Etiquette to Follow When You Go Surfing Waves
When you go surfing, no matter how an expert you are there are fundamental things you have to think of all the time. Here are five things that you should know when you go Surf Wave.
Be cordial with the local surfers – Most of us are passionate about our hobby and love to spread the knowledge. This goes for anything, but especially for hobbies with tight-knit communities. Many surfers are more than willing to teach you the ins-and-outs of surfing, the tides of your local beach, how to paddle out without being pounded to a sandbar and the courtesy involved with the sport. If you are new, ask for help.
Buy the right board for your area – if your area has extremely small surf wave, don’t buy short boards. Short boards tend to plow through the water and you will not be able to paddle fast enough to catch small waves. Small boards often feature a stomp pad on the back which is used in extremely tight maneuvers such as cutbacks. If you are unsure about the board to get, ask the surf-shop employees at your local shop.
Use the right wax for your conditions – This is important. One of the most frustrating things is to be out in the water and start slipping off the board because you used the wrong wax. There are typically two types of wax. Cold-water wax is softer and stickier than warm-water wax. If your water is cold enough that this type of wax will not melt in the sun, use it. Warmer weather, however, is problematic for cold-water wax since it has a low melting point and will run off the board leaving your fiberglass board slippery and you will fall off every time you try to stand up.
Surf the outside break – there are too many new surfers trying to surf wave the shore break. This is the most common mistake. These are not the waves that people surf. If you surf these you will never get any significant ride. You will also put your board at risk of damage if you surf the shore break – the “skeg” (the stabilizing fin on the bottom of the surfboard) will get caught in the sand and snap off, probably also sending you flying into the sand. Look for sandbars where the waves break away from the shore. This allows you to surf wave over the sufficiently deep water over the sandbar and not break your board. It also gives you room to maneuver.
If you live in a cold climate, do not go surfing in winter – It may be tempting, and the waves are often best in winter. Many surfers do go surfing in winter, but this is not really a good idea. Surfing in cold water in winter can develop a condition called “surfer’s ear.” This is basically a growth in the ear, letting you lose a significant hearing ability in that ear. It is caused by cold water entering the ear canal. Surfing waves during the winter season is definitely not worth it, trust me.