Should I skip surfing altogether?

[burchas]

I've never got deep into sup surfing for 2 reasons, no easy access to any good surf brakes
and bad energy in general on the line-ups.

For a long time I've ignored foiling altogether but than it hit me, foiling could be the answer
for these 2 very issues. almost any breaks can work, therefor  no more line-ups to deal with.

With all the foiling craze these days it seems to be a logical move, and I won't even have to rid
my self of old surfing habits that don't apply to foiling.

After all, the thing that really captured me in surfing for the super long rides...

Any words of wisdom from surfers turned foilers

[opie]

I think you need to surf some first, but you don't need to be awesome, as long as you have some patience.  I also think that if you have downwind experience that's good enough.  You need to know what to expect when the waves power takes over.
It is different from a regular SUP when you are flying but maneuvering in waves and catching them is much the same. 

[seadart]

I was kind of puzzled by your comment about no access to good SUP breaks.  I think what I like best about SUP surfing is that I can paddle up and down the coast and just look for a spot where the waves are breaking and have it all to my self, they don't have to be perfect  to have fun,  easy to catch most waves with a paddle and a 9' board.   Bad Vibe in the lineup, I just paddle down the beach a bit and surf the non-primo breaks.   

[Bean]

You have to become proficient in the surf mat before you can surf, it's the law...

[burchas]

Bad Vibe in the lineup, I just paddle down the beach a bit and surf the non-primo breaks.

If you'll say you're averaging 30+ seconds rides on non-primo dumping close-outs beach breaks, I'm intrigued!

[burchas]

You have to become proficient in the surf mat before you can surf, it's the law...

That's fresh coming from an outlaw Hope you're all mended and back on the water

[Bean]

Thanks B!

[PonoBill]

Of course you can skip it. The foil stuff presents a particular problem to surfers because they have to unlearn a lot of stuff. Like where your feet go, where to put weight, how to turn, how to bail. Even the way waves work is different. You don't see intermediate foilers doing cutbacks into the pocket of a big wave--they're riding an unbroken swell a hundred yards from the pocket and avoiding whitewater like the plague.

Go for it.

The biggest benefit of foiling seems to be that even though the surfers hate it, particularly the ponytailed longboarders that get three waves per day, they don't generally say anything because they "know" it takes a level of skill that's beyond them. They view SUP surfing as surfing with a crutch, but foil surfing is clearly a more elite level. They'll bitch about the danger if you get within fifty yards of them, but other than weenie remarks there's not much response.

[burchas]

Of course you can skip it...

Thanks Bill! That's the answer I was looking for. Will save me the headache figuring out
the best 3 in 1 board for me. Now I only need 2 in 1 (sup/windsup foiling)