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First we learned how to get over or under waves we didn't want. It was this moment when real work began - paddling. The key, as Brian explained, is to make sure your shoulders are back, your feet are together and you paddle hard. This is exactly what we did for first 45 minutes or so in water.
Sometime after learning more about basics and techniques, we headed again out to sea to try and catch some waves. The waves were moderately small, so we sat on our boards waiting for a set. As I bounced around like an unbalanced buoy, I noticed something off in horizon about 60 yards out.
"What is that," I said to myself. "There it is again." And just as my eyes squinted enough to focus in, out popped three triangularly shaped fins shuffling southward between waves ahead of us. Our presence went unnoticed as three dark gray dolphins swam perpendicularly past us. It was one of those moments that makes you realize how glad you are to be a long way from your cell phone or any other electronic device. It's refreshing to be completely at mercy of a seemingly infinite body of water. But alas, waves did come and not a moment too soon.
Paddling hard like Brian taught us to, I pushed and pushed to stay in front of quickly growing curl. I crashed and burned on this first wave, but eventually I began to get a grasp of this surfing thing. As we walked back on beach to take a rest, all students gathered in a line so each person could have a photo with Corky Carroll himself. He stood there next to surfboard with a warm grin. Students were excited to have a photo taken with surfing expert, and Corky hwas delighted in opportunity to teach others his tricks of trade.
Corky Carroll, other director of school and ex-professional surfer, explained how a wave could rear its face at you. "Sometimes wind blows against wave ripping off crest. It can leave rest of wave jagged and rough." Overlooking progress of up-and-coming surfers, Corky told story of gnarliest wave he ever
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Josh Edelson, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com
Josh Eelson, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com