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đ Gliding on a wave is a feeling like no other. This guide is for newbies looking to get started with surfing in Northern California.
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đŹÂ How to get started
Gain knowledge: If youâre going out for the first time, and youâre not getting a surf lesson, itâs an extremely good idea to watch a few how-to videos on surfing. I recommend these ones:
âď¸Need to know
- Required before starting: Be able to swim
- Equipment needed: 8-9ft+ foam surfboard with leash, 4/3mm wetsuit
- Approximate cost: $40-45 per day for rentals
- Water temp: The water is COLD. Itâs the coldest from December to May, starts warming up in June, and the warmest (still not that warm) from July - November. If you canât stand numbing cold, itâs best to go in the summer or on a super sunny day with no wind.
- Donât give up: Surfing can be frustrating, but the ocean rewards perseverance. Learning a new sport, especially surfing, takes time.
- Have fun! Remember, the best surfer out there is the one having the most fun!
âąÂ When to go
Always check the conditions before you go surfing. Most surfers use the surf forecast apps Surfline or Magic Seaweed to do so.
Using surf forecasting apps:
Surf forecasting is beyond the scope of this guide. Iâd encourage you to do a Google or Youtube search to learn more, or even better, bug your VP of Surf to do a surf forecasting 101 event. However, a few tips to get started.
- Swell: For beginners, itâs best to go when the waves are small (1-2ft)
- Wind: Strong winds make surf choppy, often ruins the shape of the wave, and makes it colder. A good rule of thumb is that wind under 7kts is fine. Anything more, then it might be questionable. Once it gets into the teens, you should reconsider going out.
- Surf Cam: Surfline often has surf cams at popular surf spots, but youâll have to pay for the feature. You can look at a live video feed of how the surf is. If you see some people in the water, thatâs a sign that itâs probably surfable.
Call your local surf shop: