Planet Surf Talk | Surfing central, from how to surf to where to surf to the latest surfing news

Kiteboarding or Surfing?

Obviously, only one can be more extreme.

Looking ofr adventure? Try your hand (any the rest of your body) at kiteboarding - it is like what surfing and parasailing would have if they made a baby togather - and totally awesome! Check out the video.

Speaking of extreme, check otu this article on the NY Daily News "Polish kite surfer Jan Lisewski battles sharks in Red Sea — and survives", its a pretty killer look at the extreme side of surf and boarding.

How to Learn to Surf on a Shortboard

Most surfers identify surfing on a shortboard as a more difficult endeavor than the longboard. If you’re new to surfing, though, don’t worry. With practice, you can grasp this fun way of surfing that will empower you to try things in a different way as a surfer. Experience sharper turns, aerials, and some nifty tricks unique to the shortboard. Remember that, if you don’t have previous experience with surfing, you need to first start out with a longboard, or you’re in for a much more challenging experience. It will a needless amount of extra effort that you don’t have to extend.

First of all, you want to speak with an expert to determine the right size shortboard for you, and he or she will do this based on where you intend to surf and your own body type. Both small and large surfer shops should have employees who can help you pick just the right one.

Plan on practicing a lot. It takes pro surfers years of practice to do what they do, and they still are challenged. Be patient with yourself as you learn and realize it’s going to take some time. Enjoy the journey.

At first paddle around on the board and even just sit on the board in calm waters. Getting used to your board is key before you try to surf on it. Lie flat on the board, then switch to sitting on it. Practice this over and over again. Get your balance; make adjustments in your movement and stance as needed.

Now delve into the big time. Try approaching a breaking way. Duck dive as it comes toward you, then plunge the tip of the board into water as you grip harder on the rails. Push the board’s tail end with your foot. This will take practice, but it will eventually shoot you under and out the back of the wave.

This will just get you started. There is a lot more to surfing on a shortboard. It would take a book to tell you everything. It’s definitely worth it to learn to surf on a shortboard. Just remember to keep safety first and always consult a surfing professional for extensive tips and warnings before heading out to the waves.

The Best Songs About Surfing

So you love surfing. That’s a given, right? Who wouldn’t want to feel the rush of the wave, the wind through their hair, and the challenge of surfing in all kinds of situations and locations? Surfing is more than a hobby to many, and it’s something to be celebrated. With the west coast attracting surfers and musicians alike, it’s no wonder that many songs have been written about this spectacular sport. Here are some of the best surfing songs to put on your playlist next time you’re driving to the shore.

“Surfin’ U.S.A.” by the Beach Boys is pretty enduring and fun. It’s hard to resist singing along to the tune so you may only want to play it around people you’re comfortable with hearing your loudest singing voice. Other Beach Boy songs that have to make the cut include “Surfin’ Safari,” “Surfer Girl,” “Lonely Sea,” “Catch A Wave,” “Noble Surfer," and “Surf Jam.”

“Wipe Out,” which is most famously performed by the Surfaris, has been inspiring surfers since its release in 1963. The ditty has been featured in dozens of movies and television shows since then, and “The Book of Rock Record Lists” has reported that ‘Wipe Out” is the number one surf rock song in the world.

“Surfer Dan” by the Turtles in another oldie that is just about right. “Surfin’ ‘Round The World” by Bruce Johnston is an anthem for many traveling surfers. Other songs that deserve a place on any playlist that celebrates surfing include “Surf City” by Jan & Dean, “Misirlou” by Dick Dale & the Del-Tones, and “Save Your Sundays for Surfin’” by the Fantastic Baggys.

Easy 10-Minute Workouts for Surfers

Stretching, Spinting, Speed Walking and more!

If you live for the big waves and natural high that is surfing, chances are it’s your favorite type of workout. However, it’s not always possible to escape to the sea for a few hours and indulge in the bliss of surfing. You still need to stay in shape for when you are out there working with all your might to perform those impressive moves on your board. Here are some quick workouts that are ideal for surfers on the go without a lot of time on their hands, as they only take about 10 minutes each.

Stretching

Even when doing a short workout, it's important to stretch. If you skip stretching, you may later cramp up. The blood supply to the muscle is increased during stretching, and it's the best way to avoid injury during a workout. (That’s also something you should get in the habit of doing before and after you go surfing.)

