Surf's_Up - A
Beginner's Guide to Surfing
By Megan Foster
There is a common misconception that surfers are laid-back dudes. While they may look
the part, it is important to note that surfing is anything but laid-back. It takes a lot
of skills and discipline to ride the perfect wave. But don't be discouraged if you're a
beginner. Once you set your mind to it, surfing will come naturally for you. In fact, you
will become so addicted to surfing, that it will be an art form in itself.
Surfers don't just get onto a surfboard and miraculously learn to ride the waves. They
achieved this sort of skill with discipline, practice and a whole lot of determination. If
you are a beginner, perhaps the first piece of advice you'll ever get is to learn not to
be scared of the ocean. If you set your mind on conquering the seas with your trusty
surfboard, then you've got the right outlook.
Before you begin your lessons, you have to make sure you're fully-equipped. It pays to
be prepared, and nothing beats having the confidence to start because you know you've got
everything you need with you.
The Beach
Of course you need to find the perfect beach with the perfect waves. And you have to
pick your beaches wisely. You can't learn to surf if the waves are a dud. Nor can you get
started if they are too big. So it's best to pick a beach with waters that are mild enough
for beginners. In a perfect world, where there are no responsibilities and financial
factors, you would opt to go surfing in Hawaii. The waters are wonderfully mild, the
temperature is palmy. Alas, time and financial constrictions may prevent you from taking a
trip to Hawaii regularly. Good thing Baja California in Mexico, is a really good
alternative. In fact, the beaches at Baja are famous for being perfect surfing spots.
Todos Santos is the most popular place in Baja, where the beaches are perfect for beginner
and expert surfers. The white sand beaches are perfect for that grueling but enjoyable
task of learning how to surf.
Your Surfboard
If you're a beginner, it is best to start with a beginner's surfboard. Many recommend a
soft-Doyle surfboard for the first few times you go out surfing. Your goal is to get a
surfboard with as much surface area as possible, so you can practice on your balancing
skills better. Your first board should be wide, thick, round, floaty and soft. It should
be 2 – 3 feet taller than you. The more you acquire your skills in surfing, then you
can upgrade your surfboard to something a bit more compact, and made of fiberglass.
Your Attire
Surfing requires you to spend a vast amount of time in the water. It is important,
therefore, to be comfortable. And if you're freezing your butt off, that means you're not
comfortable. Invest in a good wetsuit. Decide on which suit to buy, depending on the
temperatures of the waters where you will be surfing. Aside from warding off the cold, the
wetsuit will also be helpful in preventing rashes to your body as you will rub against
your board frequently.
Other Accessories
Make sure you get a leash that is the same length as your surfboard, so you won't lose
your board all the time. For better traction, it is nice to have some wax around, though
this is not a requirement. Now, try to find your guts and determination, and you're off to
your first attempt at surfing!
In learning how to surf, one must always remember to practice. Do not attempt to learn
how to stand on your board as soon as you hit the water. Try to get your balance first.
Learn the feel of the board on your body. Communicate with the waters. Once you've gotten
used to finding your balance, then you can proceed to learning how to sit on your
surfboard. This isn't as easy as it looks because you would have to contend with the waves
and your own balancing skills. Once you've perfected this, then you can learn to stand on
your board.
Always surf with a partner, who is helpful, both as a spotter, and for safety purposes.
Always remain calm, and you will go through less accidents. And finally, enjoy the
experience. Though you may not be the most gifted surfer on the planet, savor the moment.
After all, it is the closest thing you'll get to actually walking on water.
Paddling your surfboard is an important step in learning to surf. Stronger paddlers
generally catch more waves than less stronger paddlers and therefore turn into better
surfers. It is very important to be a good paddler, not only because it allows you to
catch more waves but also for your own safety. Being a good paddler can only be to your
advantage. Often it is only the best paddlers that make it out the back. The weaker
paddlers often get pushed back towards the shore and never get beyond the breaking waves.
Also, when it is busy, it is often only the best paddlers that catch the waves, because
everyone else is too slow. The best paddlers can claim their waves faster than everyone
else. If you are a below average paddler, it is often very hard to even get a wave when
the line up is busy.
One of the most important parts of paddling a surfboard is your position on the board.
