It’s likely that the culture of surfing – the surf gear, the clothes, the sun, the fun – is what attracts most new beginners. But before investing in all the surf shop has to offer, there a couple of points to consider about the home truths of surfing and the novice fan.
Skill and Commitment
It’s not high school. Nobody is forcing newbies to risk windburn, sunburn, knock-outs, wipe-outs, rashes and any of the other exciting overabundance of potential surfer’s injuries. For one, they might not actually enjoy surfing as much as anticipated. Secondly, the practicalities of surfing dictate that PRACTICE is crucial. The learning curve of surfing is steep. Very steep! Its common sense really – excitement is more than likely to wane if skill level doesn’t improve at the expected rate. Commitment is vital.
Surf Gear
The best advice to absolute beginners is to patronise the local surf shop and hire equipment initially. Surfboards and wetsuits are expensive. Beginners are recommended (heartily recommended!) to opt for bigger boards (at least 8feet), perhaps even starting off with foam boards to catch waves more easily and sidestep a lot of the bashes and knocks that occur during initial learning. When the time comes to buy a board, a good-quality second-hand board beats a cheap new one.
As for peripheral accessories, newbies need a surf leash, board wax (unless the board has a traction pad) and maybe a couple of optional extras like surf sunglasses etc.
Good wetsuits can be expensive. In the long run the investment is worth it if use is guaranteed. Always opt for the best wetsuit within a price range. Granted, those in Hawaii can simply invest in swimwear and a rash vest, but in cooler climes (i.e. the UK) a good quality winter wetsuit (5mm) or summer wetsuit (2mm/3mm) is crucial.