Since your ten-minute workout will likely be focused and specific to one area of the body, that should be the part that you stretch. As important as it is to stretch under most circumstances before beginning any workout, you shouldn't stretch if you've recently had a muscle strain or any sprains. If you've had a fracture that isn't completely healed, avoid stretching. You should also skip stretching (and exercise) if you feel pain in your joints or muscles.

Sprinting

If you've only got ten minutes, you need to go for a workout that offers maximum effectiveness and will help with your surfing goals. Running is probably your best bet. You can simply run instead of sprint, but you should go for a faster pace than on a longer run. The less time you have to do an activity, the harder you have to work at it if you want to burn a sufficient enough number of calories. Workouts that are done harder can be done in a shorter amount of time.

Speed Walking

Not everybody is up to running. Not everyone wants to be. Fast-paced walking is often a better choice. It's good for the heart and cardiovascular system in the same way that running is, but it's less taxing. It requires less effort and it burns fewer calories than running. However, it's often the preferred method of working out. Walking, even at a faster pace, can make you feel at peace and as though you are letting go of stress. For extra motivation, try to plan your longer walks in a pretty setting. When you've only got ten minutes, however, speed walking around a mall once in ten minutes can really get your heart rate up and set those calories to burning.

Ten-Minute Workouts In the Office

Yes, some people do not even have the luxury of leaving their offices for exercise breaks. If you're stuck indoors for whatever reason, you can still get a great work out in.

Consider speed walking in place. There are even workout videos and DVDs released that feature the lead instructor simply walking several miles in place. This can be done with an instructional video or by yourself. Turn on music for extra inspiration and motivation.

Do jumping jacks repeatedly. Doing these for ten minutes can be truly tiring, but it's a great cardiovascular workout that can be done in ten minutes. It's also a good calorie burner.

Hawaiian Surfer Heroes

3 surfers went to the rescue during high waves

According to the Honolulu Star Advertiser there are 3 surfers who are currently heroes after rescuing a man from 15 - 18 foot waves in Waimea Bay. The rescue took place in the dark, early in the morning, by three surfers - Igor Lumertz, Robin Bond, and Joshua Echemendia.

While the person rescued was not injured, the waves could have done some serious harm to him - and easily could have taken his life.

Awesome Guinness Commercial

Surfers and Sharks

Sharks are often maligned for attacking people even though it is a very rare occurrence. Of all the groups at the beach it seems surfers most often attract the attention of these underwater predators. Surfers have been the victims of shark attacks on several occasions over the years. For the most part sharks prefer not to eat people and usually if they do attack a human it is a case of mistaken identity.

In the few cases where surfers are attacked it often proves fatal and those lucky enough to survive are left with terrible scars. Back in 2007 there was an amazing case when surfer Todd Endris was grabbed in the jaws of a shark. He was sitting on his board oblivious when the shark hit him and it managed to get both the board and his torso into its huge jaws. The skin was ripped from his back and his leg was cut through to the bone. He kicked the shark in the nose until it let go and much to his amazement a pod of dolphins happened along and circled him, protecting him as he rode his board into the beach and safety. Apparently there have been other cases of dolphins protecting victims of shark attack but you wouldn’t want to rely on it.

Just to show sharks aren’t always a threat to surfers here’s a video of a guy catching a lift from a shark. I wouldn’t recommend you try this.

Surf Nation: In Search of the Fast Rights and Hollow Lefts of Britain and Ireland

We might be lacking the palm trees and the year round sunshine but Britain has more than its fair share of golden sandy beaches and rocky bays with some terrific waves. There aren’t too many opportunities to hit the surf in a pair of shorts. In fact you may have to go out in a wetsuit with gloves, boots and even a hood but there is still some great fun to be had surfing around this craggy island and that’s the subject of Alex Wade’s book Surf Nation.

The book is full of interesting anecdotes and colourful characters to be found in the chilly waters around the coasts of Britain and Ireland. Wade travels around the country trying to meet the main players in each local surfing scene. He samples the surf himself and describes where you can expect to find some of the best waves. The people he meets are interesting and they offer candid opinions on what is right and wrong with the sport today. Some are competition regulars, some run businesses associated with their passion and others just love to surf.

Alex Wade is a freelance journalist who lives in Cornwall and he writes a weekly column for The Times. Surf Nation: In Search of the Fast Rights and Hollow Lefts of Britain and Ireland is his first book and it deservedly received great reviews. He is obviously a keen surfer and his passion really comes through in his writing. The book remains accessible though, it is not elitist, and there is even a glossary at the back for people unfamiliar with surfing terms. While this will obviously be of greatest interest to surfers it is a very readable book and could be enjoyed by anyone.

