bigger learning curve surfing or SUP?

[Scottiver]

You can learn to surf at any age! I've been surfing on and off for 25 years and it still took me a couple sessions to feel comfortable catching waves on my SUP, but once I figured it out it was FUN!
Just make sure you try it away from all other surfers because they can get real testy if a newbie surfer gets in their way let alone a newbie SUP'er.
I always say that the hard thing about surfing isn't surfing but dealing with all the other surfers.
But by all means give it a try, just don't get too discouraged  because it's a little tricky at first.

[JC50]

An athletic 54 y/o can learn how to ride anything!

A beginner SUP is easy to stand on and paddle. Surfing is a bit tricky at first but easier to catch waves when you're already standing, and the big board will catch the small waves ideal for starting out. Plus, you're not restricted to popular surf breaks to catch waves, you can catch them anywhere. The real challenge of surfing is not riding the wave but knowing where to be and learning how to deal with other surfers. Beauty of SUP is that you can do it far away from the crowds and learn all by yourself (or better yet with a few friends) without danger of doing the wrong thing in an established crowd.

However, if you just want to experience waves, to start I'd recommend some small swim fins and a body board. It is a very cheap investment and body-surfing/body-boarding is the easiest and most intimate way to experience wave riding. In a few short sessions you will have significantly more wave knowledge than equal time trying it out on a SUP or surfboard. If you like it then go for the surfboard/SUP.

It also comes down to where you live and availability of waves. If waves are frequent where you are, get out and body-board now. If they are very infrequent, maybe a SUP will at least get you on the water and when there are no waves paddling a board around is good fun and exercise.

Only one serious warning, you may find you like surfing a wave so much that other things in your life could suffer the consequences...  

[PilonSUP]

I teach people to catch there first waves all the time,It's easy with the right conditions & equipment,and a little instruction can't hurt .

Like JC50 said be cautious...priorities can change once you ride the wild surf, 54..just a number.

This guy was 60 and way out of shape,day three. Go have fun & watch out for others.

[Boludo]

My Dad who is 65 yrs old and from the desert (Arizona) has a SUP and he comes out and surfs his SUP with me.  He does pretty good for just starting it a year ago.  He's pretty comfortable on smaller waves.  You can absolutely do it.  54 isn't that old to learn!!!

[PonoBill]

You young guys seem to have a lot of trepidation. I'm 63, started SUP surfing at about 59 or so. I started seriously longboarding a few years before that when I toasted my rotator cuffs and couldn't windsurf for awhile.

To answer your questions:
1. If you start SUP surfing you should understand that you won't stop with little waves and just "saying you did it". You might get away with that with Crack, but SUP is way more addictive.

2. Yes, you're not too young, you'll be fine, just have your Mom sign the waiver.

3. SUP has a different learning curve, but it's easier to catch small waves with a SUP.

[Boludo]

You young guys seem to have a lot of trepidation.

Trepidation is a big word.   I had to look that one up in the dictionary

[Tom]

I would suggest that you also try laydown surfing, not just SUP-surfing. That will help you with your SUP-surfing, but most importantly, learn what the laydown guys are going through.

[buddha]

An athletic 54 y/o can learn how to ride anything!

A beginner SUP is easy to stand on and paddle. Surfing is a bit tricky at first but easier to catch waves when you're already standing, and the big board will catch the small waves ideal for starting out. Plus, you're not restricted to popular surf breaks to catch waves, you can catch them anywhere. The real challenge of surfing is not riding the wave but knowing where to be and learning how to deal with other surfers. Beauty of SUP is that you can do it far away from the crowds and learn all by yourself (or better yet with a few friends) without danger of doing the wrong thing in an established crowd.

However, if you just want to experience waves, to start I'd recommend some small swim fins and a body board. It is a very cheap investment and body-surfing/body-boarding is the easiest and most intimate way to experience wave riding. In a few short sessions you will have significantly more wave knowledge than equal time trying it out on a SUP or surfboard. If you like it then go for the surfboard/SUP.

It also comes down to where you live and availability of waves. If waves are frequent where you are, get out and body-board now. If they are very infrequent, maybe a SUP will at least get you on the water and when there are no waves paddling a board around is good fun and exercise.

Only one serious warning, you may find you like surfing a wave so much that other things in your life could suffer the consequences...  

Thank you for an interesting angle with learning body boarding first.

Maybe I should back track and take some swimming lessons also since I am probably a below average swimmer.

I am mainly interested in SUP for the core workouts since I am a golfer and also a tennis player.

I am intrigued in trying surfing though!

[buddha]

I teach people to catch there first waves all the time,It's easy with the right conditions & equipment,and a little instruction can't hurt .

Like JC50 said be cautious...priorities can change once you ride the wild surf, 54..just a number.

This guy was 60 and way out of shape,day three. Go have fun & watch out for others.

Are you getting a lot of people moving to Costa Rica and retiring from the US?

That looks like gentle waves which would work for me!

[buddha]

My Dad who is 65 yrs old and from the desert (Arizona) has a SUP and he comes out and surfs his SUP with me.  He does pretty good for just starting it a year ago.  He's pretty comfortable on smaller waves.  You can absolutely do it.  54 isn't that old to learn!!!

Where did he learn and did he take lessons from a pro?

[buddha]

You young guys seem to have a lot of trepidation. I'm 63, started SUP surfing at about 59 or so. I started seriously longboarding a few years before that when I toasted my rotator cuffs and couldn't windsurf for awhile.

To answer your questions:
1. If you start SUP surfing you should understand that you won't stop with little waves and just "saying you did it". You might get away with that with Crack, but SUP is way more addictive.

2. Yes, you're not too young, you'll be fine, just have your Mom sign the waiver.

3. SUP has a different learning curve, but it's easier to catch small waves with a SUP.

Thanks.

Where do you do your surfing in Oregon?

[buddha]

I would suggest that you also try laydown surfing, not just SUP-surfing. That will help you with your SUP-surfing, but most importantly, learn what the laydown guys are going through.

I am thinking about learning traditional surfing also.

Is it a lot different than SUP and do you think SUP has a shorter learning curve?

[buddha]

You can learn to surf at any age! I've been surfing on and off for 25 years and it still took me a couple sessions to feel comfortable catching waves on my SUP, but once I figured it out it was FUN!
Just make sure you try it away from all other surfers because they can get real testy if a newbie surfer gets in their way let alone a newbie SUP'er.
I always say that the hard thing about surfing isn't surfing but dealing with all the other surfers.
But by all means give it a try, just don't get too discouraged  because it's a little tricky at first.

I have never enjoyed crowds so I would probably go away from the maddening crowds even if the surf is small.

[H2Oman]

buddha,

Where do you live?