Catch More Waves
Surfing can be a whole lot of fun and is the perfect way to spend a day at the beach. Provided you can stay upright, of course. Even surfing beginners can enjoy riding the waves and falling off your board can be part of the fun. There is more to surfing than just going out and standing on your board. And even if your first wave is just a small one, you’ll soon become addicted to carving through the waves and as you improve, you’ll be seeking more waves and bigger ones.
To make the most out of your time at the beach, here are 5 ways to catch more waves so you can enjoy every minute you spend on your surfboard.
1. Observe The Tides
You simply can’t just take your surfboard out and start surfing. Even if you have great balancing skills, you still need to understand the waves and pinpoint the best moment to start riding the waves. Spend some time on the shore and observe the tides and the waves. Pay attention to when the wave peaks and starts to break.
Try to observe the different tides as well. If you can be at the beach at both low and high tides, you’ll quickly see how the water behaves at each tide. Of course, it will also depend on the phase of the moon, but once you spend a few days at the beach and follow tidal reports, you’ll quickly learn when you can expect the best surfing conditions.
While you’re watching the waves, watch other surfers as well. Look at them and see how they position themselves and try to pinpoint the exact moment when they jump up and start riding. Another way to learn this particular skill of reading the waves is to go into the waves without your board and feel the waves lift you and lower you.
2. Get The Right Board
Don’t be tempted to go for the flashiest looking board in your local surf shop. Sure, it looks good, but is it for you? Start with a board that has been specially designed for beginners. There are several to choose from and don’t be afraid to ask the salesperson or a seasoned surfer for advice. Things to consider are your skill levels as well as your height and weight.
If you’re a total beginner, think about starting out with kneeboards. Kneeboarding is a little easier than surfing because when you’re in the kneeling position, you don’t weatto balance as much as you would when you’re standing up.
Easier still, is bodyboarding. You catch the ways in a similar way to traditional surfing, but you stay with your torso on the board. You can still get much of the thrill with regular surfing, but bodyboarding is considered to be much easier and there is less chance of you crashing into the surf.
3. It’s All In The Timing
Unfortunately, the weather and tide reports aren’t always accurate. The weatherman has promised great surfing conditions and you set out for a day of surf, sand and sea. You get to the shore and the water looks like glass. At this point, you’ve probably realized you aren’t going to get much surfing done, right? Not so fast. It is possible to enjoy some unconventional surfing and, in some ways, create your own waves. When the waves just don’t want to cooperate, try wake surfing.
4. Wakesurfing
Wakesurfing is a great way to surf when the waves are flat and uninspiring. With wakesurfing, the board trails behind a boat and ride in the boat’s wake. The key is the type of the boat you are trailing. It should be a relatively powerful boat like a direct drive boat. This type of boat produces a strong and steady wake making it easy for wake surfboards to surf on. It may look easy, but wakesurfing can actually be a lot harder than traditional surfing.
You’ll need to have a boat, or hire one that can produce a decent wake. You’ll also need a wakesurf board and a rope, specific for wakesurfing. Just as there are many different types of surfboards, there are also a variety of wakesurf boards available as well. If you are a beginner, it is best to start with a wakesurf board that is suitable for a beginner.
The driver of the boat should also understand how to create the waves using the power of the boat and then maintain a speed of about 10 miles per hour. Although wake surfers need to be pulled by the boat to start, once they pick up enough speed, they can ride the waves created by the boats wake without hanging on to the rope.
One of the best aspects of wakesurfing is that you don’t need to share the waves with anyone. The boat’s wake you are riding is only for you so you can really have fun with it. You can wakesurf sitting, kneeling or standing, depending on your skill level.
5. Be Patient
Part of the fun of surfing is catching the waves but you need to be patient. It takes time to learn how to read the waves and then you need to learn to recognize the ebbs and tides of the sea to gage the best moment to jump on your board and start surfing. You’ll need to paddle out, pay attention to the waves and then paddle like crazy towards the shore to gather some speed and momentum before the wave breaks.
Surfing takes a lot of skill and it takes time to develop those skills. Once you catch and ride your first wave, you’ll be hooked and you’ll become very inventive and adept at catching more waves. While you’re out there, don’t forget to enjoy yourself. Surfing is a lot of fun and it’s pretty exciting as well. Whether you choose to surf purely for recreational purposes or it’s your intention to one day enter surfing competitions, the waves are out there so you can get started.
