What to look for in surf Conditions
A lot of things go into making good surf conditions and a memorable session. The most important is the swell and what direction the swell is. Make sure you know what the prime swell direction is for your local break. Also check the tide and wind speed/direction. Knowing the conditions which make your spot break well is essential to planning a good surf session.
Local Shapers
With less money to spend on surfboards many surfers are enlisting local less popular shapers to build them a custom board. Some of these shapers make great boards and others do not. The best sign as to whether they are good at making custom boards is whether they are personable. If you are getting a custom board they should be interested in you, to find out what kind of board you want. If the shaper is not personable then move on to the next shaper.
Google Earth
Back in the day a surfer looking for a surf spot to travel to, which has never been surfed, would turn to a map. You used a paper map which only showed the outlines of untouched islands and reefs. You couldn’t see the terrain visually or other important things. That stayed the same for many years until Google Earth came along.
Once Google earth came it changed surf travel for ever. It allows surfers to scour the globe in search of secret and untouched surf breaks. You can see the actual visual picture of the spot you are looking at to see the terrain around the spot. This helps if you want to get an idea of how deep the water is or what kind break it is. You can also look at many different points or outcroppings which could produce some great surf. Overall Google Earth has made looking for untouched surf spots a lot easier.
Don’t Fall
There is often a debate about whether falling while surfing is good because you are trying difficult maneuvers or if it means you are not a good surfer. I think falling can be good if you are improving and figuring out why you fell. However every once in a while try going a whole session without falling. It will make you consider and prefect each maneuver and surf the wave smarter.
Glassy Conditions
The best thing for surfing is glassy surf conditions. The term “glassy” comes from the appearance when the ocean is smooth and not choppy. Glassy conditions are most common in the early morning dawn patrol or late in the afternoon. This is why if the surf is good, it can be super crowded in the morning. Glassy conditions come from either no wind or light offshore conditions. Surfing glassy conditions is really fun no matter how big it is because the waves stand up very well and don’t close out.
Keeping your Backpack Safe
Do you surf alone and leave a backpack or other items on the beach. From time to time we all do and it can be pretty risky. We all get distracted and there is no way we can watch our stuff on the beach and focus on surfing at the same time. Surfers are prime subjects for theft because we often drop backpacks on the beach and rush into the water to start surfing. Continue reading to find out a trick to prevent becoming a victim in theft……
When out in a lineup it can often be difficult to see out backpack or bag to ensure no one is taking anything from it. To deter someone from taking items from your bag cover it with your towel. This deters people from taking stuff and prevents them from seeing your backpack. This is just one way to protect your personal belongings.
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