Surf Talk Guru

If you’d like your child to become a pro tour regular or even just a local ripper, there are a few guidelines to follow to make sure you’re introducing the steps at the right ages. Get them started gradually, having them become confident in the ocean, and things should go smoothly.

From birth to age 2, have the child take showers with you. Believe it or not, water splashing on the face and head, and in eyes and nose can be a huge deterrent to future water activities if the child isn’t used to it. Shower spray will get them used to it. Take them to parent/child aquatic classes and have them get used to movement in the water, holding their breath, blowing bubbles, etc.

When the child is 2-4 years old, continue swimming lessons. Get them wetsuits and have them splash around in the surf, under adult supervision, of course, and wearing a PFD for extra safety. Wetsuits are great for beach activities because they keep the child warm whether they’re wading in the surf or digging in the sand. Having them get used to putting on and taking off wetsuits at an early age will prevent them from hating that aspect later on. Also at this age, have the child lay atop your surfboard while you hold it in the shallows. Have them practice the paddling motion on the board.

At 5-7 years of age, continue swimming lessons and introduce related sports such as skateboarding, snowboarding, and boogie boarding. Begin teaching them how to surf only if you yourself are an experienced surfer. If you’re not, pay for regular lessons through a local surf shop. Children should be on softop surfboards. Have them practice jumping to standing on their board onshore then push them into whitewater waves and practice standing and riding on the moving board.

As the child grows to 8-10 years old, he or she will have more strength and stamina, be able to carry their own board, and will have more patience and focus for all the practice they’ll need to improve. The learning curve for surfing might be the largest of any sport, so make sure you have a lot of patience for your child!

Sea lions are out in full force this fall and often times get in the way in the Oregon surfing line up. They surf the waves, pop up in front of you, and bark or growl at you. They are nerve-wracking and annoying in groups or alone, but they won’t hurt you, or even touch you. Sea lion attacks on humans are extremely rare.

They are social animals and are only curious about your presence in the water and possibly trying to exert their dominance. Most migrating sea lions right now are juvenile males being territorial. If you are in the water, they won’t leave you alone, and are making you nervous, here’s something to try. When they surface, raise up your arms to make yourself big and yell at them.

It’s no longer a secret that the surf spot of last resort in Newport is under the bridge. Winter swells that are too big to paddle surf will bring waist-high peelers into the bay. People who surf here are generally pretty desperate for waves and some easily forget the rules of engagement.

For one, people need to follow the surf order and take turns. Visitors or longboarders who take off on every possible wave are not appreciated. But most importantly, be careful! Overzealous surfers are bound to hurt someone in such tight quarters.

Most people would rather wait for better surf on the shore than surf under the bridge, but if you’ve got a wetsuit that hasn’t been wet in awhile, just remember to follow the rules!

Check out previous blog entries for gift ideas in all price ranges for your favorite surfer. Here are some ideas for stocking stuffers that will be sure to please any surfer this Christmas.

1.) Surf Shop Gift Card–Any Amount–Pick one up from your surfer’s favorite shop or have it sent direct. This will save you from having to choose something if you’re not sure of what to get.

2.) Surf Wax–$2–Available in different scents and colors, wax is a must for surfboards in all water temperatures. A variety of bars will allow your surfer to test out different brands. You could also include a wax comb and wax remover.

3.) Surfboard Leash–$18–Small enough to fit in a stocking, a leash is a life-saver out in the water, literally. Leashes need to be replaced, too, so this will be appreciated.

4.) Ding Repair Kit–$7–All surfers need to be able to repair their boards if they get nicked up. This kit is a must to carry in your car, board bag, or garage.

In previous blog entries, we’ve talked about the most basic steps a beginning surfer must take to catch a wave. It all begins with finding the board’s balance point and paddling with the crawl stroke. After all, before we learn to walk we must learn to crawl. Still, there’s not much fun to be had when you’re lying face down on the board. True surfing glory is only attained when you’re standing atop the board like a king or queen observing their domain.

