Before Surfing
In selecting your board, consider your height, weight, age, and experience. You should have at least one friend with you because it's always safer in numbers and be cautious when surfing in the company of strangers. A clinic for beginners is the best way to introduce yourself to the sport. There are many places (schools and cities) that provide them for whoever is interested in learning to surf.
Surfing is like any other sport that requires some physical training. Before jumping in the surf, you must warm up by stretching. It's also recommended that you should have a fitness routine before beginning to surf.
To carry your surf board, a backpack or a bag is recommended. You can now wear the special shoes called fins to help you walk on dry sand. A surfboard leash is necessary to keep your board close to you, especially in the waters. Reinventing the Surfboard: These days, surfboards are made of relatively harder and stiffer materials, so that they can stand up to a wave's pounding energy and enable the riders to turn sharper in the pocket of a breaking wave. Furthermore, since the boards are longer now, custom gloves and longer surf wetsuits are used to help the people in the water stay comfortable.
#1. Find a good surfing instructor
Before you can learn to surf in a smart way, you should already know all the basics of how to surf. Having a skilled surf instructor to teach you the basics is a crucial starting point. The instructor can also help you find the best boards for beginners and also help you pick out the best surf equipment.
If you can afford to hire a private surfing instructor, then it is very important for you to hire a private instructor than to learn with a group. You will be more likely to learn something and give yourself a bit more attention. But if you want to learn in a group, then it is a good idea for you to find an instructor who can provide some guidance and answer all your questions.
Most surfing instructors will be able to give you more personalized attention as compared to learning in a group. The instructors are able to tell you the exact details you need to learn to become a good surfer and will teach you everything that you need to know on how to ride the waves properly. With the proper surfing instructors, you are able to learn to become a capable surfer after a few days of instructions.
#2. Opt for a bigger board
Choose a board that will safely support your weight, particularly if you are a beginner or you are just getting back into the sport. Opting for a bigger board that will ensure your safety is better than trying to shift your weight during a difficult ride. An unstable or a rough surfboard can also increase the probability of injuries.
Another thing to keep in mind is to choose a board that’s the right weight and dimensions for your body type. Too big of a board can make it difficult to balance while too small of one can make the board unstable.
Hundreds of people ask me on social media every month about getting back into the sport or just start it, and it's really incredible how many people do not know about these little things.
#3. Don’t forget the surf leash
This is one thing that a lot of people don’t realize until their first surfing lesson. A lot of surf instructors will tell you to hold on to your board when you get on the surfboard, but what if you cant keep a hold of it? You’ll be bobbing in the water wondering what just happened while your board is carried away into the distance. It’s a terrifying feeling.
The solution is to get a surf leash.
Surf leashes are a string attached to your ankle which allows you to hold your board while you’re trying to learn how to surf. There are a lot of surfers out there who will tell you that you shouldn’t even need a surf leash, but we think that’s just silly.
#4. Do some exercises before hitting the waves
No, we don’t mean going out and pumping some iron before your daily sup session, but there are some exercises that can get you ready for those big waves that will leave your body feeling bruised.
The one exercise that is guaranteed to give you the most benefit and a workout is swimming. With swimming, you are forced to work all your major muscle groups and, if done correctly, can build up a good level of endurance.
Start by doing a few lengths of the pool, building up to a hundred or so, which will give you the cardio you need for when you’re out in the ocean. To up the ante, have a training partner or buddy give your a push at each end of the pool so that you are forced to catch waves. If this is done regularly, you can look forward to being able to handle some good surf.
If you don’t swim regularly and don’t want to do so, you could work on your cardio in a different way. Swimming isn’t going to be the most dangerous way you can do it, but the ocean itself can be. You can build up your endurance and stamina by swimming in the pool as well.
During Surfing
There Is a Difference Between "trying" to Hit the Board and "Giving" Yourself to Hit the Board. Give Yourself to Hit the Board
Surfing is not like most other sports. It is more like a fine art. You can have all the tools, the techniques and all the tricks, but if you are not at the right place at the right time, a good wave can still pass you like a slip of the knife. Some people refer to it as being a part of the ocean. It is almost a mystical experience. However, I think the real key to becoming a good surfer is to be able to surf with the ocean and not against it. Which means to do what the ocean does. The wave makes its move first, and then the surfer takes action and moves with the wave. You allow your body to move naturally and flow with the wave. You don't try to paddle against the wave, which is what most beginners do. Instead, you try to give yourself to the wave and create a great experience.
