Surfing For Dummies

One of the sports that most probably every person on the planet looks at with respect and desire is surfing. Let’s be honest. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you see surfers riding waves? I want this. Why am I not there? How would I perform? How cool are their lives?

OK, if you are in that small percentage that did not find themselves in those responses, you should move onto our articles about camping, which we also love and practice, as a matter of fact. But let’s be honest, we all have romanticized images of surfer lives. Then again, what actually do we know about this sport? Let us give you a small introduction to the sport of Surfing For Dummies.

The Basics

The first thing that an experienced surfer will tell you is that surfing is one of the most difficult and most complex sports you can choose. Your field is constantly changing since there are no waves that are the same and the conditions of the playground are not predictable. At least for non-professionals, of course. Rookies are advised to use a longboard while learning their first steps since they offer more stability and balance. The learning curve in surfing is as different as it is in other sports. Patience is one of the most important skills to have in surfing.

Surfers wave — Surf safe and catch smaller waves for the first time.

As much as we see surfing as a cool activity and way of life, it belongs to the extreme sports category. Real threats are involved like getting slammed into a reef or the ocean floor, and the most dangerous is being held underwater by a series of two or more consecutive waves.

And a few more tips…

If you still want to try yourself in this magnificent sport, there are a few locations in the world for you. Byron Bay in Australia, Waikiki in Hawaii and Lagos in Portugal are considered the best locations for testing your skills. It is recommended to rent your first board and in terms of accessories, to get a wetsuit, surfboard wax and a leash for your board. Also, find someone to show you the basic techniques and don’t go alone on your first surf. You don’t want to get hurt and find yourself alone in The Shallows (a movie you should consider seeing before going out alone to surf and making a hero out of yourself).