At my one year XLIF post-op appointment, my doctor released me from his care and told me I was cleared for all activities including skydiving. I don’t want to try skydiving. No thanks.
I want to learn how to surf.
However, there are a few things holding me back…
1. The whole shark thing. I used to be an avid scuba diver and the thought of sharks never scared me, even when I saw some Black-tipped Reef sharks off in the distance on a dive. But after watching Shark Week on the Discovery Channel too many times, I’ve learned that surfers on surf boards look an awful lot like yummy seals from the underneath. G-Man has a t-shirt with a shark that reads, “Surfboard=Cracker, Surfer=Cheese” and I take those words of wisdom very seriously. The good news is that sharks are fairly smart and spit out surfers once they realize they’re not good eats.
2. I’m a klutz. I’m more comfortable in the water than out of it or even on top of it. I’m actually quite graceful when swimming or scuba diving but you can forget anything else. I’ve tried water skiing and windsurfing with massive failures. Why do I think that surfing would be any different?
3. No surf. The west coast of Florida doesn’t get any waves to speak of, unless there’s a hurricane brewing in the Gulf of Mexico. I’ve heard that there are waves on the east coast at New Smyrna Beach. But still the Atlantic isn’t known for great surf either.
I could try the Pacific coast. I’ve witnessed some big waves there. But seriously, if a wetsuit is required, then the water is just too darn cold. Plus lots of sharks.
Hawaii… now that sounds great. Nice warm water, awesome surf, and not as many sharks. But lots of rocks. I keep thinking of the episode of the Brady Bunch when Greg is wearing the tiki idol, wipes out, hits his head on a rock, and Mike has to go in after him. Such gripping drama.
Ideally? Austrailia, mate. I bet a nice Aussie surfing instructor could make me forget about the Great White sharks and whacking my head on the Great Barrier Reef. But that also means I would have to go to the continent that has every venomous creature that terrifies me.
What's the one sport you've always wanted to try?
For more Spins on sports, visit Sprite's Keeper.
11 comments:
Believe it or not RUNNING. I have always been secretly envious of anyone who can street / road run. My big issue with running is... I look like a DORK when I run ( at least in my opinion). I always joked that the only way I'd run was if somesone was chasing me. Well my tune has began to change. I have it my mind that I want to try running a race. I have been working with a trainer since Nov. and I hope to enter a 5K sometime SOON. I have no lofty goals. My big goal is to finish the race, no more. Wish me luck!
Wendy - Goood for you! I had no idea that you're working with a trainer. that's the best way to go about it. ScottU is REALLY into running. You should talk to him.
I love my bike, I love long walks, and hiking, not that the last two are really sports or even that I use the first in a sporty-like manner.
As far as surfing, I love that, too--on a body board! I'm not really feeling the whole standing up thing--but I have hours of fun on my body board. The beach by my house has little "bunny" waves, to steal a metaphor from the skiing community, but we have some decent waves within a 30-30 min. drive. And I have body surfed on the west coast, too--it is an entirely different experience, but awesome!
I have an irrational fear of sharks and really of ocean swimming in general so I don't think I'll join you in your surfing lessons.
I'm with @Wendy, I would love to be a runner. I've tried it a few times in the past, but always gave it up before I got enough stamina to run very far. There's something really appealing to me about a sport you can do anywhere at anytime, alone or with company (or with a stroller!).
Have a great weekend!
WHERE are you? I'm in Lee County! You're right about the Gulf coast, no waves to speak of, unless a hurricane is headed over then all the closet surfers come running out. I am afraid of sharks, especially after working the JAWS attraction for 2 years at Universal. :-)
You're linked!
Still think you should try the indoor surfing. NO sharks allowed. As for me the thought of getting in a swim suit is to terrifying to even worry about the sharks.
Sharks are a good enough reason to keep me out of water that is deeper than my knees.
I'd like to learn to play tennis. But if a wine drinking team in my area ever started up, I'd be first on the list.
Not to many sharks here in land locked Wyoming. My husband windsurfs on the lake nearby. I would have loved to do gymnastics. Or learned to dive. I swam and that's the closest to diving I ever got. To afraid of hitting something on the board or smacking the water hard.
I think the closest I got to surfing is letting the waves carry me in on Lake Michigan. I know I have been in the Pacific, but only in an area that didn't have surfing waves.
Sure hope you get the courage (and the location picked) so you can write about being a surfer girl.
No skydiving for me either!
I want to learn to waterski!!
One day I will...
When I first moved here, it cracked me up to see all of the little surfer dudes walking around with their boards and the 2 inch waves.
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