When learning to surf, it is very common to see beginner surfers paddling the board
incorrectly due to incorrect positioning on the board. The board needs to plane across the
water when you paddle it. This usually means the nose of the board comes out of the water
about two inches. Your body should always be centered on the board. If you are riding a
long board your feet should be on the board, if you are riding a short board your feet
should be slightly raised off the board while you paddle.
Body position is all important while paddling the board. To keep it planing you need to be
far enough back so that the nose doesn't dip under water, as this makes it extremely
difficult to paddle. You also don't want the nose of the board sticking out too far, this
just makes you look stupid, and also difficult to paddle. While beginning to paddle, a
common method to make things slightly easier is to move your feet apart, just enough to
make it easier to balance.
Your paddling strokes should be similar to swimming freestyle. You do not need to go quite
as deep as you would when swimming though. Just pull yourself through the water as fast as
you can while still keeping your balance. Always keep the board planing, don't let the
nose dip under or stick out too far. This will make your paddling much more efficient and
easier for you. Spending time swimming while your not surfing can also improve your
paddling strength and endurance,your going to need it. Practice paddling as often as you
can and you will be rewarded with great paddling strength, meaning you will catch more
waves than everyone else!
Practice as much as you can and you will reap the rewards of having a strong paddle. For
more information about surfing visit http://howtosurf.blogspot.com - a must see for
surfers and beginner surfers alike!
Kitesurfing has been become very
popular over the past few years. Very understandable after you watch some of these
kitesurfers ripping across the water. It is also called kiteboarding, and if your one of
those French that had to be different, flysurfing. Kitesurfing gear you need includes a
traction kite, control bar, harness, flying lines, and of course, a kiteboard.
Kiteboard
: Be sure to find a kiteboard designed for kiteboarding.
Large kiteboards work better in gentle wind while small kiteboards manuever faster. Weight
and skill other factors when considering size. The rider is attached to the board with a
leash.
Kite
: Kiteboarding kites are designed for two or four lines. Four line
kites tend to be more manueverable. Kites with inflatable bladders can be more easily
launched from the water but are not as efficient. Experienced kiteboarders usually use
ram-air kites.
Harness
: The harness is used so the sometimes heavy pull will be
distributed to the whole body. Otherwise your arms would quickly turn into rubber.
Flying lines
: Flying lines are usually made of a thin, strong material
called Spectra Fiber. Kites have a recommended length but the average is about 120ft.
Kiteboard Control Bar
: The control bar is what you hold to control the
kite. The bars are specific to the two or four line kites.
DaKine, Naish, Cabrinha, Wipika, and Slingshot are common kiteboarding brands. Always
take a lesson and start out slowly. Kitesurfing gear can be difficult to set up and use
when your not used to it. Always know your limits in the water.
Why would you wax
your surfboard? The sides of the board in the water need to be slippery, but
when your feet hit the surfboard, you want to have some kind of wax. How do
you know you've done a good job at waxing your surfboards? One cue is when
there are bumps. These bumps will give you something to grip with your feet.
If you are new to waxing your board, then this guide will help you to do a
good job.
1. Tools " You'll
need a handful of tools and supplies. These include a wax comb, topcoat wax,
and basecoat wax. If you are working with a previously used board, or you've
already put some wax on your own board, then you'll also need to get your
hands on some wax cleaner. In addition, some paper towels may also be in
order.
2. Clean The
Board " Next, you'll want to go ahead and clean the board if it has been
previously used by you or someone else. Start by cleaning the deck and get
rid of any old wax. If you don't clean off the old wax, then the whole job
could turn into a messy mound of flakes. Scraping off the wax with the wax
comb will be sufficient. Use the straight side of the comb. Remove wax from
the rails by using the curved portion of the comb.
3. Apply The
Basecoat " This is the most important portion of waxing your
surfboard.
Your topcoat will be removed as you proceed to surfing, but the basecoat
will remain intact. If the basecoat has been rubbed away, then you're going
to have an area that is exposed and does not have any wax, despite adding
topcoat. The purpose of having the basecoat is to have those bumps
available. They will give you something to grip as you ride the waves. Push
down the wax and rub the board. You may notice bouncing. This is a good
sign, as the bumps are starting to develop. There are many different ways to
apply the wax. There really is no wrong or right way, and you should do
whatever works best for you.
