This year Her.ie’s Úna got the chance to head off on jet plane to the lovely town of Ericeira for a surfing trip of a lifetime.
Booked through SurfHolidays.com, she got to experience the joys of the Portuguese waves with some great new friends and fantastic instructors. Here are her top tips for the beginner surfer:
1. Find the spot!
If you want to give surfing a try, Ireland is a great spot, particularly if you head to Rossnowlagh in Donegal and Lahinch in Clare – but if you’re looking for a longer spell where you can really learn the ropes, a weekend surfing isn’t enough. There are many surf houses to be found across Europe, so why not check out prices and flights before you make the leap! You’ll be surprised at what you can learn in a week on the waves.
2. Start working on your fitness
It’s best to be relatively fit and comfortable with the water before heading on a surfing journey. Try to build up your fitness before the trip. There’s nothing worse than being thrown off your board and feeling out of your depth!
3. No need for fancy gear
What’s great about a surf holiday is that you don’t need to cart around your own equipment because it’s all provided – all you need to bring is swimming togs, a towel, flip flops and a bottle of sun lotion to catch in the rays.
4. The first day can be tough
If you’re a beginner and have never set foot on a board before, the first day can pose quite a challenge – but don’t give up! By the end of the week you’ll no doubt see a dramatic improvement on your skills and who knows, you might even get bitten by the surfing bug.
5. Group work!
You’ll probably be in a group with about six to eight other people but that’s what makes it all the more fun. The majority of the group will be on the same wave-length (see what we did there!), so it won’t be as intimidating as if you were just on a one-to-one. Make sure to grab the instructors for advice and keep asking them for tips – remember it’s about your experience.
6. Building up technique
Learning to pop up on the beach is important, so keep an eye on your footing and your balance. When you get in the water the feeling is much different, and though there will be quite a few waves that’ll throw you off-balance, keep at it and you’ll eventually get there!
7. Mind the board
One thing that’s vitally important is to be very careful with your board. Keep an eye on the direction it’s facing at all times and don’t forget when you fall off to remember to cover your head in case the board hits you!
8. Go with the flow
The trick with surfing is to make sure that your paddle fast before the wave comes, so that when it does arrive you’re going at the same speed and will naturally be picked up.
9. Up in one
One of the hardest things to try and do is to get up in one movement. Bear in mind that you need to do this very quickly and try and not get into the habit of using your knee to help you up. But don’t worry, practice makes perfect.
10. Most importantly:
Have fun! Surfing takes time and a lot of practice but it’s definitely worth it in the end.
Thinking of booking the surf trip of your dreams? Check out SurfHolidays.com for more information on creating that ultimate trip abroad.
