Summer is finally here! Work is on hold, the sun is shining, and you can’t wait to get back on a surfboard. Only one problem: there’s about as many waves as there were sober Frenchmen on Sunday night. Without further ado, here's Urban Surfer's top 10 things to do to keep you entertained when there's no waves, while improving your surfing at the same time! What more could you want? (Yeah, I know… but the swells will be back soon.)
Edit: Now with video! (IH)
1. Skate
I couldn’t begin this list with anything else. Originating in the mid-20th century, “sidewalk-surfing” was the perfect way for Californians to replace the rush of surfing when the Pacific wasn’t cooperating! These days there are many different options; whether tearing up your local skatepark, dancing on a longboard, or bombing hills at speeds up to 70mph while power-sliding round the corners, this is the ultimate surfing substitute while working on your balance! If you want to take it a step closer to the real thing, check out the surf skates (such as Carver) which let you pump and carve like you would in the ocean!https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ2u-CkAqRh/
- Top 10 Things To Do (1/10)
2. Indo Board
It may just look like a barrel and a plank of wood, but Indo Boards are not for the faint-hearted. We set one up in the Durham market place to promote the uni surf club, and lost count of the number of people we had to scrape off the floor. (Health and safety!? Never heard of it mate.)They’re not just limited to seeing how long you can stay on, either. Tricks range from hang-tens, pop shuvits, pistol squats, or wherever your imagination takes you! (I’ve gotten dressed on mine, and there’s YouTube videos of people backflipping onto them!!) Plus, Indo Boards have the added bonus of being a great workout tool - what’s not to love?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLMEpVwl2zc/
- Top 10 Things To Do (2/10)
3. Slackline
You can pick these up relatively cheap online, then all you need is 2 sturdy trees and a loooot of patience to master the basics. Much harder than it looks (and it doesn’t even look easy), but the sense of achievement when you make it the whole way across for the first time is unparalleled! After that it’s an endless addiction learning the next trick. The pros seat drop, backflip, and high-line between hot air balloons, but if you can perfect turning around and walking backwards you’ll be admired by everyone else who tries it.https://www.instagram.com/p/BGW8qlns4D6/
- Top 10 Things To Do (3/10)
4. Surf fitness (including swimming!)
So, you think your balance is pretty good after the first three? Time to work on some fitness because, at the end of the day, increased fitness = increased wave count, and increased wave count = more fun (and much faster improvement)!The most important muscles to train (for the majority of beginner and intermediate surfers) are upper body and core strength. Hit the gym, check out the plethora of online ab workouts, and smash some lengths in the pool! While you’re at it, practice some (supervised, and very careful!) breath training for those long hold downs, and a bit of cardio never hurts for when your arms turn to spaghetti in the third hour of a session!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BU_0JsMjXc2/
- Top 10 Things To Do (4/10)
5. Surf stretches and yoga
You’ve gotta be sore by now, and nobody wants to wake up for that long-anticipated dawnie to find they’ve pulled a muscle or are too stiff to get out of bed!Flexibility is also an incredibly underrated aspect of quality surfing, and can often be the difference between your turns looking like that old grumpy guy’s at your local break, and a full Michel Bourez-style power hack (I accept no responsibility if you turn yourself into a rubber band and still don’t win the Pipe Masters, but the fact is it’s not going to do you any harm and is a great habit for staying young and supple!)
