Ready, Set, Surf: A Beginner's Guide To Surfing For Women
Feb 20 2007 / Los Angeles, CAReady to start surfing but don’t know where to begin? Here are a few tips that will have you paddling out, popping-up and shredding waves in no time.
First thing’s first: The best way to begin your surfing career is with a lesson from a professional surf instructor or surf camp. Check out Roxy Surf Camps to find a school in your area. Don’t live near the beach? No problem, week long get-away camps are popping up all over the place. What could be better than learning to surf in a tropical destination you love?
|
||||||||||
What you’ll need: Surf schools and camps will provide you with a surfboard and wetsuit; all you will need is a killer bikini. However, once you start surfing solo you will need gear that is all your own. Here are the basics to get you started:
Surfboard: Beginners should be sure to use a longboard (longer than 8’). These are easier to paddle and far more stable to ride than a shortboard. Once your surfing skills are super sick you can search out any kind of board you want!
Wetsuit: Depending on the water temperature where you are surfing, you might want to invest in a wetsuit. Wetsuits work with your body to heat up the trapped water, and, girl, you will appreciate that when you head out for brisk morning surf!
- • Spring suits with short arms and legs are used in warm water.
• Full suits are used in water temps below 70 degrees. The colder the water the more millimeters you will need. A standard wetsuit is called a 3:2 (3 millimeters in the center and 2 millimeters in the arms and legs).
Booties: Cold water, protecting a pedicure, or walking over reef may inspire you to get a pair of booties. They are like thick socks for your feet made from neoprene with rubber bottoms.
Leash: This is what attaches your surfboard to your ankle so you don’t lose your board during a gnarly wipe out.
Rashguard and board shorts: If you do get the chance to surf somewhere tropical, all you may need is a rashguard and board shorts over your bathing suit. A rashguard, worn like a t-shirt but made from fast drying materials, should fit snug against your body. Long or short boardshorts can be worn just like regular shorts but dry quickly so as not to weigh you down. While surfing in a bikini is extra cute, you may want to consider these items to protect you from board rash (when foam or wax rubs your skin and gives you an ouchy rash).
Wax: You need surf wax to make the deck (top) of your fiberglass surfboard sticky so your feet don’t slip. Sunscreen: Find a broad spectrum, waterproof sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays. This miracle in a bottle can protect you against wrinkles and skin cancer.
Don’t forget: There are a couple of surfing no-no's, but these quick and easy etiquette tips will keep you cool in and out of the water.
- • Don’t drop in (take off on a wave) on another surfer who is already up and riding.
• Hang onto your board during wipeouts and when getting through the whitewater, that way you don’t hurt other surfers around you.
• Don’t be a wave hog. Share waves with other surfers.
• Be aware of other surfers around you – do your best to stay out of each others way.
• Observe your conditions. Water conditions change with the weather and it can get hectic fast. Make sure to only go out on days you can handle.
No worries: Don’t be nervous about your first lesson.
- • No, you won’t look fat in a wetsuit.
• You will stand up (just maybe not your first time).
• You won’t get eaten by a shark.
• Don’t worry about other students being better than you. Everyone starts out the same!
Do remember to be alert and pay attention to your instructor. Keep yourself well hydrated and don’t come to your lesson after a wild night of tequila.
Like totally, dude. Essential surf speak:
Beach break: A surf spot along a sandy beach with many breaks. A mellow beach break is often a good choice for beginners.
Blown out: When the wind hits the water and makes it choppy and bumpy.
Dawn patrol: Hitting the waves early in the morning when the wind is calm and there are only a few other surfers out (you hope!).
Duck dive: A way of getting through the waves while paddling out by pushing your shortboard under the wave.
Goofy footed: To ride with your right foot forward.
Grom: A young surfer.
Hang ten: Riding a wave with both your feet on the nose of a longboard.
Kook: Don’t be that girl. She’s the one who thinks she knows what she is doing but doesn’t.
Offshore: Wind that blows from the land to the sea (good for surfing as it holds up the face of the wave).
Onshore: Wind that blows from the sea onto the land (bad for surfing as it flattens waves out).
Point Break: A surf spot that breaks consistently in the same place and peels out, hard for beginners as advanced surfers can continually slip by them.
Pop-up: The method of getting to your feet from your paddling position on the board.
Quiver: Your selection of surfboards.
Turtling: A way of getting through the waves while paddling out by rolling over with your longboard.
Wipeout: When you eat it – big time!
--Rebecca Heller
For more information on surfing check out Heller’s book 'Surf Like a Girl'
For more information on surfing check out Heller’s book 'Surf Like a Girl'
