You have been thinking about the bright blue sky and salt water coast for a long time. The ocean is calling and by now you’ve been picturing yourself riding the pumping swells. But if you are new to surf holidays, you might fall to the common trap of beginners on surfing spree. Save yourself. Be a smart, knowledgeable rookies and give yourself the best vibes and experiences you deserve.
Thinking that Shorts and Bikinis Are Enough for Surf Holidays
Swimwear brands love to picture cool beach girls in bikini, posing with surf boards, and that’s probably one of the most leading misperception about surf holidays. If you are thinking that bikinis (or shorts, for men) are the only thing you need for surfing, you are going to be in trouble. Let’s get it clear. On surfing holidays, you will have a prolonged session on ocean water—and mostly they are colder than the weather. The warmest water can reach about 21-23ºC, which still feel chilly if you’re on the water for long time. Also, if you are heading to the Atlantic Ocean surfing spots (think of Spain and Portugal), you will need more than bikini to protect you from the colder water.
Second, you will get exposed under the sun for a long time. And there will be no shelter against the sun in the open sea. There’s no need to talk about about getting harsh sunburn after the surf—it’s obvious. And third, bikini—or shorts—provides little to no protection against the wax on the surfboard. You will get it all over your body.
Thinking that Small Boards is Better for Beginners
We have seen too many rookie surfers on holiday bringing the wrong surfboard. Boards come in variety of sizes not because of modes—it’s to adjust each levels. Newbie tends to think that shorter boards are cooler, but they are basically made for pro surfers. Bigger boards might scream “rookie!”, but they are the best ones when you just learn to surf. This might come counterintuitive, but smaller boats actually picks up fewer waves and is harder to paddle. You will get flipped from the board more than you can count!
Pro tip: don’t buy your own board before having any surf lessons. Instead of buying your own, use boards on your surf camp and find the one that works perfectly with you.
That All Locations Are Just the Same
Going to surf is not like going to any beach for enjoying the scenes. You might want to surf in hidden beaches with rocky limestone and golden sands, but the swells on that beach might be too strong for you. Beaches with appropriate waves for your ability should be in your priority. Try to find surf destination with long, consistent waves in less crowded beaches. Never ever take decision upon the looks of the beach alone when planning your surf holidays.
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Not Thinking About Muscle Training Before Taking Surf Holidays
Yeah, surfing is cool and all—with all the sun, beaches, and waves. But it’s still sport, and going on surf holidays means getting into a prolonged sport sessions. It’s quite unwitting to go on surf vacation without giving your body a proper training before. You gonna need extra upper body strength, and running or going to gym won’t be really helping. What you need is diligent swimming training for a month or two before the holiday. You gonna need that for paddling the board toward the waves.