Thanks v much Graham, at times I still feel and look like I have a reasonable amount of weight on the back leg. I know my stance on a surfboard is still quite sideways and wide but on the s/skate my stance feels really narrow and I'm not too sure how I'll go when I try this new stance on my surfboard.

Maria Molè Hey Maria, I agree chopping and changing boards as a beginner is not the smartest idea. Thanks for your thoughts. I am looking forward to the week with Clayton. Infact I'm jumping out of my skin. OMBE set up a Whatsapp group for

the people doing it. There are people coming from Japan, America, Europe it left me feeling really nervous about whether I was going to be a hinderence to everyone else, so I sent a text that perhaps I wasn't ready (especially after looking at my

videos in the wave pool). It was Clayton who text back reassuring me it was ok for me to be there. I like the way he makes himself accessable to us all.

Also, where's your video of your pop ups, step ups. I can't be the only one embarrassing myself.

I also noticed on some waves I got caught in the early section and on a few I did not. On the one's I didn't get caught, I think I took a slightly different line at the take off. More across the wave near the top rather than down. I do have a bigger board a 5'10" 37ltr epoxy JSI Sub Xero. I don't like it much. My very first post to Clayton was about whether you can have too much volume. When he said yes it was like "Hallelujah." But on the right wave I love it.

Re your question : I have a philosophy - The surest way to knock the curiosity out of a child is to laugh at their questions. So please feel happy to ask straight out. Am I too overweight/fat/heavy for the board. At this stage most likely.

That's a very politely put question Michiel. I am not offended, I have considered the fact myself and it is most likely true. I am transitioning from being dragged behind a boat on a surfboard (freeboarding) as a kid, to a surfer. I was pretty good at freeboarding if I do say so my self. Then one day, all we had to use was a big windsurfer board and to my embarrassment, I couldn't even stay on my feet. The board didn't move when I did and I wasn't used to that delay in response. I did surf a bit as a kid, as a result of freeboarding but wasn't all that good. Firstly when freeboarding your weight is on the back foot not the front, I didn't know it was the other way around for surfing, that was until Ombe and secondly with freeboarding we relied on our boat for speed, not the wave. I struggle with everything, without the speed. I am spending a week with Clayton at the end of the month and I have every intention of asking him your question, though so until then I will struggle on.........

Thanks Graham, you have left me feeling inspired to go train on my surf skate. See ya!

Hey nice job Blair. I had to put grip tape on my ball it was too slippery with bare feet