Surfing Lifestyle

      A colleague started a training course a few years back for a job that he had just got. As part of the introduction to the course everyone was encouraged to step forward, give their name, history, etc., and also their hobbies. It was an IT-related training course and when asked he gave surfing as his main interest. He didn't realise at the time that he should have qualified this with saying that he was actually a surfer of waves and not of the Internet. It seems strange how some people when hearing the word "surfing" automatically associate it with the Internet and not with surfing waves on a surfboard. (Perhaps this may only seem strange to a surfer.) Still, for the purpose of this site they could be both right. Here we're talking about surfing waves, the sport of surfing, and the lifestyle of surfing. For the favoured few in the world, surfing's elite such as Kelly Slater and Andy Irons (but to name two of many professional surfers out there), it is their job. For a greatly increasing amount of others it can be one of the most enjoyable pastimes there is.

Why Surf?

       Ask anyone who surfs why they surf and they'll give you their own individual answer. "Because it's fun," "its cool," "it keeps me off the streets," "surfing is my life," or "I like to get wet." To some people it's their entire life, and to others it's something to do when they have a week in the sun every year. To many like me it's simply because there is nothing else like it. It's one of the few sports that directly utilises the power of nature; nothing mechanical — purely natural. If you're thinking of giving it a go, then YES, it's great fun and that's the bottom line.

The Best Way to Start Surfing

The best way to start surfing is to have great parents who, before giving birth to you, decided that they would settle down in Jeffrey's Bay, the north shore of Hawaii, Raglan (or somewhere equally near great quality waves) and who as a fourth birthday present buy you your first surfboard. Unfortunately if you're reading this and do not already surf, then it's probably a good few years too late.

Still, let's not let that little setback hold you back. You may never become world champion, but that doesn't matter one bit. As we always say, "the greatest fun can be had from the smallest of wipe-outs!" What you need to consider is how you can get yourself — complete with the equipment you need — to where there are waves.