#5. Start small and slow down your pace
Surfing is a challenging sport for beginners because of the ocean conditions and the rough sea. In addition, those who want to try surfing are just beginners. They have no experience in paddling or riding waves, no body muscles are tailored to resist the impact of waves.
The best thing to start surfing, he said, is to start going slow.
The slow speed of the wave and the slow speed of the board as much as possible. This will help you develop feelings of surfing and work on the skills you have.
While you’re on it, we suggest that you choose a beach to surf that is not too choppy or far from the shore.
#6. Perfect your pop-up
Before you can begin to learn how to surf, your legs will need to be able to support you. This is called your pop-up. To do so, lay out a towel and lean your body over it, face first.
Make sure your heels are only a few inches away from the towel, and just above water. Now cross your ankles so that your heels are touching each other and lock your toes, so that your feet are pointed towards your toes.
The water should now be up to your ankles, however, if it’s too deep, adjust the level of the towel so that it’s in knee-deep water.
Now bend over at the waist let go of all your air out and fall forward. Try not to break the surface of water with your arms or legs. Breathe in, let go of your inner air and get back up as fast as you can.
Repeat this until you’re able to consistently pop up before you begin to learn how to surf.
After Surfing
Bodyboarding Tips
Another recommended pursuit after surfing is bodyboarding. When surfing, the board is pulled through the water by the rider. In bodyboarding, however, the rider relies on the wave to pull the board through the water. Because the board moves through the water more quickly, the strength requirement is greater.
When bodyboarding, the main difference is how the rider takes off. Bodyboarding takes a bit more strength, but you are able to take the most powerful part of the wave. If you are an experienced surfer, you will notice that the bodyboarding wave is usually bigger than the surfing wave.
Before you jump in the water, there are a few things you should remember. First, never jump on a bodyboard and surf board together. They are different and will both break if they are both made for something else. Second, do not rush into bodyboarding if you do not know how to surf. Bodyboarders can get hurt badly if they did not learn how properly. The reason bodyboarding is so enjoyable is because you are really working on your core strength. If you do not know how to properly bodyboard, you can hurt yourself and blame your wave riding skills.
#7. Dry your ears and stretch
Ear infections are a serious problem among surfers. “Swimmer’s ear” is a painful condition that is caused by infection of the outer ear canal. The pain usually occurs when the ear is clogged and infected but milder infections of the ear canal can actually occur when there is little or no pain. If you know a symptom, it’s important to pay attention.
When you have entered or you plan on getting into surf, you need to take some time to dry your ears and stretch the muscles in your neck and shoulders. Get used to surfing regularly, and the stress of surf can lead to more serious problems, such as rotator cuff injuries and tendonitis.
Other important aspects of surfing for beginners include:
- Staying hydrated.
- Bring a towel.
#8. Eat a protein-filled diet
Food is the fuel that keeps your body moving, and it's what allows you to get out to the beach in the first place. Building muscle is a longterm process that takes a lot of time. Building muscle with age is one thing, but developing it naturally over a few years shouldn't be too difficult as long as you continue to be active.
Not only do you want a diet that keeps you healthy, but also one that helps with muscle recovery after a long day in the sun, the wind, and the water. Eating at night also boosts your muscles recovery by providing your body with the building blocks it needs to replace and create new cells.
Since you're going to be out surfing the city breaks or catching waves on the beach, you'll want to add some extra calories. Your top sources, after consuming some protein and carbohydrates, should be fish and nuts.
- Plenty of fresh fish
- A handful of nuts, almonds, and walnuts as healthy snacks
If you're going to work out, you need to make sure you consume plenty of protein and fluids beforehand. And with surfing, the worst thing you want to happen on your surfing trip is to get a cramp while catching a wave.
- Get plenty of fiber in your diet
- Drink plenty of fluids just before working out.
#9. Rest properly
Recommend amount: 8 hours of sleep a night for about 2 hours.
Most people think super athletes are in good shape. Others believe that professionals are amazing. Wealthy athletes are always making incredible time of sports and time of rest. Have you ever wondered how they have so much energy and never seem to give up? Read on to understand why an hour of body time is about 3 hours of the rest.
You probably think that running and cycling enthusiasts rest well and definitely the sports need time, but being good at your hobby already means that you have your own way to spend time… So why are good sports so special? Compared to them, many people do not rest enough. Many people try to make up for the lack of sports with their free time or sleep. So if you have a good physical performance, you also need good sleep.