A few years ago I started surfing, and I fell in love with this sport from the minute I paddled in on my board. For me, who loves water, the ocean, sport and just having fun, it was the ideal sport. So I’ve decided to each week post a step to finally standing on you board, enjoying a wave, and calling yourself a surfer.
Here’s step 1:
A lot of us don’t live near the beach, so firstly find out where the nearest beach is, and if you live in a coast town – you’re lucky. Surfing always sounds like so much fun, and it is, but first see if you have time, because surfing is a sport that like anything – only practise can make you better, so make sure you have time to at least go surf once every week or two. Then you have to make the decision:
1. Hire a board at a surf school and go for lessons
· Will probably work out cheaper, but then you have to deal with getting a board later.
· Can’t just go surf anytime because you don’t have a board of you own.
· You can first see if it’s for you before buying yourself a surfboard.
2. Buy a board and teach yourself to surf.
· Won’t have anyone to teach you unless you’re lucky and has a friend or family member that surfs or your parents are willing to buy you a board and send you for lessons.
· Can go surf anytime you want – if the waves are right of course.
· If after a day you feel like the sport isn’t for you, you bought a board and you used it for a day and you’re probably never going to use it again.
So these are small steps, but all of these choices play a role in finally being able to surf.
Here are some tips for choosing the right surfboard:
Length: Between 6’8″ to 8 ft. long depending on your height. Try to keep it about a foot to a foot and a half taller then you.
Width: The wider the surfboard the more stable it will be. Just go with a standard 20 to 22 inches across, you want to be able sort of fit it underneath your arm. Also keep in mind the length of your arms; because of course this won’t be possible if you’ve got short arms.
Thickness: The thicker the surfboard the more buoyant it is and it will be easier to paddle…. stay within 2-1/4 to 3 inches thick dependent on your weight. If you are a small person then the thickness can be around 2 to 2 1/2 inches If you are average size then go for something 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 inches. If you are big then 3 inches should float you. Don’t get something to big and thick because then you will have a very hard time maneuvering it around.
The wider and longer a board the quicker you will be to stand up and ride a wave, although these tend to be heavier than most other surfboards, therefore paddling will require a bit more effort to get it going.
Go to one of your local surf shops, but don’t let them fool you into buying a new shiny board, I know there irresistible and in the exact color you want but no. Now step over to the second hand surfboards, you’ve just started and in a few months’ time you’ll most likely buy yourself another board because you’ve gotten better so there’s no use in spending thousands on a board now.