Lying on your chest with your head facing forward, perform a pushup while sweeping your feet underneath. Your feet should both be positioned near the middle of the board so as to maintain balance. In time, you’ll learn to perform this technique with speed and efficiency. It’s often said that you learn by doing, and that is especially true in surfing. Reading about it won’t have nearly as much benefit as getting out there and getting wet in the waves. Oregon surf lessons present the perfect opportunity for improvement, no matter your skill level.

Xcel wetsuits and surfing accessories such as booties and gloves have been hot products this fall. Their fall line is made with ThermoBamboo, a bamboo fiber that acts as a heat-insulating barrier.

If you haven’t gotten a new wetsuit this year, it’s the perfect time to do it and Xcel is a good brand to get. They’re a little spendier than some other brands, but they are worth it and a lot of surf shops are having sales this holiday season, especially starting on Black Friday.

What are the differences between balsa surfboards and foam surfboards? Balsa boards have traditionally been more expensive, but due to cheaper materials and manufacturing processes, that’s no longer the case. Now you can find balsa and fiberglass boards side by side for the same price.

People who prefer balsa boards maintain that the superior stiffness of balsa results in better turns and more drive through mushy waves. The stiffness also makes the board easier to paddle, as they glide through water instead of getting pushed back over and over. A good analogy of this issue is that it’s like the difference between paddling a canoe and a rubber raft. As far as flotation and water intake, balsa and foam are the same. Balsa’s stiffness also improves board durability because they don’t flex and bend like a foam board. The boards are a few pounds heavier than foam, but some people say this helps you get more speed and bite into the surface of the water.

People who prefer foam boards like the fact that they are lightweight and flexible. This allows them to rip turns and perform at a higher level. The reason for the switch to foam was that it was easier to obtain materials for and shape than balsa or other woods. Foam boards remain easier to repair and glass than balsa boards. Balsa boards don’t come in shortboard sizes. Longboard and gun riders might have an option between balsa and foam, but shortboarders won’t find a good performance 6′0″ available in balsa.

Lots of businesses will be having sales and looking forward to big turnouts on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. This includes your local surf shop.

Look for deals on Xcel wetsuits, booties, gloves, and other surf accessories, as well as discounted surfboards, skimboards, and summer and fall clothing. It’s always good to get out and see what’s being offered at your local surf shop!

When economic times are tight, we tend to try and do all kinds of things to save a little money. Maybe you shop at Wal-Mart more often, go to Costco with a card-carrying buddy, or go to a valley surf shop for your basic surfing needs.

If we want surf shops at the coast, we need to support them. These shops may be smaller and more specialized than larger stores in the valley, but the people at these shops know what they’re talking about. You can’t go into a place an hour inland and find out any details about the local scene. You can’t expect a college kid from the city to give you updated information on how the sandbars have been breaking lately.

Valley stores are used to dealing with mostly beginners, people who want to get into surfing, but aren’t going to get over to the coast much. Service workers rarely get to try out new products and have to read magazines to learn about the latest gear. Coastal shops, on the other hand, deal with surfers of all levels and therefore understand their customers’ needs better. When they get new products in, they can easily test them out gaining first-hand knowledge of products they sell.

Support your local surf shops and, for that matter, your local gas stations, grocery stores, and clothing retailers. Keep your money local and it will come back around to you.

Just in time for the holidays, now is the time for you to check out your local surf shop for great bargains. Christmas shopping could be quick and easy with a trip to your local surf shop.

A lot of shops feature “Back to School” sales on their summer clothing while offering their fall lines at full price. Well, by now, those summer items are probably on clearance and the fall clothes are most likely discounted to make way for the winter inventory. That means you should be able to find deals sure to satisfy even the pickiest of gift recipients.

Surf shops are a popular place to find all the most popular brands from Xcel, Reef, Sanuk, Element, and, of course, your local surf shop’s brand name. Support your local shop!