Top 10 New Years Resolutions for Surfing
With 2016 coming to a close and 2017 about to start, it makes sense that people are making their New Year’s Resolutions. While some vow to lose weight and others vow to save more money, some are thinking about one thing in particular…surfing.
If you love to surf (or are fascinated by the sport and want to learn more), there are a few resolutions you can make surrounding your favorite hobby that can make it all worthwhile in 2017. Check out these top surfing resolutions below.
Learn how to surf.
If you have always been interested in surfing but never got the chance to learn how, there is no time like the present to learn how to surf. We recommend at our Costa Rica surf camps! We offer experienced instructors who are more than happy to go through the specifics with you and make sure you have a solid understanding of what it takes to surf.
Surfing is also a great way to get out and enjoy nature and take in your surroundings at the same time. It is an excellent form of exercise and helps you strengthen your body, especially your core muscles. Even if you have never tried surfing before, you can learn how to do it with a little time and patience.
Take care of the environment and the beach.
Since surfing involves going to the beach to ride the waves, you want to make sure the local environment and the beach are in pristine condition at all times. While it might not be you who made the mess, that doesn’t mean you should allow it to continue piling up. Spend some time picking up a few items every time you go out to the beach to surf.
By keeping the environment and the beach clean and clear, you can relish in the fact that the waters are going to be clean and clear for you to enjoy the surf. After all, no one wants to attempt to surf with a bunch of trash floating around in the water. Not only is it unsanitary, but it isn’t safe either. If everyone does their part to keep the environment clean, it will allow many more to come out and enjoy the water.
Travel to Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful areas around the world, especially for those who are looking for a place to surf and enjoy the world around them. If you have never been to Costa Rica before, there is no time like the present to plan a trip to the area. The beautiful sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and pleasant temperatures make this one of the pristine places to head out and enjoy riding the waves.
Until you have the opportunity to surf here, you won’t know what you are missing out on. It is a great place to take the family and enjoy a nice vacation while being able to do something that you love.
Already been here? Then you know and we hope you’ll come back again and again!
Take care of yourself.
Surfing requires a lot of skill and strength. You need to have excellent balance to be able to stay upright when trying to ride the waves. That means you need to do your part to make sure you are in shape at all times. If you allow yourself to fall out of shape, that could end up spelling disaster when you try to ride the waves. Keeping your core strong and your balance intact can go a long way when you try surfing.
Learn new surfing techniques.
Even if you have been surfing for years, you can always learn a few new tips and tricks along the way. There are plenty of new techniques out there that you can try out to see if you might prefer one of them over your current surfing skills. Experiment with some of the options on your favorite waves that way you can get a feel for whether they are what you seek or not. With so many different techniques out there that you can use, there is no way to know whether you are getting the most out of your experience as you can until you experiment with different options. Our surf camp instructors are happy to help you!
Get out and surf more.
One of the main go-to resolutions for people who love to surf is to get out there and do it more often, to make it a part of their daily routine. While you might say you are going to surf more, it often ends up taking a backseat to everything else you have going on in your life. You end up getting frustrated because you didn’t get out there and ride the waves. Instead of being unhappy about the situation, find a way to get out and surf more this coming year. Being outside and taking in the sunshine and the salty water will allow you to relax and unwind, while spending time doing something that you truly love and enjoy.
Explore more destinations.
At some point in time or another, just about everyone gets stuck in a rut. They find their ideal surfing location and end up sticking with it. While there is nothing wrong with having a favorite spot to hang out and enjoy the waves, you should get out there and explore different locations to see what you might be missing out on. You never know what you might discover until you actually spend some time looking around. The change of scenery is good for you and it allows you to take in the sights and sounds of the world around you at the same time.
In addition to Costa Rica, we also offer surf trips in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic!
Don’t forget the wax.
Many surfers will go out and spend a decent amount of money on a new wetsuit or a stylish new board, but they end up forgoing the wax. It doesn’t make much sense when you stop and think about it. After all, a bar of wax is only a couple of bucks, while the wetsuit could have cost you a couple hundred. The last thing you want to do is end up slipping off the big wave of the day simply because you forgot to apply the wax to your board. But, it isn’t about just any bar of wax. You have to consider the temperature of the water where you plan on spending the day. Different water temps make a difference in what type of bar you need for your board.
Keep your vehicle clean.
How many times have you gone out and rode a wave only to end up throwing your wetsuit and board in your vehicle without drying them off? It probably happens more often than you might want to admit. You end up rushing out of the water, throwing everything in your vehicle and rushing off to work, school or somewhere else important. Every time you throw your items in your vehicle, you are bringing in all of that sand, water and other elements from the outside.
Over time, that wetsuit will end up smelling quite repugnant, especially when the temperature outside warms up and cooks the sweat in. Invest in a plastic container that you can easily put your wet items into after you get done surfing. Then, make sure to take the tub out and dry everything out as soon as you get home. Also, you need to go through and clean all of the sand out of your vehicle as well. Sand is just part of the equation when it comes to surfing, and it doesn’t take long to accumulate in your vehicle.
Rinse off your wetsuit.
If you are like many individuals surfing in cooler water temps, you probably end up tossing your wetsuit aside without even thinking about it twice. While it might not seem like a big deal, you are actually causing yourself more problems than what it is worth. The best thing you can do is to take yoru wetsuit inside of your home and rinse it off after every surfing session. Hanging your suit up isn’t enough. You need to take things a step further and rinse it off each time.
By rinsing your suit off, you can help extend the lifespan of it, thus saving you money in the long run. Another thing to think about is the fact that a salty suit could end up causing a skin infection. Who wants to deal with a skin infection when it could have been prevented by simply washing the wetsuit off after surfing? It only takes a couple of minutes, but it is well worth it in the end.
Which of these resolutions will you commit to and do you have any that you’ve come up with as well? Stay focused on how you can improve your surfing skills and get out in the water more. Regardless of what resolution you decide to go with, you want to make it something that you stick with. Don’t allow another year to pass where you aren’t happy with the end result! Happy 2017! We hope to see you this year at one of our Real Surf Trips locations in Costa Rica, Jamaica or the Dominican Republic!