travel tips

regardless of where you plan to travel, and no matter how good of a surfer you are there are some basic rules that you should follow when traveling.

expense

make sure that you have planned realistically financially. try not to stretch beyond your means. there are many travel packages that are very affordable and will lead you to great surf. there are many trips that can be done on the cheap.

gear

depending on your style of surf and preference you want to bring a board that will suit you well. I would recommend that you bring two boards maximum, some people only travel with one, however if you ensue major damage it will be good to have a back up. you may also opt to have two boards that can be ridden in any conditions but have some variance in design to match that of the wave type. many people will bring a true shortboard in case the surf is decent accompanied by a fish in case the surf is small and weak. make sure to bring extra fins, extra fin screws and allen wrenches (fin keys), extra leashes, sand paper, packaging tape and a fresh small bottle of suncure and wax.

the packaging tape can be used on small dings while you are traveling. unlike duct tape packaging tape will not let water permeate. for larger dings or cracks sun cure will do the trick, not that you will go overboard on a professional ding repair while away, but the sand paper will let you obtain some degree of correct finish. the sand paper will also allow you to rough up the surface a little bit prior to applying the suncure.

if you are going to a colder climate or potentially colder climate do not hesitate in bringing along a wetsuit, boots, and gloves.

carry essential items in your carry on bag if flying, though fins should only be transported in your surfboard bag, especially with new security measures on airlines. you do not want to be hassled at the airport for having something that may resemble a weapon.

make sure to use pipe foam down the rails and other foam over the boar top and bottom prior to putting it in the board bag. also make sure that you have a receipt for the surfboard on you, if there is damage, in order to ensure you get paid and to file a claim correctly with the airline you need to have a receipt. if you do not have a receipt, go to a local shop who more than likely will be happy to give you some estimate of replacement cost on paper for you.

clothing, id, passport, money
dictionary

make sure to bring enough clothes, but do not bring the kitchen sink. often you can buy clothes cheap at destinations. bring what you need and nothing you don’t. make sure to always have a picture id with you, a correct and up to date passport and a credit card. do not bring hordes of cash, but have traveler checks, some cash money. it is also wise to record your traveler check numbers elsewhere. if you should lose your traveler checks, you can quickly have them replaced if you have the numbers of the ones you lost. an agency like aaa provides excellent service for traveler’s checks. they also provide very detailed trip planning and free maps to members. their membership also includes discounted rates at very places of stay and roadside assistance. bring a dictionary which will allow you to translate to the native language of the place that you are traveling to.

location

become familiar with the culture and customs prior to traveling anywhere.   this is something that should always be practiced and is part of being respectful.

contact and itinerary

make sure to leave your itinerary and other pertinent information with more than one-person back at home. you do not need to schedule every time you are to call home to check in unless you are married :) 

there are many dangerous parts of the world today and it is important to keep in contact with people back home in some way. it is also important to never surf a private or unknown spot alone. there may be rocks, tidal currents, undertows and other hazards that you are unaware of. if you are able hook up with a local surf guide, be honest about your ability and the wave type you are looking for and they can surely help you out.

-Respect the locals

It doesn't matter how good or how bad they are, they're still guys who regularly surf the spot, know the place inside out, and are used to surfing it with just their mates. Imagine how you'd feel if a bunch of arrogant twonks came down your street acting like they owned it, making a mess of the place and generally being arses. Would you get pissed off with them? Of course you would.

-Don't travel in large groups

Turning up a break with eight of your mates provides an instant crowd and puts everyone one the defensive straightaway. If you are in a large group, go surfing in shifts.

-Do unto others as you would have done to yourself

Never drop in. Never snake the peak. Never paddle out and try and take every wave that comes through. Pretty obvious really, but it's amazing how many people forget.

-A friendly smile and a 'Hello' goes a long way

Think about it - everyone goes surfing to have a good time. When there's a friendly vibe everyone gets more waves.

-If traveling abroad, learn a bit of the language

You don't have to have a degree in it, but if you make the effort you could make a new friend.  being able to politely greet someone in the native language can pay huge divedends both in and out of the water.

-Give a hoot!

If you're a good surfer you're probably going to get your fill of waves anyway, so why not give a few nice ones and some encouragement to others? Last year I saw a novice Belgium surfer doddering around at a reef in the Canaries on a big 8-footer. A set came through but it didn't look like he was going to go, so I shouted a few words of encouragement. He turned, dropped in and flew 200 yards down a perfect wall. It turned out to be the best wave of his life. He didn't speak much English but he didn't have to because he couldn't stop smiling for the next six hours.  

-If you're a beginner, don't go at it like a mad dog

Take the time to sit and watch and you'll pick up some tips. Sooner or later someone will get a good wave and if they know you saw it, they'll stop to chat. Throw in a compliment and you could have a friend for life...plus a few tips and guided tour to more waves!  

