Dad to Dad/Mom

O.K. at what age do you guys/gals recommend you start getting kids ready to surf and how?My daughter is seven and loves the water.I taught swimming for 11 years and always thought that if you get them in the water right away(in her case 28 days....94degree hot tub) that they would basically learn to swim on their own,the 'Fear Factor' has been eliminated.So far so good.She loves the water and is very interested in my surfing, she's also a very good swimmer.Loves watching all the videos over and over and over...you get the idea.My question is I don,t want to screw up her love of the water and all things in it by being over zealous.I know there is some great advice out there ...Thanks, Paul

At 3 days old the Rhodes began Dylan's orientation with the ocean by introducing the sounds of the ocean to him using one of those sound machines. Shortly after he reached 2 months sea shells held up to his ears while he's getting his diaper changed (shared duty) were added. Since 6 months Dylan has been swimming in pools (only partially assisted). Currently at eight months of age he hangs with Mrs. Carson on the beach while Carson takes care of bidness out in the water.

His program will be stepped up significantly over the next several months in preparation for next winter. His breath holding routine will be increased from 2 minutes to just under 4 (and the ankle weights will be increased from 20lbs to 40lbs... each side). His diet will be altered to include heavy doses of rotten food to prepare his immune system for overseas travel to foreign surf destinations.

He already has a 5'10 ultra light tri-fin board which he will be expected to carry himself down the trails at The Cliffs (he will be provided a water resistant back pack for his wet suit). He will only have about 1.5 miles to hitch hike to the parking lot at The Cliffs from his home.

All in all, he seems to be progressing about average for a SoCal kid.

At whatever age it is fun and safe at your beach. My first contact with waves was when I was about ten. I rode an air mattress based upon mimic what the older kids were doing.

In a low tide, small wave, sandy beach, I think a much younger kid would enjoy riding waves on a mattress. Providing the setting, having older kids as examples, having an available air mattress, and supervising for safety would be a very good start IMHO. I feel lucky in that I was always in control of my progression and did not have a parent pushing and pressuring me.

Thanks Alot.that is very similar to how i learned about waves.Rental air mattress at La Jolla shores 1966, 9 years old..no pressure lots of fun.Thats kind of what I had in mind.Thanks Again. Paul

I recommend starting them on a bodyboard as soon as they *want* to go out. My 5 y.o. son has been bodyboarding the shoredump for the last 2 years, and has gotten quite comfortable (and cocky) about it. He now catches the whitewater on his belly and practices standing up on the way in. I didn't *push* him to start doing it... in fact, I can't f*ckin' get him to stop! When the waves get big (thats 2 ft. here on the east coast he gets pounded, and stays cautious for a week or so. But, that's all forgotten when he catches his next wave. That being said, my daughters are a bit more tentative. The 12 year old still bodyboards, but is afraid of the pointy shortboards, and is less tenacious in general. The 8 year old has no interest in boards (yet), but bodysurfs pretty damn well for her age. The short answer is: you're gonna have to read your own kid, of course. There's no one answer that applies to all situations. The important thing, at first, is to get them comfortable with being in the ocean. Bodysurfing and/or bodyboarding are good for that purpose. The kids learn the 'feel' of being out there and gain confidence with each subsequent outing. But, I think the most important part of introducing your kids to the surf is to be out there WITH them - even if it means missing out a little on your own session.

Good luck,

kids are all different, some are fearless at first then discover fear later.

You got the most imporant thing done, you have her swimming well, some people skip that step.

Step two before teaching her to catch and ride waves is to just play in the slop with her. Sit in the sand with her and let some of the waves tumble you both around. We played a game called 'driftwood' when the kids were about that age, where you pretend you're a piece of driftwood and you let the surf roll you around and see where you end up.

Somewhere along the way after that they can start boogying, boarding or bodysurfing, as when they fall off it won't be a frightening experience.

Before you take them out into deeper water, I suggest having them swim WAYY out with you, past the breakers until the get a sense of comfort being in open water, and won't panic if a rip pulls them farther out than they are used to. My daughter felt fine after the first time, my son needed about 3 trips before the 'unreasonable' fear went away.

At our annual Newport trip, I had my kids swim out past the Newport pier and back in on the first or second day, their confidence and comfort in the surf improves radically. we go no fins, but not if it's a huge swell.

Make sure they watch a lot of 'Rocket Power' on Nickleodeon! Just kidding . At three, my boy thinks it cool that dad surfs so he watches vids with me. He stood up on waves in the soup at 14 months and already claims my old 6'8' as 'Jacob's Board.' He'll be souping it in Oregon next month.

David, Proud Dad, Seattle

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you start getting kids ready to the water.I taught swimming for them in the water right away(in they would basically learn to been eliminated.So far so good.She my surfing, she's also a very good and over and over...you get the up her love of the water and all there is some great advice out

My 13-year-old daughter had aquatics week at school (kayaking, surfing, windsurfing, sailing