What Should You Know About Surfing?

If the thought of surfing sounds appealing, you may have wondered what you should know about surfing before starting. One thing you should know about surfing is always respect the ocean. The ocean is a surfer’s paradise. Once a surfer starts to disrespect the ocean, he disrespects the sport of surfing.

1. On the technical side, you should know what surfboard you will need for your needs. A salesperson at a surf shop can help you pick the correct board.
2. Before going out onto the water, always check the surf report. If the waves are bigger than what your surfing ability is, do not go out on the water. If the waves are perfect, then slap on a coat of sunscreen and hit the water.
3. Once you’ve made it out into the water, don’t just jump on the first wave that comes your way. Relax and wait for the perfect wave. When the wave finally comes, paddle toward it, but look both ways to make sure no other paddler is trying to catch the same wave.
4. If someone else is paddling to the same wave, respectively wait for the next wave. Whenever you do catch a wave, keep control of the board. If you start to lose control, grab hold of the middle of the board and lower down.
5. If you fall off the board, do everything possible not to touch the ocean floor. There is a chance of injury to yourself as well as any coral reefs. Rip currents are normal part of surfing, learn how to read the ocean for any signs of one and if a rip current catches you, do not panic. Allow the current to pull you. Eventually, the current will release you and you can paddle back to shore. Always set a landmark to keep track of how far you are drifting.
6. Now that you know some of the fundamentals of surfing, you should know some of the lingo so you can sound like a surfer. Tiny waves are called ankle biters, while swells are big waves. A wipeout is where you are tossed off your board on a wave, while hanging ten is actually surfing a wave. If a surfer calls you a kook, then you need to work on your respect to other surfers while on the water. Being called a kook is bad, not good.
7. Now that you know the basics of surfing, grab a board and give it a try.