Surf products and accessories: what do you need to surf?
Surf products and accessories: what do you need to surf?
Surfing is one of the best recreational sports and a healthy, fun and exciting activity. Surfing is an activity that everyone can enjoy. So what kind of surfboard, surf product, or accessories will give you a day of fun and enjoyment? What do you need to go surfing?
Waves are the most important thing you need to surf. You may ask, what kind of waves do I need? The answer to this question is simple; whatever wave is available to you. There are all types and sizes of waves, from the smallest to the giant waves of Hawaii. Recreational surfers need and prefer small waves. However, you need the right surfing products and accessories for all conditions.
To enjoy the waves, you must be prepared. This means that you may need several different types of surfboards and surfing devices along with the necessary wave surfing accessories that are available so that you can surf on any given day. Every day is different and conditions will dictate that you need a different type of surfboard or surf device to take advantage of the waves at your local beach.
Here is a list of products and navigation devices for you to consider:
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Swimming fins
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Bodyboard
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Skimboard
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Wakeboard
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Soft surfboard
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Surfboard shorts
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Long surfboard
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SIP
Some days, the waves will be perfect little skinners for bodysurfing. To really take advantage of the waves, you need to have a pair of swim fins that fit well. The fins will allow you to swim faster and enter the wave earlier, allowing you to ride the shoulder of the wave like surfers and boogie board riders do. You want to get on the corner of the wave and get the green water out of the soup. This is exciting and you need fins to catch the waves and stay with them. The fins will also allow you to ride the biggest waves as you become more proficient. Bodysurfing is a great way to have fun with your friends. Gathering your group and going somewhere that is suitable for bodysurfing is really fun.
Bodyboarding, or boogie boarding, as I like to call it after my friend Tom Morey, who invented the small board, is something you can do in almost any surf condition. It’s especially fun on small waves, which allow little ones, surf beginners, and seniors to ride and enjoy the sensation of riding waves. You can ride the foam and small waves all the way to the sand. As you gain more experience, you will want to ride the shoulders of the waves like surfboard riders. Over time, if you are experienced and good in the water, you can ride the biggest waves as some do in Hawaii and other select surf spots around the world.
Skimboarding is another surfing sport that does not require big waves and is done close to shore, usually on smaller waves or even no waves. Some children even brush wet grass where there are small mounds. Another thing you can do when there is no surfing is ride your wakeboard. Wakeboarding is done behind a boat and can be done on wakeboards made especially to be towed behind a boat or you can ride your surfboards short, long, soft and hard. Some surfers, when they become proficient, let go of the rope and ride the waves generated by the wake of the boat. Don’t let the fact that there are no waves to surf at your chosen surf spot prevent you from enjoying the water and riding the surfboard or other surfing device that will make your day a fun-filled experience.
You really need to have at least one type of surfboard that you can use for most surfing conditions. Better if you have more than one, but keep what you can afford. Selecting a surfboard or surfboards is a fun process, but selecting the correct one is very important. You wonder, should I buy a soft surfboard or a hard surfboard? What length chart should I buy? What are the surf conditions where I will surf the most? Is it shore break, point break, big, medium or small swell? What is my level of experience that will justify the type of surfboard I choose? All of these questions need to be addressed. The type and design of the surfboard you choose should be suitable for the normal conditions of the waves in which you will be surfing the most.
If you live on a lake, bay, lagoon, river, or ocean where there are calm conditions for surfing, you will probably want to own a SUP, which is also known as a Standup Paddleboard. SUPs have become one of the most popular surfing devices because they are large, stable and due to the fact that they are also very easy to learn to paddle and ride. People of all ages can ride them and the SUP has become a board that all members of a family can own and ride. SUP has become an excellent group and family activity that does not require surfing and can be done in almost any body of calm water.
How about the surf accessories? What accessories do you need? Here is a list of the most essential ones:
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Neoprene suit (s)
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Rash Guard
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Wax
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Surfboard strap
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Variety of fins and fin spanner
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Travel bags
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Surfboard holder for your car
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Plastic container for wetsuits and changing table.
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Large towel
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Shorts; more than one pair
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Sunscreen
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Hide-a-key
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Bag
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Money
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Water
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Swimming fins
Surfing is a sport that takes place outside the home. I recommend that you have all of these accessories listed above to meet the water conditions and surf activity of the day. You will need different items on different days, but some days you will use all of them. Plan ahead and you will have success and fun on your surfing days.
Before surfing, you should consult the local navigation report from an online source such as Surfline.com. What is the temperature of the water? Do you need a wetsuit? If so, what thickness do you need? Do you need ankle boots or a hood to keep you warm? Maybe all you need is a spring wetsuit or maybe the water is warm enough to wear just your bathing suit. The options are many. Some of the wetsuits have short sleeves and / or short legs or combinations of long legs and short sleeves or vice versa. I would suggest that in moderate climates you have a spring suit and a full suit. The spring suit should be 2.0 and the full suit should probably be 4/3 or 3/2 depending on the prevailing water temperatures. Rash guards should be worn under wetsuits to avoid chafing. You may also want to wear one on a sunny day to avoid sunburn. These items will be used for all types of surfing.
Don’t forget to bring wax and a strap for your board. Surfers seem to forget this item or lose it in the water and are always looking for one. You need specific wax for the water temperature conditions. Ask the people at the surf shop what type you need or read the labels and use the type you need based on the surf report. A helpful tip is to keep the board waxed and ready to surf at all times. It’s no fun not having wax and going surfing with a slippery deck surface. You will slip, slide and fall off the board and end up without a good swell. The other thing you need is a leash, especially if you have a long paddle, strong surf, or are surfing in a rocky area. Losing the board and having to swim back is not fun. If your surfboard gets damaged on the rocks, that makes it even worse and will quickly ruin your day.
The rest of the items on the list are self-explanatory. Make a checklist and be sure to check your accessories before you go surfing. There is no use leaving something behind that will make you have a bad day.
With all these thoughts in mind, get the right surfboard type products and go Surf Life! It is a wonder!
