How good a swimmer do you need to be?

[dominichayhoe]

As the title says?

I am learning to surf and wondered how strong a swimmer I should be?

If you get caught in a rip, is it a problem if you have your surfboard?

I am also in the pool trying to improve my swimming as its not great at the mo.

[Philshoz]

Work on your confidence Dom, keep doing those laps in the pool

"If you get caught in a rip, is it a problem if you have your surfboard?" ....not as bad as being caught there without it..

It will all come good in time.

[ATTMFKH]

As the title says?

I am learning to surf and wondered how strong a swimmer I should be? VERY - you will snap a leash at some point , then you'll find out

If you get caught in a rip, is it a problem if you have your surfboard? No - turn 90 degrees & paddle out of rip

I am also in the pool trying to improve my swimming as its not great at the mo. Good - do tumble turns so you get used to oxygen depletion at intense effort.

[Poo Stance]

this might be relevant ?

http://www.driftsurfing.eu/index.php/archives/9371

[gavtheoldskater]

I am also in the pool trying to improve my swimming as its not great at the mo

two top tips from me...

swim in proper swim trunks (budgies, hippy things or jammers, your call. i prefer jammers) and not surf shorts. why? 1, they drag and slow you down, 2 they drag and sink your ass.

get onto youtube and google and spend hours looking at swimming technique, total immersion swimming, swim smooth etc. focus on that. this is one of the best clips to see whats going on... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHHOxBSeoFk

i'm ashamed to say that after 30 odd years of surfing i only discovered swimming 7 months ago, but 7 months on the difference to my surfing regular structured swimming has made is unbelievable.

and you use a correct swim stroke to paddle a surfboard more efficiently.

[dominichayhoe]

One further thing.

Is breaststroke any use in the sea, as I can do that for ages, but my front crawl is rubbish.

[Liam Wall]

Front crawl is way more useful. More effective in the sea and better training for paddling a surfboard... I agree with gavtheoldskater - it's done wonders for my surf stamina... Watch some youtube vids for good technique (or better still get some tuition) and stick at it, after a couple of months going once or twice per week you should find you can go a reasonable distance...