Surfing Secrets Revealed

Getting to Know More about Helmets for Surfing

Zeus — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:27:29 +0000

Surfing has been a sport that has been played for a long time and there are still generations of new surfers who are joining it. And like any other activity, there are certain risks involved in this sport, risk that sometimes can be deadly. Wearing any protective gear is not very popular among the different surfers because this will decrease if not remove the coolness of the whole sport. There is an available line of protective gear created for surfing that includes armbands, nose protectors up to different kinds of helmets. But you just seldom see surfers wear one even if this can save their life.

Wearing a helmet while surfing can give that extra safety feature that could help you protect your head against hitting against the reefs or any hard surfaces under the water, after charging a wave. Beginners are highly recommended to wear a helmet for their own safety. They must remember that even an expert surfer make mistakes; sometimes this could result in death. A good custom board is not enough to be able to teach how to surf safely. Make sure that you buy the top of the line products available in surfing that guarantee safety.

When you are just starting to learn from the sport it is important that you invest in the kind of equipment you are using. Buying all the best and usually the most expensive equipment available ensures your safety and it enables you to use it for a long time. There is also some cheap equipment that is created with sub-standard quality. These break easily when introduced to a high amount of force. This is one reason why most experts recommend that people should learn how to surf as early as possible so that they will not get embarrassed for using a surfing helmet when they are older.

There are a lot of kids who are slowly learning how to surf early especially those who are children of famous surfers. They are trying to make their kids follow their sport and this is also the perfect way for them to bond as a family. Learning how to surf will give a lot of benefits that is mostly is related with the health. Riding a perfect wave is also one of the best things to experience that most surfers enjoy. And this is also the same reason why they keep on coming back over and over again.

Enjoying the sport is perfect with proper protection, like wearing a good helmet. There are many different types of helmets that were made specifically for surfing and there is surely the perfect helmet for you. Try to look for the different designs and try to find something that you like or you can also have it customized. Make sure that the helmet fits well on your head and that it has undergone a series of test. Usually when a wave hits you, you will have no control of yourself while in the water but with a helmet the risks are reduced.

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Grommers: Who Are These Type of Surfers?

Zeus — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:19:51 +0000

A Grommer is the term used for a young surfer. Grommers are usually younger than 15 years old. Sometimes they are also known as Gremmie, Grom or Grem. Most of the best surfers in the world start early on. They are able to develop their skill they have today through hard work and a lot of patience. Because of the increasing number of young surfers, this term was developed to describe their own group. Usually young surfers also have famous surfer parent that is why they start early in training. Their parents want them to know the sport they are passionate about.

For the history of the term it was used as early as 1964 when Nicholas Tomalin used it first contextually. He used it to describe a beginner surfer or an inexperience surfer. The term gremmie was then used in United States from 1940’s until 1950s this was derived from the word Gremlin. And the term grommet was also used in the works of Tim Winton used in the Lockie Leonard Legend. But with the continued use, the term slowly became accepted by the young participants in the surfing world. There is different competition that uses the term for example is the Grommet Surf Club for young surfers by the British Surfing Association.

Now it is also being used in different extreme sports and not only limited to surfing. Now young skateboarders and snowboarders are also called grommet. Although the term itself has no ill-meaning, there are other surfers who use this term to poke fun at the young surfers. But there are some that, at an early age, you will be able to see their full potential in the world of surfing. And there are others that are able to develop their skills through time.

The advantage of starting early is that you will have a lot of time improving your skills especially if you have a lot of good trainers to guide you. It is also easy for them to learn things if it is their own decision to learn surfing. In order to excel in this sport you must also put some risk in doing things that is out of the ordinary. Your fame will surely skyrocket after doing famous stunts. There are a lot of grommet surfers that also aim to be the best in the whole world.

There will still be a continued growth of good surfers who are willing to share their knowledge about surfing to those who are willing to learn. The number of young surfers also continues to increase, a phenomenon that is encouraged by all the competitions that are being developed for them to compete against the different grommets in the world. But there is no exact age as to when is the right time to start your surfing training. The important thing is that as soon as young individual can stand safely on the surfboard and knows how to swim, then he is ready for his first few lessons in surfing.

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All You Need to Know about Neoprene Gloves for Surfing

Zeus — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:17:22 +0000

Not all waters and exciting waves are found in the warm Pacific areas, there are also wonderful waves attractive to all surfers that are found even during cold winter months. Just like any sport it is possible with the right equipment of course. To venture out in the cold without them is like suicide in hypothermia.

