Australia has some of the best surfing places in the world. Waves can go as high as 18 meters. The famous site Cowaramup Bombora, found on the southwest coast of Western Australia, constantly has waves as high as 15 meters, so surfers love this place.
If you love waves and surfing, you might want to consider this place, but it’s not the best idea to walk into the devil’s mouth right away if you’re a beginner. It is wiser to go to a more beginner-friendly place and try waves that are way smaller than these.
In this article, we’re talking about what surfing equipment you need and what you must know about surfing equipment. We’re talking about the various parts that every surfer must know and own. Keep up to see what these parts are.
1. Get yourself the best wetsuit
Ocean waters can be freezingly cold. As surfers, we love the waves that are often the best during winter, but we need to be protected thoroughly. The wetsuit and the accessories coming with it are essential for the best experience.
Get yourself a top surf shop online or in the city where you can find wetsuits, gloves, hoods, boots, and everything else needed for the perfect experience.
2. Choose the perfect board
There are various types of surfing boards, and you need to find the one that fits perfectly. The board needs to be part of you when you’re surfing, so it’s essential to have the one you’ll feel perfectly fit.
As a beginner, it’s best to choose a big board that will keep you above water. As you become more experienced, you’ll want a thinner and lighter board that is easy to control and swing around. There are also different boards for different waves, so choose wisely.
3. Never forget the leash
The leash or the rope is essential for keeping the board next to you when you fall off. It happens even to the best of us, so don’t think that experienced surfers will not use one. Instead of losing energy and chasing the board, you’ll have it right next to you with the leash.
There’s nothing complex about it. Special surfing ropes are made waterproof and have easy connectors to the board, with the other end being connected to your feet.
4. Set enough fins depending on the waves
Every surfboard can support up to five fins. The fins placed under the board and provide a better grip on the water can provide more or less stability and the ability to maneuver when you’re riding the waves.
Some pro-surfers will do it with finless boards and make outstanding moves, but it’s really hard for average surfers to do it without any fins. Fins provide stability, drive, and performance. Without them, the board will easily fly off from under your feet.
5. Maintaining the surfboard is essential
Proper maintenance of the board is essential. If you take care of it, the board will care for you while you’re in the water. You need to use a special wax for it, so you don’t slip off easily. The wax creates a grip between your feet and the board.
Many different waxes are available on the market, and you should learn about their features before using them. You may need a different wax for your board depending on many factors.
6. Always use earplugs
Earplugs are highly valuable for surfers because the cold water can damage your ears severly. Many surfers have “surfer’s ear,” a condition medically known as exostosis.
This condition happens when the cold water gets inside the ear and thickens the bone surrounding the ear canal. When the surfer wears the earplugs specifically made for this, the water stays off the ear canal, and the condition doesn’t happen.
7. Apply sunscreen if the sun is hot
Aside from colder weather conditions when the water may cause situations as we described in the previous point, there are also situations in which the hot weather and the sun will cause sunburns. While you’re in the water, you don’t feel the sun’s strength, and you think you’re cool.
However, you’ll easily get sunburns after spending a couple of hours in water. To prevent this from happening, you need to apply sunscreen and make sure you’re protected. You may have a wetsuit covering most body parts, but your face will always be exposed.
Conclusion
These seven points explain the essential things you need to know about surfing the amazing waves in Australia. There are many places around the continent where surfs are fantastic, but without knowing what equipment you need and how to take care of it, you’ll surely not enjoy it as you should. Through these points, you’ll hopefully learn everything about it.
