Just got back from my first surf lesson here in Santa Cruz, thanks to Rick Schmidt Surf School. Had a few good rides in a light (2-3 foot) break.
Bitchin' sport - and it definitely is a sport. Muscles are barkin', though, 'cause nothing else really prepares you for paddling.
Pictures to follow... and a big "Yamah Bro!" to Dan on the new crib in D.C.
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I've always wanted to learn to surf but the whole shark issue terrifies me. I was traumatized by Jaws at a young age. Damn you, Steven Speilberg!
I've read about things they used at the Sydney Olympics which could keep sharks away using some sort of hum. Do they have those things for surfers? You'd think they would have developed something like that for surfers to attach to their ankles or boards.
Sharks are not that big of a deal. I surf most weekends at San Onofre and all last summer we had two young sharks just hanging at our surf break (drawn by the exposure of buried whale remains). The sharks swam around 25 - 100ft from many of us at any given time and never made any aggressive moves. In fact for the 6 weeks or so the sharks hung out there were no attacks.
Shark attacks on surfers are very rare. You will more likley drown in your own bathtub than be attacked from a shark.
Lindenen, just stay away from the "shark beaches" then. Not every beach is close to a large kelp forest or seal breeding area- the type of thing that attracts great whites.
Joe, where'd they take you? If you've gone and bought your own eggboard already let me recommend Manresa beach (off San Andreas exit 101), it's got long, easy breaks and is very forgiving.
Just a tourist in on a visit, and still more of a Barney/ Hodad than a real Brah. But as the Governator says, "I'll be back..."