For experienced cold water surfers, they will actually say the last thing to put on should be your neoprene wetsuit gloves. And why is that so? Well for a start depending on how cold the water is, usually the first thing to put on is the wetsuit made of neoprene materials. Then if the water gets colder you put on the boots and then lastly your neoprene gloves and hood.

For flexibility a lot of them avoid the gloves. Mainly because of paddling issues. Granted neoprene gloves still gets a few water into your hands slowing the surfer down a little but still they are the only piece of equipment that can protect his hands enabling him to surf cold waters. But of course as a surfer, you better have that encumbrance than resist a day without an exciting surfing experience.

Here are a few tips in knowing all about the right choice of neoprene gloves for surfing. Neoprene types comes in stretchy and hugs the contours of the hands better than any other type. Therefore it allows less room for water to get into hence you can paddle faster.

Most neoprene thickness recommended for wetsuit gloves is 2mm to 5mm. The thicker they are the warmer you get. But of course you will want lesser feeling in your hands so you want lighter seams on the wetsuit gloves. There should be less water coming into your gloves so there are the blindstitched and liquid taped seams quality. These are the ones designed for waterproof types.

So get only real tight fitting gloves as they tend to expand more in water. If they are too big, you will feel like your hands are floating inside it and for sure it will pull down your paddle. It will feel like you are lifting a pound of water the moment you are lifting your hands off the water. Same thing like when you are wearing a big wetsuit or booties on.

Check how long do you want your neoprene gloves reach into your arm. They should be just long enough not to slip under your wetsuit which will fill up the water even before you venture out into the cold water for surfing. The longer your gloves the better it is for you so you avoid less water accumulation. It is even better if it comes with a strap that tightens it around your arms.

Finally there is the grip issue. Neoprene tends to be slippery and the last thing you want to have is having your gloves fall off the water as you paddle or slip off the surfboard rails just when you are about to stand up. So it should have a non skid surface probably made of a rubbery material on surface of the palm area for easy non slip grip.

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Surf Trunks and Its Uses

Zeus — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:11:49 +0000

Everything created in this world by man or by God has a purpose. This is typical even in clothing apparels. Clothes are designed primarily to serve a function and then fashion and beauty comes next. Although for some it is the other way around.

So many times we all want to be wearing comfortable clothes as the occasion calls it. Especially when its sports, there are customized materials, cut and style available to every athlete and sports enthusiast.

In active water sports, like surfing men relies so much on surf trunks that stays with them in spite the strong pressure from the waves and water current. Other terms used by several places in the world for this are: boardshorts and baggies.

Usually boardshorts are made from durable materials like nylon or polyester to withstand the contact and friction made by the surfer and his surfboard. They are also intentionally made longer that the normal shorts for guys. The main reason why, is because it protects the surfer from ripping leg hair while riding on his surfboard. It is typical with surfboards to have a thick layer of sticky wax that enables the surfer to stand on the board without slipping. Many also come in vibrant Hawaiian floral images while others are plain but still serve the same purpose.

Most of these shorts are purposely made with light materials so it easily dries up even when the wearer is no longer in the water. They are mostly knee length and loose-fitting or “baggy” and include a small pocket with velcro and a few eyelet holes so surfers are able to carry car or house keys securely even in thewaters. The eyelets or grommet are then added to drain the water out.

These shorts for men also come along with reliable drawstrings around the waist instead of the common shorts made of elastic waistband, and then fastened with a velcro fly. Designers make this double and fail-safe system to ensure that the shorts will stay up and cannot be pulled off by the wave’s power and water current if ever the surfer is caught on a wipe out.

Along the years so many surfers have been using this kind of swimwear however still some had issues especially when guys do not wear undergarments beneath it. Some entangled pubic hair is caught within the velcro fly closure so a neoprene fly solution are used on some surf trunks instead. It stretches enough to be pulled on and off. Another complaint commonly experienced by the wearer is the stitching of the inseam areas which gets to rub on his skin. So to address this issue, some clothing designers uses a seamless design even using welding or glue instead of the usual stitching.

All the above uses and special features of high quality surf trunks are designed with flexibility and comfort for the wearer in mind. And so if you are venturing out into the deep, ready to face the challenges of riding along the big waves better be equipped and buy only the most reliable one.