4. Apply Top Coat
" This kind of wax is not as hard as the basecoat wax. This is a lot softer.
It tends to stick to your feet. Temperature of the water will affect how
your basecoat reacts. Due to this, you want to be certain that you use a
good quality wax that will withstand the various water temperatures. Check
the labels on the wax, as they usually have temperature indications right
there on the label.
5. Surf! " This
is the last step. Just go out and surf! As you surf the waves, there will be
a portion of the top coat that will begin to start flaking off. Some of it
will be stuck to your board shorts or wetsuit, while another portion will go
into the water. To remedy this, apply a little wax before you surf each
time.
Proper
maintenance for your surfboards is important, because you want to be able to
keep your equipment in top shape. You never know what the waves will be
like, from one day to the next, and that is why you need to always have
things ready, just in case. Surfing is a great sport, and having the right
equipment can make a world of difference. Even cheap surfboards need the
proper care and waxing to give you the best performance.
For more
information on top quality, cheap surfboards visit
http://www.degree33surfboards.com/.
These are hand shaped surfboards that will add a new dimension to your
surfing experience. Visit us today!
Be ready for an
adventure when you are out enjoying your skimboard. The first thing to
remember is to skimboard with the wind and not against it because the wind
is an obstacle. Do not just jump on your skimboard but run on it this will
greatly decrease your chances of falling. Another great benefit that comes
from running on your skimboard is it will help support your speed.
If you are
wanting to ride some waves on your skimboard make sure you are cautious
there are a few problem areas that could arise. Slide slipping is how
someone reaches the waves on a skimboard which is a complicated task to
master but very beneficial if you can figure it out. As you approach the
waves with enough speed to make it you need to turn your board away from the
waves and take them on a sideways approach. Make sure your toes point toward
the ocean and not the beach. If you can figure out how to hit the wave at
the right time you will lose less speed and make it further out to sea. Once
the wave is close enough turn your skimboard into the normal riding position
and resume riding. Making sure to stay balanced and focused on the next wave
will make sure you have a fantastic time riding the waves. A great way to
keep your board up is to keep up it with proper waxing to allow your skim
board to cruise at it's fastest possible speeds.
Keeping your back
foot toward the back of the board is an important part of maintaining your
balance. It seems that surfers like to ride on the front of their surfboards
and this confused the beginners just remember that you always ride a
skimbaord with your weight at the back end of it. A skimboard bag is a wise
investment to ensure your board is well protected. You need a large bag one
that is twice the size of your skim board to allow room for padding that
serves a form of protection for your skim board. Once you have all the
necessary padding and protection for your it will be safe to travel anywhere
you want to take it. The more you practice the better you will get until one
day you can ride your board anywhere and at any time. It is a great summer
activity that will bring fun and excitement to your life this summer.
Find a great deal
on a new
skimboard
by following the link.
Surfing is fun and is supposed to be fun. It is a great sport. However, if
you are not in good physical condition, you will end up disappointed and not
have fun. First off, if you are not in good shape for paddling, you will
have a difficult time paddling your surfboard out through the incoming waves
to get out to the spot where you can start catching waves. The paddle out to
the best spot in the lineup to catch waves can be anywhere from fifty yards
to four hundred yards. If you are exhausted when you get out in the lineup,
you will have to spend good surfing time resting instead of catching waves.
Chances are you might not even make it out there.
Some
of you will be so out of shape that you will not be able to get through the
incoming surf and will be forced to turn around and go back to the beach
where you started. That doesn't sound like a successful fun day of surfing.
I
was once told that "couch potatoes don't make it in surfing". That really
makes sense. This probably applies more to part time surfers because many
surfers surf all year around. However, even the year around surfers have to
stay in training to realize their maximum potential for a good surfing
experience every time they go out.
Surfers need to stay motivated and keep themselves in good physical
condition because you know that when the good surf comes you will be ready.
What this means is that when there are days and sometimes weeks with no
surf, you need to stay in the gym lifting weights, stretching, working on
their core muscles and doing your cardiovascular training.
