6 Mistakes You Must Avoid While Surfing!

More often than not, people who are just starting surfing for the first time or have even done it a few times in the past make a few common mistakes. In turn, they don’t manage to maintain control when they try to ride the waves. The LineUp at Wai Kai offers everything you love about Hawaii in a unique experience. The LineUp is a popular gathering spot for locals, tourists, and surfers of all skill levels. If you’re looking to hit some amazing Australian surf spots but want to stay calm on the ocean, then here are…

6 mistakes you must avoid while surfing!

1. Buying and Using the Wrong Board

When you’re new to surfing, there’s a good chance you won’t know what’s the ideal surfboard size for you. So, you should consider one that’s relatively long. These wakeboards online are safer and easier for beginners than shorter ones are. This is because they’re easy to maneuver and allow you to keep your balance better than shorter ones do. In addition, you should also be wearing proper surf clothes.

Besides skill levels, the waves you want to catch will determine what board you should get. If you’re looking to catch small waves, then foamies, which is a type of board, is a good bet. They’re affordable and aren’t hard. So, if you fall on your board—which you will—it won’t hurt much. That said, you should note that they’re not the best for maneuvering. It can help to ask a surf shop employee to help you select a board that’s best for your skill level and weight. 

2. Going Out into the Ocean Without First Surveying It

Surfing is no easy task, and you’re going to have to know what you’re up against before you get into the ocean. Study the ocean’s waves for about ten minutes to get a good understanding of how high the waves are going and how strong the current is. You don’t want to try and hit the waves with an assumption that’s completely wrong. You could fall badly and hurt yourself. Also, don’t rely on what you’ve read or what others say about the waves. Do your own assessment instead. 

3. Not Warming Up

As with all physical activity, you should warm your body up. Surfing is a high-intensity sport, and there’s a lot of work your body will have to do, even if you’re just catching a few small waves. You’re constantly going to be using your arm muscles, leg muscles, and core to keep yourself stabilized. So, you can cause some serious muscle soreness after your surfing session if you don’t warm up. Do some dynamic stretches before you begin and take a quick jog by the beach. That should get you up and ready. 

4. Not Training on Dry Land

If you’re about to head to one of the many gnarly Australian surf spots to catch waves for the first time, you must train on dry land first. Practice pop-ups to help you develop muscle memory, which will help you once you get your board into the sea. 

5. Not Learning How to Swim Properly

The ocean waves are no joke. When you fall off your board, you need to be able to keep yourself in control and recover quickly. So, make sure to brush up on your swimming skills. Basic swimming won’t cut it when you need to swim through tall waves to get back up on your board. 

6. Bad Timing

Timing is critical in surfing to avoid wiping out. So, you must begin paddling the moment you find a wave you want to ride. Make sure that your speed matches that of the wave and get onto your board as soon as you feel the wave start to lift you up.