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What You Have to Know about Drysuits

Zeus — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:27:54 +0000

Do you know how divers keep their bodies warm while underwater? The warmth that they need is provided by the dry suit. The dry suit provides thermal insulation or what is known a passive thermal protection to whoever wears it while underwater. This is the suit that you normally see worn by boaters, water sports enthusiasts, divers, and those whose work always involve being exposed to cold water. The only portion of the body not protected by the dry suit are the exposed ones which include the head, hands, and sometimes, even the feet. However, there are dry suits that are designed to cover even the body’s extremities especially when the water is below fifteen degrees Celsius or around sixty degrees Fahrenheit. The dry suits are usually partnered with helmets, boots, and gloves that provide personal protection for individuals working in areas where there are unsafe types of liquids.

You may mistake the dry suits with the wet suits but they have varying uses. First off, dry suits are designed to prevent water from entering and that is the reason why they are generally used when the water temperature is extremely cold. However, dry suits can be amazingly hot in warm water and they are generally more expensive than wet suits. Dry suits are more difficult to dress into and divers find it very complex to wear because the suits have to be inflated and deflated depending on the depth of the dive. This is very important because the incorrect inflation of the dry suit may cause a sudden squeeze when on a descent or uncontrolled rapid ascent because of over buoyancy.

The dry suit is made mainly of waterproof material usually from a membrane material like neoprene, foam rubber, or a combination of both and this serves as the waterproof shell of the dry suit. For convenience, divers may use membrane dry suits. Because of their thin material nature, they can easily be donned just as long as you choose the oversized ones. They are usually made of vulcanized rubber or laminated layers of nylon and butyl rubber which makes them very hard to stretch. To be able to move easily underwater, a baggy and oversized membrane dry suit is advised. Nevertheless, the membrane dry suit alone is not suitable for water in low temperature and in order to make it apt for cold water, the wearer must put on an insulating under suit which is generally made of polyester or synthetic fiber.

Care must be practiced at all times in order not to pierce or tear the membrane dry suit since your buoyancy and the insulation mainly depends on the membrane dry suit being pristine and the gas pockets without a single hole. Understandably, the under suit is not required when diving in warm waters. The neoprene material, which is usually made of synthetic rubber, is also often used to cover the neck and ankles and they can be designed to contain thousands of tiny air pockets in order to add to the buoyancy of the wearer.

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Getting to Know More about Surfboard Coffins

Zeus — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 17:26:31 +0000

For those who are surfing enthusiasts, the surfboard is more important than their beds and that is the reason why they take every precaution to protect it from the most common injuries that the surfboards can be exposed to and that includes nicks, scratches, and dings, all of which can occur while transporting the surfboard. And the best way to provide protection to the boards is to wrap it with the appropriate covering of which there are three major choices. The three primary surfboard covers include the sock, the bag, and the surfboard coffin, all of which has their own unique benefits and usage. So before you buy one, let us try to take a look into each of these surfboard covers so that you would be able to ascertain as to which best suits your board.

The surfboard bag allows the carrier more convenient handling because of the presence of a strap. With the strap, the surfboard can be carried over the shoulders. The surfboard day bag is also matted all over with five millimeters of padding in order to provide ample protection to the board in the event that it hits sharp corners and edges. Yes, the padding is not that thick but it it gives off enough guard and shield against bumps and possible scratches from sharp objects. At the same time, the cover of the surfboard day bag screens the board from overheating which can greatly affect the durability of the board itself. In fact, most surfboard covers are embedded with reflective material with insulation that keeps the board cool. The cover also ensures that there won’t be a mess of wax once you open the surfboard bag.

The surfboard bag can be the best option if you like carrying your surfboard all the time. People who like walking along the beach searching for the best wave would find the surfboard bag the best cover and carrier for the surfboard.

The other surfboard cover is the board sock. It is the lightest cover readily available for the surfboard. The sock generally serves the surfboard from minor scratches, major dings, and from extensive sun damage. At the same time, the surfboard sock also acts as a great shield from keeping sand, wax, and water away from the surfboard. If you want to store your surfboard in areas like the garage or while transporting the board inside your car or at the back of a pickup truck, one of the best cover is the surfboard sock. The board sock will help you keep the board protected from the bumps and slides while inside the car while simultaneously protecting it from the sand and other harmful items in the back of the truck.

The third surfboard protection is the board travel bag or what is known as the surfboard coffin. The surfboard coffin is best used when you are about to take long trips most especially if your trip involves a plane ride. The surfboard coffin is usually covered with ten millimeters of padding that provides more than ample protection during transport.

