Extreme Sports

When you go surfing, no matter how expert you are there are fundamental things you have to think of all the time. Below are five things that you must know when you go surf wave:

Always be cordial to the local surfers- Many of us are passionate about the hobby and would like to spread this knowledge. This goes for any hobby but most especially for those with tight knit communities. Many surfers are more than willing to teach you the ins-and-outs of surfing, the tides of your local beach, how to paddle out without being pounded to a sandbar and the courtesy involved with the sport. If you are a starter, ask for help.

Buy the right board for your area – if your area has extremely small surf wave, don’t buy short boards. Short boards have the tendency to plow through the water which makes it hard for you to catch small waves. Small boards often feature a stomp pad on the back which is used in extremely tight maneuvers such as cutbacks. When you are unsure about the board you must get, ask the surf-shop employees of your local shop.

Make use of wax that’s suitable to your conditions- This is significant. One of the most frustrating things is to be out in the water and start slipping off the board because you used the wrong wax. Typically, there are two types of wax. Cold water wax can be softer and stickier than wax for the warm water. If your water is cold enough that this type of wax will not melt in the sun, use it. Warm weather can pose a problem to the cold water wax because of its low melting point and it will run off the board which makes your fiberglass board slippery making you fall off the board every time you try to stand on it.

Surf the outside break- there are a lot of newbie surfers who try to surf wave on the shore break. This could be the most common mistake. These are not the waves that people surf. If you surf these you are not to have any significant ride. You can also risk your surf board for damages when you surf the shore break- the skeg or the stabilizing fin at the bottom of the surf board might get caught in the sand and snap off which send you flying off to the sand. Look for the sand bars where the waves break away from shore. This would let you surf wave on the deep enough water over the sand bar without breaking your board. It also gives you room to maneuver.

If you live in a cold climate, do not go surfing in winter – It may be tempting, and the waves are often best in winter. A lot of surfers do surf during winter but that is not a good idea. Surfing in the cold water of winter can bring about a condition called “surfer’s ear.” This is a growth in the ear that lets you lose a significant hearing ability for that ear. It’s brought about by cold water that enters the ear canal. To surf waves during winter is definitely not worth risking.

Find More Surfing Articles