Surfing at TL-How good of shape....

[#1Disfann]

do you need to be in? I have done a search on this so I know all the particulars (cost, age limit, length of time, etc) but no one really says what kind of shape you need to be in. I know it says you need to be a strong swimmer...How strong? (Lifeguard strong?) If you fall off are you kept underwater for a bit or something? I would like to do this with my DH and DD(13) but have concerns about me and DD. Daughter would be fine I'm sure, just me being overprotective, especially since the required age is only 8! Now me, I will be turning 40 while at Disney and I would say I am in average shape. A little overweight, but no medical conditions of any sort. If you can't ever manage to stand up, can you ride them in lying on the board? You used to be able to do this at TL when they would give out air mattresses for everyone to ride. What fun that was!! So what do you all think? I'm trying to find something for all of us to do but because DD is only 13 she can't do hardly any of the behind the scenes tours and we already did the Family Magic tour (which was fun)! Any ideas or suggestions? TIA

 

[dbanzai]

I did surfing in '03, so I'll tell you what I can remember.

The price was about $120 for two hours. TL admission is not included, but you are there before the park opens and don't need admission unless you intend to stay at the park after the lesson.

The setup is like this: They take you to the wave pool, give you a brief lesson (10-20 minutes I say) and then you are essentially good to go. They give you a board that fits your needs and then you take turns riding. There are two people surfing at a time, down two "lanes." When it's your turn, you paddle out to the first instructor and he'll ask you how you plan to ride (regular/right-footed or "goofy"- left-footed... That's the real term, not just used here at Disney ). He will then attatch the board to the appropriate foot by a cord. A horn sounds and the wave starts in a few seconds. The instructor gives you a push and you are off, trying to raise. After your first ride, you paddle out to the instructor in the second lane and do it all again. After your second wave, you paddle to the exit, get out, carry your board to the starting point and wait until your next two waves.

I don't think they'll let you just ride the board. For one thing, you have to be able to get off the board at a certain point for safety's sake (they have flags up to show you where. So (thinking logically, not that they tell you all this) If you were to just roll off and roll the wrong way, you could accidentally wrap yourself to the board, and that would be the most dangerous thing.

I was 30 at the time (it was the day after my birthday actually, a present to myself, a huge fan of the surf genre), I'm a good swimmer but in about average phyisical condition. Our group ranged in age from one kid about 10 to a guy in his 40s or 50s. There was never any moment where I ever really was swimming that I can remember, but you'll have to be able to get back to your board when you get thrown off.

The most tiring part of it all, the part where I really felt you needed physical conditioning to do well, was with all the paddling. You lie on the board and do a crawl stroke with your arms. You can't use your legs as they are on the board. Therefore it is the chest and arms which really get the workout. I dropped out of one or two turns in order to recover some strength, but we had a small group and others had dropped out for the day already, so we were going through the rotation very fast.

They allow guests of your party to watch, so even if DH and DD go, you can just stay there and watch, look around al little bit or take pictures. Maybe you can ask somebody if you can get your money back if you don't try... My guest was allowed to watch the instruction without paying so that may be an option.

It was a lot of fun if tiring and I am very possibly going to do it again when I go back next November. If it's something you've thought about doing in the past, I'd say do it! You're not likely to get another chance to do it in such a controlled, shark-free, safe environment.

Here are some pictures:

Me and the board:

Paddling, the only surfing pain:

WAHAHAHAHA! Wipeout!

 

[#1Disfann]

The pictures were very helpful. I was picturing MUCH larger waves for some reason. I think we will give this a try.

 

[dbanzai]

No, no pipelines, no curls. It's a good place to learn.

And you're welcome.