Check out this stretch to kickstart your transformation into The Spartan or, for something a little more Zen, I use Yoga Studio which lets you choose what to work on (flexibility, strength, relaxation, etc.) and then guides you through the class with a soothing voice and music to match. Alternatively, let Steph walk you through Urban Surfer's Top 10 yoga moves to up your surfing game.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bdz7uMPFlY1/
- Top 10 Things To Do (5/10)
6. Spend some time in the kitchen
Studies upon studies have proven diet to be absolutely essential to mental and physical wellbeing. In this day and age of processed rubbish sold as “healthy” and “low fat” (which isn’t a good thing, by the way - a quick google will tell you exactly why fat is such an essential macronutrient!), the best way to know what you’re putting into your body is to make it yourself! Try to use fresh, natural ingredients and don’t be afraid to experiment.One more note on this: please please pleaseeee pick items with the least plastic packaging! Avoid using carrier bags and if you have to buy a plastic bottle, make sure to reuse it. Check out my old housemate Alejandra’s post for The Marine Diaries (co-set up by another good friend, Becca) for an insight on the harm we’re causing with our plastic obsession. Finally, give us a like at Durham Against Plastic for updates and our progress on the issue at Durham uni and worldwide! (Okay, shameless plugs over.)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgpM74iABbQ/
- Top 10 Things To Do (6/10)
7. Flow Rider
Let’s ramp up the intensity a little. Fun for all ages and abilities (we took some beginners from DU Surf and everyone was standing up by the end of it!), and pretty cheap (we paid £12 each per hour). You start by finding your bearings led down, Archie-style, and progress with the super-helpful instructors until you’re carving it apart like a real wave! The floor is made of soft rubber too, so wiping out is not as painful as it looks!Flow Riders are starting to pop up in leisure centres around the country, so have a search and chances are you’ll find one closer than you think!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkDHAwznKcy/
- Top 10 Things To Do (7/10)
8. Wave Pool
Now we’re into serious territory. You’ve salivated over Kelly’s recreation of heaven (making its debut on the WSL Championship Tour this September), and competition in Texas is pushing the wave pool race like never before; like it or not, this is a big part of our sport’s future.If you still haven’t bagged yourself a golden ticket and aren’t best mates with any pro surfers, we have some decent alternatives a lot closer to home! The Wave is expected to open in Bristol by 2019, but Surf Snowdonia are currently leading the way in the UK. A little expensive at £45 per hour, but well worth it for the experience and the number of waves you’ll catch! They also offer accommodation, and keep your eyes peeled for the inaugural “Electric Wave Festival” there at the end of this month.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiepXLtHf2P/
- Top 10 Things To Do (8/10)
9. Kitesurf, Wakeboard, or SUP
By this point you’re really getting desperate. You’ve exhausted every option to simulate the feel of surfing, so maybe a backup hobby is needed for those all-too-common occasions when the elements don’t quite line up.Thankfully, those strong onshores are a blessing if you have a kite or two in your arsenal. Just like surfing, but with a free lift back out to the lineup and an extra boost of power to get around sections, kitesurfing sure is a lot of fun. If you’d rather keep your sports separate, you could always opt for a twin-tip board and boost airs, or even foil if the wind is super light! Beware that if you don’t have previous experience with kites there is a very steep learning curve - and ALWAYS take lessons until you’re more than confident going by yourself; playing with the wind is a dangerous game.
Alternatively, wakeboarding offers similar high-speed thrills for a cheaper price and simpler introduction to the sport, while an (inflatable) SUP can be great fun while giving you a sneakily good workout!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYGhdbYDQn6/
- Top 10 Things To Do (9/10)
10. Take a cheap surf trip!
Alright, we get it, nothing quite compares to the real thing. You’ve reached the end of your tether; you can’t concentrate on work, your family have had enough of your frustrated outbursts, and the hallucinations have begun. Your only option is to surf.Thankfully, budget airlines these days will take you across Europe and back for a fraction of the price of a train to London. If you’re flexible on dates, check out Jack's Flight Club for incredible weekly deals that would otherwise slip under the radar. Otherwise, use Google Flights or Skyscanner to find the most affordable destination - just remember to check for oversized baggage fees (see this link for a comprehensive summary of surfboard-friendly airlines) and your destination’s surf consistency so you don’t get skunked!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRn8JWlDBkG/
See why we think you should consider Morocco for a cheap getaway with its regular pumping swells!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjmqkcaHovZ/
- Top 10 Things To Do (10/10)
As always, thanks for making it to the end of the article. I’m currently writing this from a beach near Bordeaux - hit me up on Instagram [@willdavies11] if you’re in the area! It’s pretty flat here today (hence the inspiration for the post), but I’ll be releasing a vlog or ride video later this month, so stay tuned.
I hope you find some inspiration from this blog, and I hope your flat spells come to an end!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fkMeIGK_cc
