For millions of people around the world, surfing is considered the greatest sport. It’s a great workout and has unlimited thrills and excitement as well as getting to enjoy the natural beauty and incredible power of the ocean. But with all that beauty and power comes the potential for danger, so it’s important to be prepared, especially when you’re a beginner shredder.
Here are 5 simple tips to get you started and keep you on the right track!
- Research Surf Schools / Camps
Making the time to visit a surf school or camp is a great way to kick start or enhance your beginner surfing skills. Professional coaches typically know more, have experienced more and have much more patience and good intentions than your friends. Professional coaches’ first and foremost concern is to keep you safe and make sure you have fun. What more could you ask for in a beginning surf buddy?
- Pick the Right Board for You
This is definitely one of the most important parts of learning to surf. So important, in fact, we have a whole other blog post (How to choose the right surf board for you) dedicated to choosing the right one! Basically, as a beginner you want a board that is big, buoyant, easy to handle and build to last.
- Choose the Right Spot to Surf
The best place for a beginner to learn to surf is a beach with a straight shoreline with little to no rocks or nearby jetties or reefs. A spot with a sandy bottom and a gradual slope is best so you get gentle waves. Don’t be afraid to ask local and / or veteran surfers to point out the best spot for you to learn.
- Pay Attention to the Weather & Ocean Patterns
This one is fairly obvious but often overlooked. Know when it’s high tide and low tide, the wind speeds and, of course, the wave height and frequency. This will help you decide whether it’s a safe day for you to paddle out and where is the best place to catch waves. All of the aforementioned factors effect where waves will break.
- Follow Surfing Etiquette
Surfing is largely an individual sport, but it’s also a community-oriented pastime. It’s important to know and follow surfing etiquette to the best of your ability to minimize chances of an accident and to earn respect from other surfers. A few of the most basic and essential ones are to wait for your turn in the lineup and don’t drop in on someone else’s wave.
Follow these 5 basic rules and you’re almost ready to go. All you have to do now is book a plane ticket to Costa Rica and we’ll see you at the airport! J