What Surfing in Iceland REALLY FEELS like (for a beginner)

[@PetrHerold]

Thanks for sticking around on my surfing journey! It will resume at some point in the future but for now I’ll try to find new topics and challenges for this channel. See you then!

[@surfedits08]

😢

[@hectorqwer]

I am 38 years old and your videos have motivated me to start surfing and have helped me make some important decisions for my progress: I started watching your videos about a month ago when I searched for 'learning to surf at 40'. I saw that you came to Lima, which is where I live. (It made me laugh that you complained about the cold water, especially after knowing you were from ICELAND and especially after watching this video). I was encouraged to start surfing. I thought it would be easy for me since I already practice snowboarding, longboarding (Skate) and bodyboarding and know the sea, the waves, the currents, how to paddle and how get in easily, etc. I took a 1-hour class at MAKAHA beach in Miraflores. Then I felt ready and even made the same mistakes as you did because I overestimated my ability and went into the sea alone with a board that was not suitable for my level or for the small waves of the beach (6'10, 45 liters), and that delayed my learning because I got tired quickly and couldn't stand up. I even injured my ribs and had to stop for about 21 days. Finally, I decided to rent a beginner's foamboard (8.2 foot, 85 liters) and everything became much easier and more fun. I started going every 2 or 3 days. While in the water, I paid attention to other surfers, their position on the board, how they stood up, etc. I practiced the pop-up out of the water every day until it became ingrained in my memory and I could do it without much effort. Currently, I can ride small waves without wiping out as well as turn both ways. But today I come across this video. I feel a little sad that you've decided to quit surfing, but it's understandable because of the low temperatures of the sea in your area. I'll tell you that here in Lima the sea is currently at 19°C, and after 2 hours I had to leave because I was cold. Thank you very much for uploading your videos, they were very helpful. I hope you return to surfing at some point! And it would be very nice if you come back to Lima, Peru. Here we have very good waves for all levels as well as several perfect beaches for learning that were not shown in your videos and that you could ride on a future visit. Greetings!

[@PetrHerold]

👏👏👏 That’s amazing! Love to read comments like this! I will definitely be back in Peru at some point, it’s such a great place to surf and travel (and eat all the food 😁). And I should have been clearer - mentally I’m not quitting surfing, it’s just not gonna be possible for me for a while, but I’ll be back in the ocean for sure! Maybe not in Iceland and maybe not soon but I’ll be back :)

[@benburns5995]

Hi Petr, have to give you an A for effort to provide us with a video of your final attempt to Surf in Iceland. Thanks for braving the Icy Cold weather and water to make it possible. I think it was a nice reward to have that successful surfing session at the end. Saw another person comment on the friendly Seal . It would have been Icing on the cake to have it show up once again. Will stay Subscribed and wish you the very best in whatever direction you decide to take the channel. Any updates on the birth of your first child? Hope all is well with the 3 of you.

[@PetrHerold]

Thank you Ben as always! All is well, our baby is putting smile on our faces every day, even though we could use more sleep 😅

[@ClémentMahier-Lefrancois]

It was a very relatable surfing video ! I'm a bit sad it was the last of the surfing in Iceland "chapter", it would have been great if the Seal from the other video would have said good bye as well 😁

[@PetrHerold]

At some point I’ll come visit him to say hi 😄

[@Sunny-Gill]

As someone who grew up with surf its so cool to see you get the bug and fall in love with surfing with no prior background, keep progressing brother 🙏🤙

[@ahmadjcharles]

Petr is legit one of the best small youtubers rn.

[@rustyharp2020]

As a beginner, this is the most relatable video I've ever seen. Thank you, keep on keeping on brother!

[@neilday1205]

Hey - Amazing Video! Tons of respect for braving tough conditions for the love of a sport. You've gotta take what nature provides. I loved watching the cold water journey. I can relate - I grew up Windsurfing in near Boston in the US, and the best sailing was October - December with air temperatures of -10ºc or less. I used to decide the season was over when I couldn't un-rig my sail because everything was frozen solid. 40 years later and I still Windsurf and have picked up surfing and SUP, which is my current obsession...

