OpenTube

When Did We Decide We Were Too Old to Surf?

Mike Raven

20,533 views

When did we decide we were too old to surf? Surfing over 50 changes our bodies, boards, and expectations. But getting older doesn’t necessarily mean our best days in the water are behind us.

As I’ve got older, I’ve had to reconsider which boards I ride, how long I stay out and what I expect from a session. The body changes. Recovery changes. Sometimes the waves we choose change too.

But there’s still room to learn, adapt and enjoy it.

This video explores surfing longevity without pretending age doesn’t matter. It’s about staying curious, choosing equipment that works for you now and finding reasons to keep paddling out.

Maybe the aim isn’t to surf like your younger self. Maybe it’s to discover the surfer you can become next.

How has your surfing changed as you’ve got older—and what’s helped you keep enjoying it? Tell me in the comments.

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Introduction: The Surfer’s "Expiry Date"
00:11 - Brad Gerlach & Terry Richardson
00:35 - How Our Surfing Perspective Changes with Age
00:54 - Mark Richards (MR): Honest Self-Reflection
01:29 - Laird Hamilton: Don't Let Age Decide for You
02:00 - Taylor Knox: Moving from Quantity to Quality
02:32 - Tom Curren: New Goals & Board Experimentation
03:09 - Gerry Lopez: Becoming a Beginner Again (Foil)
03:30 - Redefining a Good Day on the Water
03:40 - Peter Mel: The Next Best Day Is Ahead
04:11 - Tom Curren: The Power of Community & Shared Stories
04:42 - Conclusion: Shifting the Goalposts
05:15 - Barton Lynch: Surfing as Medicine

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#Surfing #SurfingOver50 #SurfingLongevity

20 Comments

@dc72-h4u 11 days ago

Mark Twain had a good take on age: "Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." 😉

@barrymckenzie9730 7 days ago

There comes a point when the body sings "enough". At 74 and a lifelong waterman, I now struggle with my pop up's. No matter how hard I try, the flexibility has diminished, the ability gone. Both hips replaced, malignant tumor removed from left calf, a quadruple bypass and multiple other injuries...My mind is still young and I ride prone now on various craft including my 10'2" log. The buzz is still there, the glide still beckons. I am still stoked and still surfing, just in a different dimension...

@surfart5448 11 days ago

72 yrs old, still surfing, have back issues and triple bypass surgery, gale bladder surgery, knee repair surgery, my surf buddy died many other surfer friend gotten old and not in the line much. My wife makes all our vacations at good surf location, CR, NIc, Snapper Rock, Outer banks....able when I can't see or walk. always forward! So long and thanks for all the fish. Sorry it had to come to this.

@respectthebeach 7 days ago

75 years old surfing 61 years always rode a long board started SUP surfing full time a few years ago. I only surf smaller days now to enjoy my remaining time in water 😎

@Lateanddeep 11 days ago

I enjoy my surfing now more than ever, I find the older I get the more surfing makes sense with health and wellbeing.

@barryshepard5792 9 days ago

Paddle boards, longboards, mid lengths and the latest addition a boogie board. This way no matter what conditions are happening I can get into the ocean and catch waves .

@stevencaldwell838 11 days ago

I’m 57 years old, been surfing for 50 of those 57 and don’t plan on stopping EVER!
When I can’t surf anymore, I’ll knee board, when I can’t knee board, I’ll boogie board, and when that comes to an end, I’ll bodysurf…
As Bob Marley said, “once a man, twice a child”!
Never Give Up!

@ThomasPerry-h5h 6 days ago

Loved this article. I’m 71 yrs old now and have been surfing almost 60 yrs. My pop up sucks now because of all the wear and tear the ocean and martial training has given me but I’ve learned to change my equipment and accept the change my aging body is going through. I usually get 2 to 3 good pop up’s a session now and can only surf no more than hour and a half before my back stiffens up but I’m still out there. For me now it’s all about a feeling whether it’s my wave selection, a turn, even getting to my feet smoothly. The feeling I seek is climbing and dropping in the pocket of a wave. Main thing is to still get out there and feel the ocean’s rhythm and the camaraderie of my good surf buddies. Cheeeeeeoooo!!! Ahuihou!!!

