Surf Tips

I love the guys and gals from Surfsdesk.com. I subscribe to their RSS blog feed as it features some great info about SURFING! Being a traveling surfer, I could relate to the info below and thought you would enjoy it to! Make sure to check out Surfersdesk.com. Enjoy!

The standard rules that EVERY surfer should know..local or traveler.

1. Closest surfer standing to the curl  has priority. If you are standing on the wave, you look behind you and some person is there… get off the wave

2. Paddle around the wave, not through it.

3. Don’t throw your board over the falls, there could be other surfers below you.

4. Help other surfers in trouble.

So those are the standard rules of surfing. If you don’t understand them, ask someone.

Here are some extra traveler rules that are good to go by. It’s what I go by when I’m traveling and it’s worked out for me.

1. Watch  where a local enters the water and paddles out. This will most likely be the best spot and the easiest entry.

2. Once you’re out in the line up, don’t just paddle around everyone so that you’re the closest to the curl. Wait your turn.

3. Observe the pecking order. there will be a few guys out that will get a majority of the waves. Locals know their spot and they don’t want to lose any waves to you.

4. Paddle for waves after the few guys that rip are paddling back into the lineup (after their waves).

5. Don’t get in a paddle battle with a local. You’re a traveler that is surfing on your week vacation. This person probably surfs everyday.You will lose.

6. If everyone is paddling out into the ocean, you should probably do that too… unless you want to take a wave on the head.

7. Talk to people in the line up. Everywhere I’ve been, surfers are nice and they have NO problem chatting while waiting.

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How does sitting up straight on your surfboard help you to catch waves? Why is posture important on a surfboard? Check out this You Tube clip for some tips.

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What to Expect
So, what should you expect for your first beginner surf lesson? First of all, surf lessons (and surfing) should always be fun! If you are able to laugh at yourself (even the naturally athletic may be humbled by a couple of not-so-graceful wipe-outs), you are right on track. Surf lessons are typically 2 hours and should be at a maximum ratio of 5:1 (5 students to 1 instructor.)

At the beginning of your surf lesson, your surf instructor will do a brief check-in and introduction. After the intros, it time for a land lesson. Your class time on the beach will include things like safety, ocean awareness, anatomy of a surfboard and last but not least, surf etiquette – all critical to having fun once you hit the water. On the land, you’ll also receive instruction on how to pop up on a surfboard, how to ride the surfboard, and how to safely end your ride.

After your land lesson, is the time you’ve been waiting for – time to hit the ocean! This is where the true test lies, so hopefully you have paid attention to your surf instructor. Once in the water, the surf instructor will corral you in a group and call you over one at a time. During your turn, your instructor will watch for the perfect wave, and once it is coming, he/she will give you a slight push (I call it a love pat) into the wave. This is when the fun begins! Once you feel the push, it’s time to pop-up and enjoy the ride. Nothing beats your first wave!

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Que Dia! What a Day! We arrived for Reid and April’s Wedding at Isla Navidad “Grand Bay Resort” in Mexico and were super psyched to go on a surf adventure. What a surf adventure it was! There was a huge Mexico swell and our crew was fired up to take advantage of some great waves. Well, to make a LONG story short…the perfect waves were right outside our hotel (little did we know). We went on the guided surf adventure and fell into quite the array of obstacles and challenges along the way. Our Surf Adventure consisted of a surf guide that did more surfing than we did, 8 hours of driving, numerous jellyfish stings to all of us, a broken leash, a near drowning and my hubby got punched in the face. Oh yeah, no one in our group caught a real wave. Que Dia! There was a positive. We had an incredible bonding experience and have lots of funny stories to tell. We did get a chance to surf the next day at Bara de Navidad which was incredible. Thanks Mexico Surf Crew 2009.

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One of the Surf Etiquette rules is to Know your Limits. This is not a rule for the beginner surfer only. Perhaps it even applies to those surfers who ‘already know how to surf’ more so than beginner surfers. Never-ever surfers and beginner surfers may be a bit hesitant to go out on a day with the flags up, but if you have had many great surf sessions under your trunks then you may feel the courage to do so. Tune in to how you are feeling before going out. Do you feel excited or do you feel anxiety? This is usually a big indicator as to your limits. If you decide to go out, hang on the shouldar of the wave for a while and catch some waves there until you feel comfortable in the water. You would be surprised at how differently the water looks like from being on the shoreline to actually being IN the thick of it. Be Safe and stay blissful!

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Life is a journey, and much like surfing, sticking to a few basic rules or courtesies can make the ride a lot smoother.

The rules of surfing are universal codes. Let’s see how surfing etiquette can so easily apply to us all in our every day life.

1. No Dropping In.
This surf etiquette rule reminds us that in life we should respect and honor other people’s choices in their life’s purpose.

2. Wait your Turn.

Being aware of your place in the queue in your journey for anything is a great life skill.

3. Don’t get out of your Depth.
Much the same in the real world, we all need to realize our limitations.

4. Respect the Locals.
We all know the saying “When in Rome..”.

5. Keep Control.
In life’s journey you need to be responsible for yourself and your well being.

6. No Discrimination.
Opening up your mind to others regardless of gender, race or religion can be great for expanding your soul.

7. Look out for others.

If you see someone needing assistance, help them.

8. No Rage.
Breathe in with love and out with love.

9. Right of Way.
Give way when you need to. Unnecessary confrontations in life just take up energy that is best used for more positive activities.

10. Respect the Environment.
Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photos or memories.

Life’s journey will always be an adventure. Enjoy the ride of the wave. Smooth waves are the best, but not knowing what the next set of waves will bring always adds to the excitement of life.