One
good way to stay in good physical condition is to have a workout partner.
Ideally your workout partner will be one of your surfing buddies and you
will be able to motivate each other. If you get bored with the gym, go to
the nearest body of water and go paddling and go running. This will keep
your shoulders and cardiovascular system in shape as long as you spend at
least a half hour of strenuous paddling on your surfboard, paddleboard or
SUP. Don't take the easy way out. Stay disciplined.
I
think that you should all find something that gives you the inspiration to
keep in shape so that when the good waves arrive you will be ready.
Personally, my inspiration is thinking about getting in the water with good
waves to surf and then surfing like a champion. For some of you, your
inspiration could be the motivation of competition with your surf buddies
and your desire to be better than they are. For others of you, you get your
inspiration from watching surf movies and imagining that you are riding the
waves. Then there are others who just want to make sure that they are in
good physical condition and that's what they do, they stay in good condition
all year around.
Another very important aspect for your surfing success is the food you eat
and the sleep you get. Good food and lots of sleep are a must. Healthy
eating will make sure that you keep your weight under control, keeping the
fat down and your muscles in good shape. Eight hours of sleep is recommended
to give your body a chance to recover from the prior days activities and
prepare you for the next day of hopefully good surf. You need these two
items to insure that you are in good physical condition for your surfing fun
and success.
One
simple recommendation I will give you is to eliminate sugar, processed foods
and wheat from your daily intake of food. Physically, you can do chest and
shoulder exercises along with setups and cardio.
Be
aware that your physical condition is a very important part, if not the most
important part, of surfing. If you ignore staying in shape, you will not
enjoy one of the best sports in the world. It will become drudgery and you
will eventually gravitate back to the couch or some other activity that is
nowhere near the fun you would have if you were surfing.
No
matter what sport you take up, you have to be in good physical condition.
Another thing is that you also have to be in good mental condition. If you
know that you are going to surf and you are going to be exhausted from
paddling before you surf, your mental approach to surfing will be bad. You
need to be excited every time you surf. Being in good physical condition,
having good waves to surf, and having a good mental attitude will make your
surfing session a fantastic experience. You will be stoked!
There are a couple other things that need to be addressed that have to do
with your physical conditioning. They are stretching and hydration. You need
to be limber and all stretched out. It is important that you stretch your
whole body every day, especially before you go surfing.
Keeping your body hydrated is also very important. Your body is
approximately 66% water. You have to keep the water level up. It is very
important that you drink lots of water every day. It keeps your whole body
including your brain in good shape. Forget the cokes, alcohol and caffeine
and stick with lots of water.
The
last part of the puzzle is having proper equipment. If you spend the time
getting yourself in good physical condition, then it makes sense that you
should have the proper surfboard type and design to perform at your top
level. It takes a strong commitment from you to get in shape, so make a
commitment to getting yourself the proper surfing equipment.
Surfing is supposed to be fun. Get yourself in great physical condition and
go do it! Take this enjoyment you will get from surfing and apply it to your
everyday life. Always remember to Surf Life!
Oak
Street Surf, http://www.oakstreetsurf.com,
is an online surf shop representing the latest surfboard products. Log in
and get a good review of top of the line surfboard types and designs
including bodyboards, skimboards, SUPs and custom longboards and shortboards.
You
can talk with Chuck to discuss in detail the various options for you to
ensure that you select the proper surfboard type and design that will bring
you surfing fun and success. He is also a physical conditioning expert and
can help you with your physical conditioning program for surfing.
Chuck believes that surfing, whether it is bodysurfing, boogie boarding,
board surfing, skimboarding or riding a Standup Paddleboard (SUP) will
change your life forever. You will be able to apply the love you will obtain
from surfing to everything you do and will learn how to Surf Life! What a
joy!!
Visit Oak Street Surf at http://www.oakstreetsurf.com,
the one-stop online surfboard and surfing equipment store, to find out more
about surfboards, surfing, Standup Paddleboards, and what types and designs
of water sports products are available. You will be able to talk to the
experts with over 70 years of surfing experience.
All photographs (unless otherwise stated) are the property of Brian Ramsey. None
of the photographs may be reproduced without the express written consent of Outdoor Business Group Limited and Brian Ramsey.
