Gary C.
Yelp
William Finnegan wrote in Barbarian Days, "People who tried surfing at a later age, over 14, had no chance of becoming efficient, and will suffer pain and sorrow." While this is true, it also neglects the fact that old people appreciate incremental progress more than the kiddies.
While I am slowly working my way out of 'perpetual novice' state, I celebrate when I make clear progression. Having gotten to various plateaus in my surfing, having started as a (cough, cough) year old, I turn to professionals to get me over each hump.
CoreysWave helped out perfectly. While I wasn't expecting to become Kelly Slater with one private lesson, I do expect to learn something and take back some critiques about my surfing and my coach John delivered. Typically, if I take 'a thing or two' out of a lesson to work on, I'd be happy. But after volunteering that my first wave was "kinda like the way I always surf," John diagnosed my current state of surfing and prescribed some adjustments that, literally, took me off of a plateau and looking forward to honing my skills towards climbing to, let's face it, that next plateau!
In one session, an unbiased onlooker could see me progress. And isn't that the point of a lesson?