Five Ways to Prepare for Your First Surf Trip from Your Desk

So you've watched hours of YouTube clips of Kelly Slater ripping waves, booked a plane ticket to the Pacific Ocean, and day-dreamed about catching your own wave for the first time while you sit in your cubicle. Yes, gliding across the ocean on nothing but a foam-filled, fibre glass-covered board is incredible. So incredible, that tons and tons and tons of people move to small beach towns around the globe just so they can get up every morning to ride incoming waves. It truly is the life. Or so I imagine it is.

But if you, like me, are landlocked, trapped at a desk most of the time and constantly just daydreaming about waves rather than catching them, actually getting out and catching a wave can seem like a distant pipe dream. There is one thing, however, that can get you out and surfing if not everyday, at least once and a while. And that awesome thing is called a surf trip.

No, a surf trip is not quite as awesome as living on a beach and surfing everyday. But it is a way to learn over a focused period of time, experience surf breaks all around the globe, and make your co-workers back at the water cooler jealous when you tell them about all of the overhead waves you rode on vacation.

So, how do you prepare for your first surf trip? Simple. All you need to do is find a surf spot you're interested in, do a bit of research beforehand, and then get stoked. That's it. Before you know it, you won't feel like a corporate sellout any more. You'll feel like a corporate surfer - and I think that's rad any day. Here are a few ideas to help you prepare for your first surf trip so that you can catch waves in no time - without even having to leave your desk:

Find a Surf Spot With Beginner Surf Breaks

When you're first learning to surf, you're going to want to find a beginner friendly break. What exactly is a beginner friendly break? It typically has a sandy bottom, is rock and reef free, and doesn't have massive waves. Luckily, all that's required is a simple Google search of the "best beginner surf spots in the world," and you should end up with a plethora of options to suit your needs. Some of the places I'd recommend are Waikiki in Hawaii or Playa Tamarindo in Costa Rica. They both provide the key beginner break conditions outlined above, are full of great surf shops providing lessons, and have tons of stuff to do around the area when you're done surfing.

Research the Best Surf Shops in the Area

Once you've picked where exactly you want to surf, you'll want to research the various surf shops in the area. This is important because you'll most likely be taking lessons and / or renting boards from one of them. I'd suggest seeing how much surf lessons / rentals cost at each place, what the reviews are like for their instructors, and how close they're located to the beginner break you want to surf. You may find a surf shop that looks rad, but, if it's five miles away from the break you want to ride, it might be tough to get your rental board there. If you picked a solid beginner spot using the advice outlined above, you should have no problem. Most beginner surf spots are filled with tons of great surf shops dedicated to providing lessons for people who've never tried it before.

Learn About the Different Styles of Surfboards

Most beginner surfers start out on a longboard (typically 8 or 9 feet in length). Why? Because it's got a large surface area, floats better and, inevitably, catches waves a lot easier. If you take a surfing lesson, your instructor will most likely set you up on one of these. If you decide, however, to give surfing a go without an instructor, make sure you understand the different types of surfboards out there, and what exactly they're meant for.

For instance, a shortboard will provide you with more maneuverability on the water, allow you to go faster, and make you look like your hero John John Florence, but they're also very small, lacking in surface area, and require a fairly large / powerful wave to successfully get up on one. Do yourself a favor and learn about all of the different boards before you go. You'll have a better time on the water, catch more waves, and (worst case) head into your trip with more surfing knowledge than you had before.

Learn Proper Surfing Etiquette

This one is a must Google Search before you go. Surfing is not a team sport, but there will, inevitably, be tons of other surfers in the water when you're in it. And they'll all be trying to do the same thing as you - catch waves. Typically, beginner surf breaks also mean more people. I didn't make the math up for that, it's just the way it is. So, to avoid conflict in the water and to ensure no one gets hurt, it's best to research and learn the proper surfing etiquette before you step into the water with your surfboard for the first time.

Understanding when you have the right of way on a wave, learning how to not snake other surfers' waves, and staying clear of surf breaks that are above your skill level will not only keep you and everyone else safe on the water, but also keep everyone else from getting frustrated with you. And, again, if you learn surfing etiquette while you prepare for your first surf trip, you'll be that much more knowledgeable about the sport by the time you reach your first surf break.

Consider Attending a Surf Camp

If you don't feel like researching any of the above before you go, then you might want to consider just researching and attending a surf camp while you're there. They will literally teach you everything mentioned above, and how to catch a wave. Surf camps typically are located right beside a beginner break so that it's easy to get up, grab a board and head into the water for a lesson. They also usually have classroom sessions where they teach you about the history of surfing, the different types of boards, and surfing etiquette.

The other great thing about surfing camps is that they usually offer hotel accommodation. This means that you can literally stay at the surf camp, party with the other surfers that you're going to be learning with, and eliminate another stressful part of your holiday planning. If you really don't have time to prepare for your first surf trip, a surf camp may be the way to go.

So, if you're tired of watching Kelly Slater YouTube clips at your desk and want to get out there and surf for yourself, star by planning a surf desk right from your cubicle. Once you pick the spot you want to travel to, learn about the different surf board types, and understand surfing etiquette, you'll be ready to head out on the surfing trip of a lifetime. The only thing you'll need to worry about is where to go for a beer after you rip across the ocean on your first wave.

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