By the time I drove over the bridge this morning, I had just about gotten over the “What the HAIL” reaction to my alarm clock going off at 6:30 am.  However, when I met Tracy at the beach at 7:00, I let her know that I still was not fully awake, so now would be a good time to make me do anything she thought I would not be particularly interested in doing.  She assured me that we were all about fun, then proceeded to say that she looked forward to watching me “get up” today.  HA HA!  She was not at my last lesson!  Let me just say that Tracy is one enthusiastic and OPTIMISTIC teacher!

We headed over the dune and onto the beach.  Where I promptly put my rash guard on backwards.  After Sunday’s lesson, I made some changes to my “outfit.”  I ditched the swim trunks (they kept falling off, anyway) and added a short-sleeved rash guard on top of my swimsuit.  That worked MUCH better.  “I think I put my shirt on backwards,” I say after I’m leashed to my board.  OOPS!  Quick change!

In Which we Practice “Popping Up”

I practiced this at home on my Yoga mat on Monday night while I watched the finale of The Bachelorette.  It was a good distraction from the overall train wreck of the show.  I got pretty good–but that was on my yoga mat, on the floor, in my house, with no wind, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, no waves.  After one pop up, she looks at me and says “You’re goofy!”  (Meaning, I put my right leg in front.)  “YES! I am!” I say, and she thinks I am acknowledging my reversed surfing stance.  I really mean:  “Yes, I am personally goofy.”  She will learn this soon enough.  She had me practice this “lunge/popping up” technique on my beach towel, so I was so TOTALLY prepared to do it in the water.  NOT.

A Day with Approximately 5% Fewer Waves than Sunday

“Hm.  Normally, it is much calmer in the morning,” Tracy says.  “We have waves because I have a lesson this morning,” I say.  Why would I WANT to learn to do all of this maneuvering in calm water?  What would be the point of THAT?  She promises that I will not get the “surf call” again until we have smoother water.  I think I WOULD be OK with that.  We head out into the surf.  By the end of Sunday, I could stay on the board, even in big waves, but that was basically it.  Tracy made it her mission to get me up today.

Paddle!Paddle!Paddle!Paddle!

It was great fun for me when Nancy and Tracy pushed me into a wave and let me ride it, but in order to be a surfer girl, I had to learn to catch them myself.  Tracy got me to finally stop holding on to the rails for dear life, and to let go to paddle and catch the waves on my own.  At one point, I thought I heard her say “Are you ready? Ok GO” so I went, paddling my little heart out.  I caught the wave and rode it until the fins started dragging in the sand.  I looked back at her and she had her arms up in victory (Which is TOTALLY AWESOME AND ENCOURAGING-she did that after every wave I caught!).  When I got close enough to hear her she said “That was AWESOME!  I didn’t even tell you to go, OR push you!  I just turned around from looking at the wave and you were GONE!”  THAT was cool!

I am So (NOT) Ready to Stand Up

Tracy says “You are balancing, you are catching the waves yourself, you can get ON the board and stay on.  You are ready to get up.”  In theory, yes, I was mentally ready.  I could balance (sort of).  I understood what I was supposed to do. The problem is, I could never do chin ups, pull ups, push ups, climb, or anything that requires me to haul myself up anything.  It appears that will be an integral part to getting off my tummy and on my feet to “Walk Like an Egyptian” (except with my feet more perpendicular to the center line of the board).

“Surfing is a lot harder than it looks,” says Tracy, as I start pushing myself up onto the board.  “It isn’t as hard,” I say, climbing on the board, “as I,” SPLASH (that’s me rolling right back off the other side of the board) “thought it would be!”  Ensuing fit of giggles by both of us.  It isn’t as hard as I thought, but it will take a lifetime of practice.  Luckily, I’ve found TWO great teachers.

The Water Shines like Silver

Getting up in the morning is not hard, if I go to bed at a reasonable hour the night before.  Problem was, I needed to watch “The Bachelorette: After the Final Rose” last night, so I didn’t get to bed early, and wanted to throw my alarm clock at the wall this morning.  I’m so glad I didn’t.  I’ve never been out to the beach at 7:00 am.  Seven PM is one of my favorite times, because the setting sun turns the water into liquid silver.  But, there are lots of people on the beach then.  Seven AM was magical!  The water is even more silvery, and the marsh grasses glow in the bright morning light.

Driving away from my lesson, I decided that I will resolve to get up early to do push-ups, and ride my bike, and enjoy the day while it is fresh and full of promise.  Excercise is more fun when you have a goal.  And I WILL Walk like an Egyptian on my board. . . SOON!

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Katie Elzer-Peters is a freelance writer living in Wilmington, NC. Her writing and PR business, The Garden of Words, L.L.C. serves clients all over the world. She’s learning to surf this summer, and blogging about her experiences for Chicks on Sticks.