To see my FULL STORY click here.

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Check out these amazing nose rides at the Noosa Festival in Australia. Looks like so much fun! Let’s hear about your surf tricks!

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Some information you need to know when entering the world of surfing. Enjoy!

Some Surfing Do?s And Dont?s : -

Alcohol ; – Save drinking for after surf bragging sessions.
Be Aware ; – of other surfers & water users, the surf conditions, & where you are surfing.
Comfort Zone ; – Surf in waves you are comfortable in, don?t get in over your head.
Fitness ; – Make sure you are physically fit when surfing.
Food ; – Do not go surfing for at least 45 mins after a meal.
Fun ; – Surfing is about fun, keep that in mind when you are in the waves.
Patrolled Beaches ; – When surfing a patrolled beach stay within the designated area.
Priority ; – Always make sure that you are not taking anyone else?s wave.
Practice ; – If you want to improve, be in the water as often as possible.
Respect ; – the locals if you visit a beach. Remember that you are a guest.
Rips ; – If you get caught in a rip, paddle parallel to the beach until you are free
Sun Block ; – Wear a good waterproof sunblock.
Surf Buddy ; – Always surf with at least one other person.
Surf Conditions ; – Make sure the surf is safe. Check it out while warming up.
Throw or Hold ; – Know when to hold onto your surfboard & when to get rid of it.

(When paddling out keep hold of your board, you?ll get out to the line up more quickly, and not put anyone paddling out behind you at risk. If you are about to wipe-out then get rid of your board. An injury is more likely to be sustained if you and your board are getting washed around together).

Enjoy your ride when you know the do’s and don’ts!

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Some essential accessories required for surfing are as follows ; -
Wax
Deckgrip
Leash/legrope
Board bag
Nose Cone
Rashguard

Wax : –
There are many different types of surfboard wax, they all do the same thing – they stop you from slipping off the surfboard when you are either paddling, or up surfing. At the beginning of a session, Surf Wax is applied to the deck of the board in the positions where the feet will be placed. It can also be applied to the rails where the hands will be gripping for duck diving or popping-up. Simply rub the wax on to the board. As long as you apply plenty of wax then you should be OK.

Deck Grip : -
Deck Grip and Foot Pads are widely used in surfing. They are a permanent fixture to the deck of the board and they replace the traditional use of surfboard wax for grip. Most commonly used for just the back foot, deck grip can be bought for the entire length of the board if so desired. Some have kick tails, some have nobbley bits, some are bright luminous colours!

Leash/Legrope : -
The leash, or leg rope as it is also known, is used to attach your board to your leg, so after falling off you do not have to swim back to the beach to retrieve your board. An invaluable piece of surfing equipment. The leash is attached to a plug near the tail of the surfboard at one end, and around the bottom of your back leg just above the ankle by a velcro strap.

Board Bag : -
If you want to keep your board in good order then get yourself one. What type of board bag needed depends on what you will be using it for. If storing your board in the garage and want something to keep the dust off then any old bag will do. If you are travelling you?ll need at least 3mm thickness, and maybe a multi board bag. It?s always a good idea to take more than one board so you have the right board for the right conditions, and/or a back-up.

Surfboard Nose Protector : -
A Surfboard Nose Protector or Nose Cone is a little, inexpensive piece of surf equipment. It serves two purposes. First it helps prevent damage to the nose of the surfboard, secondly and most important is that it transforms the deadly pointed nose of a board into a less dangerous weapon. The nose cone is a relatively cheap piece of safety equipment, one that you never think about but certainly will if you happen to need it.

Rashguard : –
A Rashguard, also known as a Rashvest is an essential piece of equipment for the surfer. It?s uses are threefold. No 1 is that it stops you getting a rash when you are surfing. Rubbing yourself up against a surfboard for hours can chafe, and leave you sore – not to mention rashes under the arms and around the neck. No 2 is that they keep the sun off your skin. If you are surfing in the midday sun you will get burnt to a crisp – but not if you have your rashvest on. No 3 is that they can give you a little extra layer of warmth for a lot less cost than a new wetsuit.

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So you wanna buy your first surfboard…WE think that’s a GREAT idea so please check out the Beginners Surfboard Guide Summary

Here are some of the main things to bear in mind when considering which surfboard to buy as a beginner.

Surfboard Size

No matter what type of board you buy it should be at least 6” longer than your own height.
The wider the board, the more stable on the waves
The thicker the board the more buoyant it will be, making it easier to paddle and catch waves
A ultra thin, light shortboard will make learning to surf harder – why do you think that performance boards are not used by surf schools
Type

The best type of beginners surfboard depends on different factors. How often you will be surfing, your fitness levels, whether you need to look cool etc. Best go back and read the both the beginner board pages again.
Soft boards, longboards, minimals and pop-outs are all great beginners boards
Shortboards are not such a great beginner board for the average surfer.
New or Old

This depends on a number of factors including budget and availability of boards
Buying a new soft surfboard is a good idea if you have children or you do not intend to go surfing regularly. If you progress quickly in your surfing you will soon need another board more suited to your ability – these boards are for the novice only. A cheap second hand board might be the best bet
Good second hand surfboards can be hard to find, and if you are new to buying a surfboard you might want to take a look at our surfboard buying guide
.With a beginners board you are going to have to replace it soon, you need a board that you can resell
How Often You Surf

If you only surf once a year go for a softboard
If you surf intermittently go for either a pop-out, mini-mal or malibu
If you surf 3-4 times a week you can pretty much start on any board you like. Surfing this regularly should see you quickly out of the ‘novice surfer’ stage

This information was brought to you by Surfing-Waves.

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