Surfing 101

It's that time of year again - summer is here and vacations are in the works. Some will head off to exotic destinations while others stick closer to home and pick up a new hobby or activity. The lucky ones will manage to do both. Ian MacKenzie, over at Brave New Traveler, yesterday posted A Newbie's Guide To Surfing. Reading through this chronicle of his experiences brought back waterlogged memories.

The first time I ever tried surfing was in Byron Bay, Australia. The hippie-surf culture had won me over and I was determined that I too could experience the carefree exhilaration of floating on water, synchronized to the rhythm of the waves.  It didn't quite work out that way. I'm not sure which ended up more bruised - my body or my ego. The lesson I learned that day was that good surfers are great at making it look easy.

Further up the coast, at Airlie Beach, I got my PADI (scuba) certification and never looked back. That is, until a couple of years ago when I was vacationing in Tofino, British Columbia. I'm not sure what made me want to give it another shot - in freezing ocean waters, no less. This time I was experienced enough to know that a day of surfing would require some beginner lessons. The lessons started out on the sand, with the instructor drawing a surfboard silhouette on the ground which served as a 'dry run'. Although it seemed silly at the time, it actually made a huge difference when I finally got the board out on the water.

For those considering taking the leap on a longboard, I would definitely recommend swallowing your pride and starting with lessons. Women seeking a surf experience should check out Surf Diva's in San Diego (they now offer camps in North Carolina and Costa Rica). Those looking for inspiration should head to Mavericks, an invitation-only surf competition for big wave surfers. This world-famous surf spot is right near Half Moon Bay in Northern California, where the waves top out at over 50 feet. Serious surfers should head to Surfline for surf forecasts, videos and great stories from fellow surfers. If you're planning a destination launch into the world of surfing - consider the beautiful coast of Brazil or the beaches of Coastal Peru, where some of the longest waves in the world can be found.

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Comments

[Jen]

Yes - Tofino definitely requires a thick wetsuit!

[ianmack]

thanks for picking up the story. glad you liked it! i've considered trying surfing again out in Tofino, but just seems way too cold to try... perhaps someday.