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All You Have to Know about Neoprene Booties

Zeus — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 17:25:00 +0000

When the temperature gets uncontrollable and the water gets even colder, the first additional wearable body protection that an individual puts on is a pair of neoprene booties. But before you buy this product that has the ability to control the coldness that your body can feel, you need to consider some characteristics or specification that may be helpful for you as a consumer.

One of the characteristics that you need to be particular about is the thickness and the type of neoprene that your neoprene boots should have. The neoprene material is not something to pay much attention. It is just important that thee neoprene material is flexible so that it can hug your feet better. A flexible neoprene can also provide ease in wearing and removing from the feet. The neoprene material should have a thickness of 1 to 7 mm.

The stitching on your neoprene boots influences the amount of water that can get inside your boots. The best stitches that are ideal for neoprene boots are liquid taped and blind stitches. Actually, liquid typing is currently standard in every high quality neoprene boots.

Neoprene boots also have different types. Some of them are the reef walkers and the winter neoprene. Reef walkers are very thin that it only has .5 to 1mm in thickness. It is also a low cut booties specially made to protect the feet of the wearer from coral and rocks when surfing during summer. Winter neoprene booties on the other hand have a thickness of 2 – 7 mm. The boots is especially made for individuals who want to use neoprene booties to protect themselves from cold.
There are some more attributes that you need to remember in selecting your neoprene boots. First, it should have a tight fit to your feet. If your wetsuit booties happened to be too big, it will be filled with water and will make you prone to sliding because you will get less control. You are also not recommended to opt for very tight booties. This will slow down the circulation of your blood thus will make your feet cold. You can also get a pair of this boots with a securing strap so that you can wear it better.

Next, you also need to consider the length of your booties. If you will get shorter boots, your wetsuit may slip from it and your feet will get more water. This means that you are advisable to purchase longer neoprene boots. It is better to purchase an item with a strap that can be tightened around your ankle.

Split toe can be a preference of an individual. Some wearers get annoyed of neoprene boots with separate toe. But actually, performance wise, this design is a lot better. Neoprene boots which have split toe can prevent your feet from being displaced or moving within the booties. This will prevent you from slipping.

There are some individuals who intact their wetsuit under their booties. This fashion style sounds inappropriate but in fact, a lot of individuals do this.

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What You Have to Know about Waterproof Sunscreen

Zeus — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:22:29 +0000

Before you go to the beach and be exposed to the extreme heat of the sun, you need to first apply some amount of sunscreen to your screen. Individuals who use sunscreen on their skin lower the risks of skin cancer to their body. With using sunscreen, they can protect their skin from the harsh rays of the sun that can possibly burn their skin. There are different types and brands of sunscreens that are available today in the market. Different sunscreen formulations cater specific skin types to make sure that the protection that the skin needs can be can be provided accordingly. Those individuals who oftentimes go to the beach know well the kind of sunscreen that their skin will love. The sunscreen that they favor is waterproof.

Waterproof sunscreen can maintain its SPF level up to eighty minutes after the exposure of the cream to the water. The SPF level or the factor that protects the skin from the sun can block that rays of thee sun to prevent it from harming the skin. When a particular sunscreen has an SPF of 30, an individual can be exposed under the sun thirty times longer. Regular sunscreen can just wash off leaving the person unprotected under the sun. Swimmers or those individuals who oftentimes expose themselves to the heat of the sun with the outdoor activities they are involved with needs to use waterproof sunscreen to be able to protect their skin and maximize their involvement on their activity.

To achieve the highest effectiveness of your waterproof sunscreen, it is advised that you apply the product early in the morning and after eighty minutes of your exposure to the water. Also, it is highly recommended that you reapply the product when they off because you need to get your body dry by using a towel. After you were able to reapply your waterproof sunscreen, you can be confident that you are again safe to go back to the water again.

Waterproof sunscreens need to contain elements that can protect you against UVB and UVA light. It also needs to contain at least SPF 15 to protect an individual against the harmful rays of the sun. If you can get a waterproof sunscreen that can provide you with a higher SPF than 15, it is better. To ensure that you can get the maximum protection that you need out of your waterproof sunscreen lotion, check its label and make sure that the product contains cinoxate, zinc oxide, octyl salicylate and avobenzone. All of these substances are recommended by most of dermatologists.

Your SPF 50 waterproof sunscreen will still provide you a safe means to tan. You should know that the skin gets tan only because of its enduring exposure to the rays of the sun. It gets damaged or injured that is why it changes its color to a darker complexion. If an individual will make tanning a habit every summer, it can bring this person to quick skin aging. The person will show at the early age some age spots and wrinkles.

