If you are planning a surfing trip then I recommend you read these surf travel tips. Based on my experience of many years chasing the perfect wave, here are 5 surfing holiday necessities you are likely to forget.
Whether you’re trucking down to Baja, hopping on a flight to Indo, or setting sail for the Canaries, there are a few things you’ll absolutely need for a successful excursion. And I’m not referring to the obvious essentials like passport, cash and suncream.
Surfing holiday necessities you’ll forget
I’m talking about five, small, easily overlooked items that are going to make or break your surf holiday. Forget one of these and risk a sour mood on the beach, instead of bliss on the epic waves you spent an entire paycheck getting to.
Leash Strings
The little cords that connect your leash to your board are easy to take for granted. But lose or snap one and they’re harder to find than a French girl who will actually talk to you.
One of my top surf travel tips is to buy a metre or two of strong nylon string from ebay, or at a sporting goods or hardware store, and never worry about attachment issues again. It’s not dumb to carry an extra leash either.
Fin Key
This tiny tool is one of the surfing holiday necessities that is easiest to forget. At home it is probably on your car keys so you always have it with you. Break a fin without a key and chances are slim you’ll be able to help yourself out on location.
Stash it in a pocket of your board bag so you’ll know where to find it. If you can, bring extra fin screws too. Afterall you won’t find that loose one that fell out somewhere on the beach yesterday!
Sun Cure
Dinging your board abroad shouldn’t mean wasting time and money getting it patched at the nearest surf shop. A tube of Sun Cure fills cracks and dings in minutes, and a square of sandpaper helps smooth over the new resin.
Nothing is going to help if you snap your board. But mending minor dents on the run saves cash and scores you more time in the lineup.
Wax
Obviously. What could be worse than finding a perfect, deserted wave and not having enough wax to grip your board? Don’t let this happen to you.
Bring plenty of wax from home so it’s one less thing to forget to buy when you arrive. And if you have enough, be generous with it to those less prepared. Kindness is not forgotten and you’ll probably get the nod on a wave or two. Wax combs are high-return investments as well.
Duct Tape
Versatile. Strong. Easy to apply and remove. Duct tape is the traveler’s best friend regardless of the sport you are doing. For surfing, use it to patch dings Sun Cure can’t fix. Its seal is waterproof and will prevent any exposed foam from getting wet.
Use it to tape your board bag shut in preemption of any tampering. Use it to secure your gear to the roof rack of a crowded bus or taxi. Use it to close a nasty wound or as an emergency sling for a busted arm. Build and furnish a small home with it, but for God’s sake, man, just be sure to bring it!
Other surf travel tips
That is it for surfing holiday necessities you are likely to forget, but the tips don’t stop here. Spending a lot of time in the water and on the beach there are many other things you can do that will make your time by the seaside more enjoyable.
Did you know you can use talcum powder to remove sand or a paperclip to fix broken flip flops? Ever thought about adding a cork to your keys or putting your phone in a sealable bag, just in case either end up in the water? You’ll find these ideas and many more excellent seaside tips and beach hacks here.
But of all my surf travel tips the most important is to have fun. Don’t beat yourself up over something you forget. Don’t be down over the perfect wave you missed. Go with the flow, enjoy the highs and forget the lows. Afterall you are on holidays doing something you love.
If you are ready to book your next trip then be sure to check out out surfing holiday discounts, as you could save a packet on your next adventure.