[@timmytom6764]

Thanks for making the surfing series Petr. It helped me get into what is now one of my favourite hobbies! Though I think I have it much easier with my closest beaches being in the vicinity of Bells haha

[@PetrHerold]

Great to hear!! 🏄‍♂️ Surfing is such a good hobby, I’ll miss it for sure!

[@labyriinth5955]

Bro your videos i started watching in december, and i moved to a place where i can surf and now i surf 4-5 times a week! All started because of you bro thank you!

[@PetrHerold]

Wow, seriously? That’s great! Hope you’re having fun! 🏄‍♂️

[@eazzy-hustler]

bro surf is a beautiful process, i live in Ecuador, a surf paradise, always hot and tropical, if you want an advice, training out of the water means have more fun in the water!!

[@HA-vd5wv]

I started learning to surf after seeing your videos. Welcome to Taiwan surfing trip

[@PetrHerold]

That’s great! Thanks for watching and have fun out there!

[@RobertSlaterkelly]

dude you should level up your pull up game or swimming, helps so much for paddling!

[@kirillkirill3573]

That's sick bro. Try dry suit! Or maybe snowkiting. I was practising kiteboarding in water like this and that's nice cause you spending less time in water, but on the board.

[@artemsokolov5007]

about "a few more strokes and you get it - but you dont have enrgy" - this is why I usually pass a wave if I didn't have a rest after paddling out. another wave will come again, but this one in front of you probably will not be caught anyway. so In general I try to take only waves that looks like "this should be easy" and pass everything else. I'm not sure that this works in +5 water temperature since you need to get moving. but you also can just slowly paddle to a better spot (i'm a beginner as well)

[@powerVoltage-u6z]

I see so many similarities between you and me, I have the same struggle with energy but still always pushing as much as possible. Have you ever considered going into a wave Pool? Great Video series, it shows a realistic journey to surfing the joy and the struggle :) Keep Going!

[@PetrHerold]

Thank you! And yes I was looking up the pools around Europe but didn’t have a chance to visit any. I know there is one in Germany that opened up recently 🤔

[@boatsurvey]

Cool video , you are so tuff

[@akingakk]

Your paddling needs improvement, try and arch your back when you are paddling and keep your legs together on the board I noticed the board flailing around a lot when your trying to catch a wave. Arching your back is one of the key things in surfing it will be painful and sore at first but once you get used to it you will drastically improve your paddling and it helps with popping up on steep waves when you get to that stage. If you have time as well I would recommend swimming lengths of a pool. Another note as well is when you get out the back don't try to catch every wave even someone like me that has been surfing for 5 plus years now will be tired paddling out the back just sit on your board for a sec take in the scenery and then go for your next wave. I would also recommend you get a pro or someone that's decent in your area to give you tips on what your doing wrong because trust me when I say this its only going to get worse before it gets better I have been there.

[@capcorn100]

Great surfing videos. I've just watched 3 of them. Don't know if you're stopping surfing for good? I've surfed for 20+ years and reckon a 9' longboard 2 + 1 fins would make you're life loads easier especially in Iceland with all that neoprene gear on. It'd make those long paddles out take a lot less energy. They get into waves earlier and because of the long rail line they basically want to go down the line. As a plus point your pop looks really good so you'll probably get better if you keep going as that's probably the most important thing in surfing. Also you've got some incredible waves in Iceland (thinking of coming myself at some point). You've probably seen this guys channel but here's a link incase you haven't. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpepeISJd6miq8Usi=TIj_RT5ntGVkRWBU

[@PetrHerold]

Not done for good! Just won’t be close to ocean anymore, so I guess I’ll have to make surf trips. There might be some surf videos in the future, I just don’t know when. Thanks for the tip though! I’ll probably get a longboard when I’m back to surfing again 😄

[@boatsurvey]

5 oscars🎉