If you’ve ever driven past a bay and been surprised to see a few surfers bobbing up and down in the chilly water then you’ll be even more surprised to find there is a thriving scene in this country. Surfing has been getting more and more popular and while it is not often reported on in the mainstream there are many people living their lives according to the ebb and flow of the sea.

Surfing offers an escape from modern life. It is a way for people to enjoy some of the greatest scenery the country has to offer and get a thrill which you simply cannot find anywhere else. Wade captures the spirit of surfing in this country and he also touches on the tension between the old guard and the people just finding surfing for the first time. There is also an obvious tension between surfing purely for joy and the huge amounts of cash it generates for related businesses.

This is a fascinating insight into a world that few people ever explore and it is very well written. This is an epic surfing trip which can hardly fail to stir up your desire to pick up a board and go off in search of a good session yourself. You can find out a bit more at the official Surf Nation website.

Newquay Boardmasters 2009

Newquay is one of the most popular surfing destinations in the UK, if not the most popular. It is also home to Fistral Beach which is home to the annual Boardmasters competition, one of the biggest in the UK. The area has long attracted tourists in search of a bit of sun, sand and sea and over the last few years it has become a major hotspot for surfers. The Boardmasters event is like a big festival now and it certainly embraces the commercialisation of surfing in a big way. It has grown from being a surfing event to encompass the skate scene and also live music. The site is packed with corporate stalls flogging merchandise, there are big half-pipes set up for the BMX and skating competitions and there are three stages for live music. The event attracts well over 200,000 people and since the surf isn’t entirely predictable it is perhaps just as well that there are plenty of other things for them to do. The surf competition attracts some of the best surfers in the world and when you have a look at the potential prize money it is no surprise that people come from all over to take part. The Men’s World Qualifying Series event gets top billing and the prize pot is $100,000 and last year an 18 year old surfer from Brazil won. There is also an aerial event where surfers are towed by jet skis so they can build up enough speed to catch some serious air and pull off some crowd pleasing manoeuvres. There are also pro skate and BMX competitions although the prize money is a lot lower ($30,000). The event is rounded off with a host of surf related companies peddling their wares and a host of bars, night clubs, stages with live music and even a funfair. A lot of people just turn up for the music festival and the Friday night is being headlined by The Streets. There will be plenty of budding surfers there as well and the British Surfing Association actually own and operate a school on Fistral beach which has a great reputation. No doubt many people will be inspired by the talent on display and the stalls are sure to shift a number of surfboards and wetsuits before the event is over. The Relentless Boardmasters event for 2009 runs from the 5th to the 9th of August and if you want a ticket for full access you’ll have to stump up £89 plus booking fee. Surfing is seriously big business and the event is sure to turn over an obscene amount of cash. Sadly the women’s surfing event doesn’t even rate a mention on the official website but the Bikini Babe competition does. Considering there will be lots of talented female surfers there it seems like a pretty misogynistic omission. I guess the target audience is male. As usual if the waves are good then there will be some great action to behold, if not then there’s a big beer tent and plenty of distractions. You can check out the official website here.

Thurso East

It may surprise you to learn this but there is a vibrant surfing scene in the UK. Even in Scotland, where I live, there are many busy spots which fill up with surfers when the swell is good. Yes it is cold but the wetsuit technology available nowadays means you can go surfing even throughout the winter. It may not be as appealing to wear a wet suit, boots, gloves and a hood to brave the chilly water but if the waves are there it is worth the pain. Probably the most famous spot in Scotland for surfing is Thurso East. There have been a number of international competitions held there and it is acknowledged as a world class wave. Of course it is not for the faint of heart and best suited to experienced surfers who know what they are doing. It is a reef break which picks up the north Atlantic swells and provides big hollow rights with several barrelling sections. It is a powerful wave and depending on conditions it can be anything from around 3 feet up to 12 feet and beyond. It works at all tides but the incoming tide is best. The break is sometimes called Castle Reef because it sits opposite the castle a few minutes walk from the centre of Thurso. The town is in the far north of Scotland and it is quite a journey to get there, in fact it is the northernmost town on the British mainland. There is little doubt it offers the best surfing experience in the country and on a good day it is tough to beat. There are several other bays in the area which also provide good surf which is less challenging.

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