@mitseraffej5812 11 days ago

Too old is when the body can no longer do it, and my too old showed up in my early 50s. Now approaching 70 I have trouble getting to my feet from my bed let alone while free falling down the face of a decent wave. Yet somehow I still have to go to work.

@DanDanNo1 10 days ago

I turned 50 this year. Modern shapes allow me to keep riding small boards but learning and accepting to ride what the conditions demand is key. Sometimes it's a 5'5 fish, a 5'9 shortboard, a step-up or a 9'6 noserider. Surfing to my best ability requires me to stay on top of my health and fitness, the desire to stay surfing well is a great driving force to train and eat well which benefits every other aspect of my life. I find I'm more amped to surf now than ever, as my dad always told me "use it or lose it son"! 🤙🤙

@postworld1185 11 days ago

"Nobody surfs forever." Bear. That said - Michael Ho is inspiring.

@steinervision7643 9 days ago

I have a friend who surfs in Hawaii in his 70’s! I can still boogie board in my 70’s❤🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️

@davidpetri4938 6 days ago

Am 76. May catch less waves but just being out there makes my decade!

@CentralCoastBassFishing 3 days ago

I’m starting over at 74. I’m knee paddling a Duke Kuhio 11’1” glider. Started at 14, quit at 35, restarted at 47, quit at 50, just restarted. Not as easy as I thought it would be but the glide is awesome and the salt water feels so great. Hope I never quit!

@awareness556 11 days ago

Too old to pop up? Go to SUP and keep surfing into your 90s.

@markosdehigginson4776 11 days ago

At 65 I went to the dark side and took up riding a modified typpa efoil on flat water and riding wind generated swells. Been doing this for a couple years now. The stoke is incredible cause I'm slidin anna glidin approx 30 minutes a sesh and I don't hafta wait for waves and I have the Sea of Cortez to myself during the pre dawn sunrise which is usually just stunningly beautiful. It is such a great way to start the day and it doesn't hurt my body which surfing did towards the end.... I'm currently riding a 5 foot board and when the conditions are right it's like being in a moving skatepark and is just too much fun! Keeps my inner 12 yr old grom happy! BIG SMILE!

@dorsal2626 11 days ago

Bailed at 62. Football injuries, cold water, grumpy attitude etc etc. Now I dream about surfing. But Im really shit in the dreams 😂

@user-vd9jn5vh3n 11 days ago (edited)

Are we ever too old to walk? Why then are we ever too old to surf? I remember Jeff Clark was being interviewed and he was asked turning 50 are you going to stop getting big waves he looked at the interviewer and said I want to get a 50 footer when I'm 50..her reaction was speechless..I love that positive attitude!

@anthonylatham51 11 days ago (edited)

I turned 72 September 2026, I still surf every day. I avoid spots like chaos at Snappers Rocks or wave hogs on logs. I am over competing with the crowds for wave of the life time? Been riding kneeboard since the 70's. I recognise what surf conditions suit my surfing. Some surfs I get heaps of waves and on other days only get breadcrumbs. When there is no surf I use local boat harbour to keep my paddle fitness.

@EMan-cu5zo 10 days ago

Having the right board is what can make a frustrating day into a great day. Personally I had to get more float on my board. Bigger board or more volume than before and I don’t really go out on days that are to large and will spend most of my time getting ran over and paddling non stop. I am almost 50 and proud to be at this stage in life. I never understood why some complain about being old, they should be proud they made it to an older point in life. I never liked the fact that when I was a kid people would make fun of older people and I guess I have carried that attitude for most my life. Making fun of an older person means they don’t expect to make it that far though life. One day you will be fortunate to get to whatever age the person is still giving it their best.