5 Mistakes Beginners Make When Booking a Surf Trip
A dream surf trip can be when you soak in the sun, ride waves, and experience the ocean lifestyle. However, if you are a newbie, it is easy to make mistakes that make the trip a frustrating affair. If you are a beginner, here are 5 mistakes you might make when booking a surfing trip:
1 – Choosing the Wrong Destination
Some surf destinations are not friendly at all for beginners. One of the biggest errors that many first-timers make is when they book a trip to an advanced surf spot and getting a beating from the waves that are designed to be ridden only by experts. It can be template work, so first, check out what is available with those kinds of waves, sandy bottoms, and surf schools teaching beginners how to ride waves. Learning places include Canggu in Bali, Costa Rica, and Byron Bay in Australia.
2 – Booking During the Wrong Time of The Year
By the time the year rolls around, wave conditions are no longer drastically the same. In one of those surfing seasons, some surf spots are easy to surf, while others turn out to be too hard. This is why beginners should attempt to learn the best time a trip can be taken to their chosen destination. Bali is such a special place for surfing because it is possible to surf easy waves pretty much every day of the year. The weather in Bali perfect for surfing. Also, the warm water makes you not wear a suit that can be very uncomfortable at first.
3 – Checking Surf Camp or Accommodation Details
All surf camps or even surf accommodations near the beach are not ‘the same’, many vary widely in quality, location, level of instruction, etc. There are some with structured lessons, analysis of a video, surf theory, and others are just accommodations with optional side surf rentals. To get the most out of your trip, please read reviews, check instructors’ qualifications, and ensure the camp provides beginners-friendly equipment.
4 – Packing the Wrong Gear
Being not dressed properly or completely not dressed can be extremely expensive. The majority of beginners think that they can just rent everything, however, there are many surf destinations with few or even no rental options, and the boards in the rental might be the wrong ones for beginners. Check to see if bringing a preferred soft top surfboard or wetsuit is worth it. Also, carry necessary things like rash guards, reef-safe sunscreen, and surf booties if the place you are traveling to has rocky or reef-filled breaks.
5 – Failing to Read Honest Online Reviews
Online reviews are misleading sometimes since some places offer incentives for positive feedbacks while other might put fake reviews. Before booking, you need to check review that provides genuine insights into the surf camps and accommodation. Remember to pay attention to details and look for balanced review rather than focusing on only positive and vague review.
Final Thoughts
A surfing trip as a beginner is fun, but avoid these common mistakes, and here is your way to have a great experience of the surf trip. Find the right destination, book at the right time, plan out where you will be staying, bring suitable belongings, and mentally prepare. With planning, your first surf trip can be a fantastic, fun, and progressive trip with great waves!