well to start off, im a pretty decent swimmer, but l have fears when l go out surfing
once l paddle out and look back at shore, it freaks me out how far away it looks
also, it scares me how l cant feel the bottom
im also freaked out by the breaking waves in front of me and l keep thinking that itll knock me over and my surfboard will hit me
do you guys have any solutions to my problem?
i was thinking about maybe just brining my bodyboard out for a while until l feel at ease being that far out...
any other suggestions?

go out more often then once you see its not bad you will be acustom to just going out

find a new sport it seems like you scard of everry thing!

To surf u need to feel at home in the ocean. When u say decent swimmer, l hope u mean ocean swimmer, because there is a big difference between ocean swimming & pool swimming.

The best thing u can do is spend as much time as u can in the ocean, & I'd suggest sticking with ur surfboard, not a bodyboard. If you're afraid of not being able to touch the bottom, & maybe floating too far out to sea, ur surfboard will be a good aid. Depending on the surf spot, u may feel like you're being sucked out, thats probably just the current & you're not going to end up in the middle of the sea. But, always surf with a partner, preferrably someone who is comfortble in the ocean, so u wo not be alone were anything to happen. And if the men in the grey suits come around (sharks) u only have to outrun ur buddy, not them :).

Though it may seem like u r far out in the ocean, its necessary so u r not caught inside, right where the wave detonates. However, because u seem like a beginner, maybe u r not in the right spot, & paddle out farther than necessary; again l suggest paddling out with someone who is more experienced and/or watching where other people surf, to make sure you're in the right take-off zone. Eventually u will become more accustomed to positioning yourself in the lineup. But it is always a good idea to surf with at least one other person, or at the very least let someone know where u may be at what time, & when to expect u back.

l do not know if u r using a longboard or a shortboard, but ur board hitting u is always a concern. With a shortboard, u duck dive, with a longboard u flip it over, sometimes called the turtle roll. But being caught inside, especially on a heavy day can be scary for anyone; the wave looks a whole lot bigger when its right in front of you, & you're laying on ur board, right? The best thing u can do is hold on to ur board tightly, most of the time. As u surf more, u will instinctinvly learn when it is better to ditch ur board & when u should hold on for dear life. If u ditch, be VERY mindful of others close to you, a loose board can be dangerous. And be careful of it hitting u as well, though the most damage it can do would be to ur face. Anytime l get knocked around l cover my face with my arms, & as a result l have some stiches there, but l could possibly have been hit in the eye or something, & loosing my vision is something really scary to me. But again, the best thing u can do is practice, & when in doubt u should probably hold on to ur board, because it floats a hell of a lot better than u do.

As for not being able to feel the bottom, trust me, its there. Whats really scary is when u can feel the bottom all too much, i.e. gnarly reef breaks where the reef is literally right underneath the surface, thats what u should be more worried about. l know sometimes it can feel like a bottomless pit though, yeah? Its a little freaky, but just hold on to ur board, because again, it floats better than u do.

So the only way to overcome ur fears is to face them, but u do not have to do it alone & on days when the waves r really firing. When its just flat, go out & paddle around, get used to the feel of the ocean, because even when it looks really flat, it still moves & has character. Slowly u will become accustomed to the ocean & feel more at home with it, which is a major part of surfing for me.

Good luck!

Surfing is an ocean sport, to do it right, u have to be at home in the ocean, with its currents, rips, undertows & sometimes big waves. l do not just mean being good at swimming in a pool, the ocean can be very unforgiving. l have seen lots of really good pool swimmers have to get rescued. Young people have to learn surf etiquette (so the experienced surfers in the line up do not want to drown them), how to paddle & take off on a wave, & how to ride a wave.

l believe that lessons r usually the best way to start, unless u r an adolescent or young adult with lots of pals who surf who can teach you.

l started swiming in the ocean & back bays when l was in first or second grade. l spent almost all of my teen years, swimming, sailing, surfing, scuba diving & fishing. l even surfed in different places the Navy sent me, when it was possible.

Some of u poor folks think that u can really learn an ocean sport (art?) on a computer. My problem is l wish EVERYBODY could surf, & surf together in a friendly way, l have had a lifetime of joy from surfing. It can be dangerous, because the sea is very unforgiving. l have more than my share of breaks, sprains & strains. I've dragged myself up onto the beach a few times slashed up like l had been in a sword fight, but l still love it. The body eventually heals, & the sea is still making waves when l get better.

Be careful of what u read here on line. There r lots of really well meaning young folks who have neat about surfing, but at 55, l tend to classify anyone under 25 as a kid. After l found this site, l figured that l could answer a few questions, & spread the 'good news' of surfing. After u learn to swim & master the ocean, get ur REAL advice from a surf shop, where industry professionals earn their rent money selling surfboards.That is what worries me when l read some of these questions. Lots of folks just do not know what they r getting into. The more times inexperienced people screw up, & have to get rescued, the stricter anti surfing ordinances get past, & it makes it tough on the rest of us.

The truth is, YOU ARE NOT A PRETTY DECENT SWIMMER, otherwise u would feel almost at home swimming that far out in the ocean without ur surfboard as u do with it. have u ever done a mile in the ocean? Come on, l do not expect every surfer to another Eddie Aikau, but let is face it, surfing is done in the ocean. Do not expect to solve this problem on-line. Ther r enough dangerous people in the water already, & some poor lifeguard or Coastie gets stuck rescuing them. Take the time time to learn about the ocean. Go swimming, body surfing & body boarding. When u r really comfortable with it, it is time to start surfing. Have fun!

l agree with the other guy, not feeling the bottom is far far better than coral scraping against ur leg. It also means u wo not hit the bottom when u stack. To get over the deep water fear, take a mate out with you. Talk to him & concentrate on the waves. This should take ur mind off it. Maybe diving down & touching it could help too.? Practise duckdiving ( l wo not detail it here, but just google (oops :) it) so u can ''duck'' under the whitewater. If u can not duckdive it, get off ur board & swim under it. You will get under it, no worries, but check there is no-one behind u or ur board could smack into them. As to bodyboarding, it does feel less dangerous, so that could be good too. Good luck, & do not give up, its the best thing u will ever do!

you are NOT that far out swim out theire without your board and use the waves to get back your thinking of dieing instead of ther are about 500 surfers out here in the same spot and wow there having fun you well be surprised how simple it is to get in wait maybe not all l need to hear on the news is some grom drowning just get it out of your head