When Is A Good Time Kids To Start Surfing

When is My Child Ready to Start Surfing?

With so many great beaches in the UK, a great number of us choose to spend our holiday right here at home. It’s often much cheaper than heading abroad, meaning we can stay for longer, or indulge in more activities whilst we are there.

 

The UK offers a great number of surfing locations to be enjoyed; including Cornwall, Ireland and the West Coast of Wales. Beach holidays are definitely a family friendly event – but at what age can you introduce your kids to surfing?

 

Surfing is a great sport for anyone to be involved in; it keeps you fit, is sociable and is often something you take from childhood into an adult hobby too. But it does have its risks, meaning we can be unsure just when it is safe for our kids to try it for the first time.

 

There is no correct age to introduce your child to surfing – you can stand little ones up on the board in waist deep water, always keeping safety in mind. As soon as they are confident in the water and express interest in the sport, you can look into surfing schools that specialise in children that age and get them out on their own.

 

Age six seems to be a good age for children to discover boogie boarding, and catch smaller waves – however all children must be confident, understand the dangers of rip tides and remain supervised at all times in the ocean. By age eight most children who love boogie boarding and being in the ocean will already be asking for a board.

 

Once a child has been exposed to boogie boarding and the open water for a year or two, a soft top surf board is often the next step. It is inevitable that they will bumped a couple of times by the board, so leave the hard tops until they are skilled and comfortable. 

 

A six foot foam style surfboard will be perfect for any child between 8 and 12 who is new to the sport.

Surfers: Using Social Media to your Advantage

Surfers: Using Social Media to your Advantage

In a world where even what we have for breakfast is shared on Social Media, an increasing number of people are joining the amateur photography movement in order to share their day to day lives.
Whilst the majority of Instagram users only post selfies, snaps of their meals and various views from throughout their day, for example, the morning commute, there is a new breed of social media “stars” who dedicate all of their posts to extreme sports.

Most people are unaware, but being smart about your social media, could open a lot of doors for you. If you’re into photography, film and most importantly social media – you could easily start to see great advantages of having a big following on social media platforms.

For example, once you have a specific number of followers, you may find you are contacted by big brands in the business who want their followers to see you in their clothing – a little advertising for them, a lot of free goodies for you.

Investing in a Go Pro can help you take the best shots whilst in action, ready to be edited and shared on social media as soon as you arrive home. Whilst you might not make enough to be able to live off your profits, not having to buy things like board wax, board shorts and branded tees can give you a little cash in your pocket that can be put towards other things like a new board or wetsuit!

How to choose the right surfboard

What is the Difference between a Long Board and Short Board?

When choosing a new surfboard it is essential to choose the right one for you, so you can get the most use out of it as well as surfing to the best of the your ability. Often those new to surfing buy a board similar to the one they learned one – and whilst that isn’t a bad idea, sometimes opting for a longer or shorter board can improve your surfing skills.
When choosing whether to opt for a long or short board, it is important to take into consideration your height and weight – a long board for one surfer, might be a short board for another.

Long Board Pros:

    •    Often more stable than a short board.
    •    It is easier to lean on for direction.
    •    A lot easier to paddle and catch waves.

Long Board Cons;

    •    Less easy to radically turn (especially for those new to the sport).
    •    Rider will need to be confident with steeper waves.
    •    Rider will need to be able to generate speed.

Short Board Pros;

    •    Able to turn more radically.
    •    Better suited to steeper waves.
    •    A “pro” board – those who excel in the sport will perform well on a short board.

Short Board Cons:

    •    Much harder to paddle.
    •    Less stable especially for beginners.
    •    More volatile in terms of movement.

If you’re still unsure about what surfboard is best for you and your ability, ask your questions on our social media pages, or visit our website for contact details.