You’ve booked your flight, you’ve researched the prime surfing spots in LA, and now all you can think about is getting on a board and catching a wave. Except you’ve never done it before, you don’t know how and you don’t have the gear. Veteran surfers will tell you there’s a certain art to riding a wave. To master it, you'll need some essential information that seasoned riders live by.
Essential Surfing Gear
Surfing Tips for Beginners
Surfing Vocab: Getting to Know the Lingo
Essential Surfing Gear
Rental shops carry the A-Z of everything you’ll need for your first few times out in the water. Know what gear you need before you step foot in the store and you might just pass for an expert.
- Long Board: This is the beginner’s life preserver. Because these boards range from 8 feet to 11 feet, they’ll provide extra stability until you get used to being on a wave. If possible, look for a foam board. They're softer (i.e. safer).
- Wetsuit: If you’re surfing in cold water — or if you get cold easily — opt for a decent wetsuit. You'll be able to stay in the water longer and have a better overall experience.
- Surfboard Leash: You don’t want to take a spill and then have your board show up a half mile away. You also don’t want your board hitting someone else — hence the leash.
- Surf Wax: Wax might be necessary to provide traction on what would otherwise be a slick board. Most rental shops will take care of this for you before you head out.
- Rash Vest: You could go without a rash vest, but paddling on your stomach all day can cause "surfer's rash." Trust us, it isn't pleasant. Wear a rash vest under your wetsuit to prevent unnecessary chafing and pain.
Surfing Tips for Beginners
In addition to just giving it your best shot, these handy tips will help you catch your first wave faster.
- Paddling: Keep your board balanced. The nose should be one or two inches out of the water. Paddling one arm at a time will keep your momentum up.
- Start in whitewater: Adrenaline junkies might disregard this piece of advice, but don’t go for the big stuff right away. Whitewater will give you a nice strong push, giving you an opportunity to learn how to pop up onto the board.
- The “pop-up”: This is the critical moment that makes or breaks a ride. Remember to keep your hips centered over your feet, giving you the best point of balance.
- Relax: This is especially true when you’re waiting for a wave. Heed the mantra of surf instructors and “be still.”
- Heads up: The old saying, “Don’t look down!” pertains to surfing when you’re first getting on your board. Look at your feet and you'll understand the meaning of "wipeout!"
Surfing Vocab: Getting to Know the Lingo
Face it, you’re new to the sport, so you’ll need a translation for “I went off-the-lip, tried to throw a fakie and got totally axed.” Below are a few surfing terms to throw around while you’re waiting for a wave with the locals. Use them at your own risk. For a compilation of surfing lingo, check out www.riptionary.com.
- Takeoff: Grabbing the rail of the board and getting into a standing position.
- Floater: When a surfer rides the top of the wave.
- Swell: Unbroken waves typically caused by a storm or hurricane far away.
- Off-the-lip: Rebounding the board off a breaking wave and back into the face of the wave.
- Haggard: Rad, awesome, totally sweet.
- Tanker: Long, heavy surfboard (usually the long boards that beginners use).
- Rip: Maxing out a surfer’s ability or surfing extremely well.