-Always carry plenty of wax

Most surfers go on the scrounge for wax before they paddle out. If you've got loads in your bag, you're everybody's friend!  

-When it's your turn to go, go!

When the biggest wave of your life rears up in front of you, and you're in the perfect position, gird thy loins, put your head down and charge the mother.  

-Don't get in the way

It's your responsibility to stay out of the riding area. If you can, paddle out well wide of the peak. If you find yourself stuck inside with a surfer hurtling towards you, try to anticipate their next move and paddle in the opposite direction. If all else fails, paddle towards the whitewater and let the surfer have a clear path to continue his ride.

Blue ringed octopus

Found in both the Indian and Pacific oceans, this is a nasty little creature with too many legs and more toxins than one of Stavro's kebabs. If bitten you'll feel an intense burning sensation which is followed by vomiting, loss of muscle control, respiratory failure and probable death. Much the same effect as eating the kebab really. There is no specific antidote for the venom. Chance of survival: not too good, really.

Leopard

It's dusk and you've had a few beers to celebrate a day of epic tubes at G-Land. You toddle off into the jungle to find a tree to piss behind. Bad move. A leopard grabs you and with one savage raking motion of a claw, disembowels you. As you watch your intestines spill onto the white sand, it sinks its fangs through your jugular. Your carcass is then dragged off and left to putrify in the sun for a few days before it's finished off by scavengers. Chance of survival: you've got to be joking.

Bluebottle jellyfish

Pretty common along the east coast of Australia, these unpleasant floating bubbles are armed with tentacles that can grow up to 10 metres long. Get caught up in Ôem and you'll feel like you've been flayed with a car radio aerial and covered in Deep Heat. Multiple stings can result in paralysis and even death, as the poison acts on the central nervous system. Chance of survival: reasonable.

Great white shark

The perfect oceanic killing machine. No sense of humour whatsoever. Great Whites commonly occur in the seas off southern Australia, South Africa, northern California, the Azores and have even been spotted in the Med! They attack from below faster than a ferret up a drainpipe, stun you with the first impact, then causes massive injuries with their rows of razor sharp teeth. If the impact or haemorrhaging doesn't kill you, the shock probably will. Chance of survival: dream on.

Urchins

Spiny little buggers that infest most reefs from the Canaries to New Zealand. Seemingly put on earth for no other reason than to annoy surfers. Urchin spines can grow up to 10 inches long and are designed to penetrate any boot or wetsuit before snapping off, and then causing constant pain and probable infection. Possibly worse are the injuries subsequently inflicted by surfers attempting to remove the spines from various parts of the anatomy utilising cheap liquor and a Swiss Army knife. Chance of survival: no worries.

Stonefish

Found in tropical lagoons throughout the Indian and Pacific oceans, the stonefish's spines carry a poison which attacks the central nervous and respiratory systems. After standing on the horrid little creature you'll remain fully conscious and able to watch your mates freaking out as paralysis sets in. One by one your limbs, heart and lungs will cease to function, while you experience a pain that's been described as akin to 'having your entire nervous system ripped out and replaced with high voltage wires'. You will die within 15 minutes. Chance of survival: zero.

Crocodile

Found in South Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea and Australia, these cuddly dinosaurs kill more people each year than sharks ever do. One minute you're surfing a nice rivermouth, the next you're clamped in a croc's jaws, rolled around underwater, and tossed in the air until you're unconcious. You'll then be stored under a log until you're rotten enough to be consumed in large chunks. Chance of survival: not good, unless you surname is Dundee.

Malarial mosquito

Common throughout large areas of South America, Asia and Africa, these irritating little buggers carry various strains of malarial parasite which are becoming increasingly drug resistant. Symptoms include fever, shivering and headaches that feel like the worst flu ever. If untreated, the parasite overwhelms your body and you die. Even when treated, symptoms can re-occur at any time. Chance of survival: reasonable.

Sea snake

If you're surfing a tropical rivermouth in Central America, Indonesia or the Pacific region during the sea snake mating season, watch out. Get bitten by one of these stripy sods and you'll spend the next couple of hours in incredible agony, and then you'll probably die. After muscle spasms, facial paralysis and convulsions, respiratory failure will usually occur, finally putting you out of your misery. There is an antidote - but unless you catch the offending snake (hint: wear gloves) the doctors won't know how to treat you; so you'll probably end up spending your final minutes watching incompetent third world quacks stabbing you with AIDS-ridden needles before you die anyway. Chance of survival: 50 / 50.

Fire coral

Nice to look at, but not something you want to stand on. Feels like having a Cuban cigar stubbed out in an open wound. If not cleaned properly the cuts turn gangrenous. Loss of surf time guaranteed, loss of limbs possible. Chance of survival: good.