Surfing safety tips and tricks

By: Jason Petrina



Surfing is dynamic, engaging and fun, but it is also one of the more dangerous sports, especially if you are not following some basic safety guidelines. Before you even think of starting to surf you should get some lessons from a certified surf instructor. Safety is always the number one concern. By learning a few basic skills and the less noticeable ones, you will make your surfing experience safe and pleasant.

Even if you have gathered a lot of information on surfing, you should still start practicing it with a professional. If there are no surf instructors in your area, you should look for a friend who has vast experience in this field. You will learn to avoid certain pitfalls that only an experienced surfer notices – not only will this improve your boarding posture, but you will also put less danger on yourself while surfing. Board maintenance is also vital – the last thing you want to have is a cracked or less functional board when a huge wave hits you from behind. If you do have a cracked board, I highly recommend you not surf with it and replace or repair it as soon as possible. Remember, safety is always number one.

Although many surfers prefer not to wear a wet suit, this item can help you out especially if the water is colder. Modern wetsuits are strong and elastic, so you won’t have to worry about being encumbered by it. They are also great for keeping your body temperature constant. When surfing for a long time in the same day, you should wear the wetsuit as a precaution, as the cold water slows sown your blood circulation and decreases your response time. Wetsuits these days come in almost every design, it is literally impossible not to find the perfect design that will fit your needs and style.

Surfing with a friend should also be a top priority. It always helps to know that there is someone watching your back in case an unfortunate event occurs. However, while surfing with friends, try to keep a decent distance between you, as a rebellious wave might propel you right in their path. Having a friend nearby is also very safe, if something does happen to you, they know where you are and vice versa for your friend as well. Surfing with your friend is fun and exciting.

While surfing you will inevitably fall in the water, so knowing how to swim properly is a must. There is no better way to stay safe while surfing. A good swimmer increases his or her chances of staying afloat even on rough waves. Having good swimming skills provides you with increased safety, but they might also come in handy when another surfer is in trouble. And there is another thing to look at: even if you are confident with your swimming skills, the ocean is not a quiet and calm swimming pool. Try to begin surfing step by step and do not venture out too far until you are confident with your ocean swimming skills.

The last precaution you should take concerns the weather conditions. Storms are the most dangerous element to surfing and they are accountable for the highest number of surfing accidents. Watch the local weather news a day or two before you plan to go out surfing. Even if the weather reports do not seem threatening, it is better to come on shore if the wind suddenly picks up or if storm clouds appear nearby. Even if you have never been surfing, you may grow to love it after a few falls here and there. Surfing is an excellent and exciting pastime to take up, especially during those hot summer days.



Jason Petrina is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com