I'm heading out to the beach for the long weekend to learn how to surf. I've been wakesurfing like crazy and have gotten pretty good at it. I'm wondering, would any of my skills from wakesurfing translate to ocean surfing? Are there any similarities?

ehh it helps the other way around.

Are there some simlarities....yes. Is it the same.....no.

which means?

IMHO: <BR> <BR>wakesurfing is to wave surfing as treadmill is to road running.

^^^^ <BR>That was pretty good!

Paddling is overrated

You will be AMAZED at how much work paddling is compared to the endless wave a boat makes, then being picked up after you wreck. <BR> <BR>I wakesurf, then tried to surf in the ocean. After finally overcoming my fear of being eaten alive, I got in the water to be pummeled by the incoming waves. I was able to get upafter a few attempts for a VERY SHORT 15 second ride. THEN, I got pummeled again going back out. <BR> <BR>By the end of my session, my arms felt like jello, and I couldn't even paddle fast enough to catch the wave. <BR> <BR>With all that said, I do believe wakesurfing helped with my balance and the feel of the board on the water. And it made me realize how easy wakesurfing is in comparison.

Thanks guys, <BR> <BR>I'm off to the waves!

It greatly helps from the point when you really ride. But to get there you must learn all other parts of it - and that is 99,99999999 % of your time in ocean. <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/angry.gif" border=0> <BR>All other stuff you dont know is: choosing right place and wave for you, entering swell, reading ocean, avoiding or using rip currents, etc. Paddling, duckdiving, catching waves and getting off in right time. How to behave during wipeouts etc. etc. <BR> <BR>Now as wakesurfer you know something about your balance, sweet point, accelerating and decelarating etc. and that is great. <BR> <BR>On the other hand, without wakesurfing, when you imagine that you got only fractions of second for improving you riding skill in ocean I think ist more painful to get somewhere <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/happy.gif" border=0>You can clearly see that everybody who just catched wave doesnt want to loose it so he is not trying any new tricks and if, he will do it just at the very end of his ride.

I will never know,,,"JAWS" pretty much cinched the deal that I will never get in the big blue. That pic with the orca on the goofy side (my side) also cemented the idea. <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/uhoh.gif" border=0>

If you all ready know how to surf in the ocean, wakesurfing definitely will improve your small wave riding abilities. But you still have to get over that 99% part - judging and catching the wave, timing your get-up, getting up fast with your feet in the right place, etc. etc. Good luck.

and also locals!

^^^^^ <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/rofl.gif" border=0><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/rofl.gif" border=0><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/rofl.gif" border=0> <BR> <BR>Thats the truth! <BR> <BR>I used to fish for sharks at one of my favorite breaks when they were running, especially loved it when guys came by to check the breaks. Since we don't great surf all the time, the local guys drive around checking the good breaks. It scared most people away from surfing when they saw you bull a 5 or 6 ft black tip or bull shark outta the water at the surf break.

yea and injuries are pretty nasty too. Several cuts from fins etc. Dangerous sea animals and oil spils from tankers. Dont even want to know when some other surfer run into you, your leashes entangled and both of you got wipeouted .... scaaaaary awww <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/uhoh.gif" border=0>