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How to Choose a Surfboard That Suits You Best

Zeus — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:23:45 +0000

There are a lot of features to look for in choosing a surfboard that best suits you. It depends what category you are in.

For the beginner who still does not have much experience, the best starting board would be a soft surfboard. This type of board will give you stability in paddling, catching waves and balancing. It should be as wide as possible; as you advance you can trim the width and adjust the length that suits your style.

As for intermediate surfers they have different surfboards to choose. It can be short surfboards or fish surfboards. These kinds are for levels higher than a beginner but below that of the professional. Surfers can choose a longer board or shorter board. Longer boards give you better speed while shorter boards will turn faster. Whatever you will like, it should depend on your surfing style.

As you surf, you will realize that you may change your surfboard more often than usual since every surfboard is unique in its own way.

Here are some helpful tips in choosing the right surfboard.

First is to check for their sizes. The size of the surf board, length, width and thickness, will decide the turning speed in the water and your ride experience.

Next to check is the type of materials used in making surfboards. Nowadays, surfboards are usually made of wood or fiber glass or other synthetic materials. There are foam boards which are made from expanded polystyrene. These are soft surfboards that are ideal for beginners.

Glass boards, made from fiber glass, are hard but come in different grades. There are the light glass surfboards which are best for performance and sports. There are also the medium surf boards which are heavier but also more durable.

The next material is made from epoxy resin. These are tougher and lighter compared to the previous types mentioned of boards. But since this is difficult to make it would cost you more than the usual price of ordinary surfboards.

There are the carbon fiber surfboards which are considered high tech type of surfboards. It has the highest strength to weight ratio. It is flexible, light and definitely strong but also difficult to make and naturally comes with higher price tag. The last type of material being used in making surfboards would be balsa wood.

After choosing the right material that suits your surfing style, the next is to choose the tail design of your surfboards. Most beginners do not have to be concerned about tail design just yet since it is only for intermediate or advanced type of surfers.

The tails of the surfboards have their own attributes in making your surfing experience great. Square tail gives you great turning speed. Squash tail is much similar to square tail but with rounded edges. Rounded pin tail is more known on as a standard type of tail. This is intended for larger waves and lastly the fish tail which is better in shallower and calmer waters.

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All the Essentials of the Surfboard Wax

Zeus — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:21:30 +0000

For keeping the surfer on top of its surfboard, the surfboard needs to have extra friction on its surface to avoid slipping when paddling or riding a wave. This is called surfboard wax, it gives the surfer extra grip on the paddle. It is usually made from a natural and synthetic wax to be applied to the surfboard, body board or skim board.

It is generally a composition of paraffin, beeswax or any other hard waxes, but sometimes, petroleum jelly can be added as well to create a softer type of wax. Some may like to add scent to their surfboard wax, they can add scents like bubblegum or coconut scent. You may find different varieties of surfboard wax which are specially made for different types of climates and water temperature at your local surf shop.

As soon as you have your desired surfboard wax the next thing to know is how to maintain it that way. Well, there are only two ways on how to do it. First is you can choose to use a wax comb to help maintain the grasp of the wax. The second method is to use sand and rub it on the surfboard; this will create a rougher surface.
These surfboard waxes have labeled water temperature range in it. If it is in the water much colder than its rating, it will not be able to provide stability for the surfer to stay on top of the board while if it is on a warmer temperature it may melt the wax.

Usually the procedure of adding wax on the surfboard is to lay down a thin base coat of hot wax, this is to help build up bumps and textures. After doing so you can put the sticky wax on top of the base wax. This will be helpful in surfing in different temperatures. There are some waxes which are designed to work in different water temperature conditions.

After knowing information on how to maintain and choose the right wax coating for you surfboard then it is time to let you know how to remove the wax correctly.

This process can be very time-consuming. At the back of the wax comb, you can find the plastic scrapper. It can be used in removing large chunks of wax. Remember not to use heat since it may damage the foam of the surfboard. Other residual wax which is not removed by scraping can be just removed using a soft cloth with a little coconut oil. You can also use commercial solvent but be careful since it may damage the surface or the paint job.

Another effective method is to let your board lie in the sun with the deck side up. After a couple of minutes, the wax should be melted. By then, you can use beach sand to rub on the surface of you board. This will take all the wax off at the same time and the board will be smooth and ready to re-waxed or to be stored.

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