Offers of surf lessons for girls, supervised by an instructor, are all the rage. There’s probably a sociological explanation for this, but I’m going to look at another explanation, which has to do with boyfriend syndrome.
Definition
Surfing is highly addictive. When a more experienced surfer wants to surf with his beginner girlfriend, in 90% of cases, he takes her with him to the big waves at the bottom, which are not at all suited to her level, and disgusts her with surfing by creating a lot of stress. I call this the boyfriend syndrome.
Most surfers don’t want to stay in the moss and wavelets of the shore with their girlfriend, buddy or sometimes even their child, which would have been recommended by any qualified surf instructor. They can’t resist the call of the open sea. Too bad for the beginner, who finds himself in an unsuitable situation that can become a source of psychological blockages.
Secondary effect
So, having been traumatized by a man, a number of girls, to regain their confidence in the ocean environment, trust a female instructor rather than a male one. They figure that the latter will have a more subtle approach than a man.
However, a good professional, man or woman, will be able to demonstrate gentleness and finesse in his or her teaching approach. I pride myself on my ability to be sensitive, gentle and empathetic, whatever the gender.
Remedy
A gradual approach to the aquatic environment will enable you to overcome the blockage, but there’s nothing irreversible about it.
At Ki Surf School, I get a lot of these “wounded birds” back from too rough an approach to the discipline.
They now know their limits and can surf with joy and serenity!
