Prepare your surftrip
Seven tips to prepare for your surf trip! Get fit and mentally ready, have your bag packed, stoked, and ready to go! Having some basic knowledge of the language and area comes in pretty handy. Off course, you can always book a surfcamp and go with the flow! Read the 7 tips below.
Surftrip Tip 1: get fit!
Make sure not only your mind but also your body is ready for the upcoming surf trip. By swimming, yoga, some surfing (if possible), and practicing the pop-up at home, you are well prepared to make the most of it!
- Fitness: for general strength and endurance
- Run: Running is a perfect endurance fitness exercise it gets you fit but also refines your legs and muscles. Witch is amazing for the hundreds of pop-ups on your board. 30-45min runs already do the trick, start short and keep increasing your running time, you will notice the difference!
- Swimming: swim, to imitate the paddling on the board (front crawl) to get more paddling power and endurance.
- Surfing: to get a the feeling of the waves, gliding and surfing again
- Yoga: for flexibility and to stretch after an intensive surf session.
- Pop up: Practice the Pop-up for muscle memory. The Pop up is the base of every wave you will surf! Make sure you have the right technique under control. The video below shows you what the right technique is and how you can practice it at home!
Surftrip Tip 2 Bring your suitcase
Hereby a little list of things to put in your suitcase/travel bag for your surf trip. Feel free to add or skip some depending of what you need. Of course don’t forget a good mood, a big smile and a lot of enthusiasm
- Essentials: Passport, creditcards, cash, and possibly flight ticket
- Devices: Phone, Camera, laptop and loading cables
- Surfgear: Surfboard, Wetsuit, Wax, Repair set, Extra leash, Extra fins, finkey
It might also be possible to use the surfgear of the surfcamp surfschool. - Surf accessories: Changing Towel/poncho, sunscreen, Zink lip-balm ,
- EHBO Kit: Especially if you are traveling alone or without and organization
- Clothing: Basics like underwear and socks, For colder day’s: long pants, sweater and wind/waterproof jacket, For warm days: Flip-Flops, t-shirt, swimwear, short pants/ skirt
- Toilet articles: Personal care products and medicine
Surftrip Tip 3 Watch how to surf movies
To get mentally ready for the surf trip get some knowledge about how to surf and this will help and inspire you. It will help you to get a better understanding of surfing, techniques and theoretical information. Also it will inspire you to see what is possible and set your goals for the next surf trip! Below there are some little movies with quality surf tips. There is way more to find on Youtube. Enjoy and get inspired!
- How to surf like a pro in 20 minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBmHlpliXfk
- Pop-up without your knee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK9t0bv9I_Y
- Angling the take-off: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GcoDRh2Ti0
- Making speed explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K85iw0PMg4w
- How to bottom turn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6TrKUuHgCc
- Learn turns on unbroken waves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPJzZjeWL_Y
Surftrip Tip 4 learn the surfers code
Before you go on a surftrip, make sure you know the rules. In that case everybody has fun in the water. Watch the surf rules in the video. Try to be nice and behave in the water, know that you are a visitor and behave as a good guest! Sharing waves is better then fighting over waves!
The surfers code:
- Right of Way: closes to the peak has the right of way/wave
- Don’t Drop In
- Don’t Snake or skip the line
- Don’t Get in the Way
- Do Not Throw Your Board
- Communicate What Will You Do
- Do Not Dive Head First
- Respect the Beach and the Ocean
- Give Respect to Gain Respect
Surftrip Tip 5 Learn the language
Learn some basic words. If you can communicate a little bit with the locals, they will be more friendly. They might even give you some waves and be happy to share some insights. Those few words will break the ice. It is oké,if you aren’t fluent. it is the effort that counts! Most people will change to English for a real conversation.
Some simple words and sentences in Spanish for those who are going to a Spanish speaking country
| Spanish | English |
| Hola | Hello |
| Buenos días | Good morning |
| Buenas tardes | Good afternoon |
| Buenas noches | Good night |
| Por favor | Please |
| Gracias | Thank you |
| Si | Yes |
| No | No |
| De nada | You’re welcome |
| Perdóneme | Excuse me |
| Lo Siento | I’m sorry |
| Spanish | English |
| Claro | Of course |
| Hasta luego | See you later |
| Adios | Goodbye |
| Saludos | Greetings |
| Hola, ¿cómo le va? | Hi, how have you been? |
| Encantado/a | Delighted [to meet you] |
| Hola, mucho gusto | Hi, nice to meet you |
| Hola, me llamo Juan | Hello, my name is John |
| Me llamo | My name is |
| ¿Cómo te llamas? | What’s your name? |
| Mucho gusto | Nice to meet you |
| ¿Cómo estás? | How are you? |
Common casual Spanish greetings
| Spanish | English |
| ¿Qué onda? | What’s up? |
| ¿Qué hay de nuevo? | What’s new? |
| ¿Qué tal? | What’s up?/How are you? |
| ¡Hasta luego! | See you soon! |
Basic Spanish questions
Meeting someone for the first time? Get to know them with these common informal conversation starters in Spanish.
| Spanish | English |
| ¿Cómo te llamas? | What is your name? |
| ¿De dónde eres? | Where are you from? |
| ¿Dónde vives? | Where do you live? |
| ¿Qué haces ahora? | What are you doing right now? |
| ¿Cómo hiciste eso? | How did you do that? |
| ¿Te gusta _______? | Do you like…? |
| ¿Y tú? | And you? |
Basic Spanish responses
| Spanish | English |
| Me llamo… | My name is… |
| Soy… | I am… |
| (Yo) soy de… | I am from… |
| (Yo) vivo en… | I live in… |
| Me gusta… | I like… |
| Spanish | English |
| Surfing (verb): | Surfeo or Surf |
| Beach: | La Playa |
| Surfboard: | La Tabla |
| Ocean (noun): | Mar |
| Water: | Agua |
| High Tide: | Marea Alta |
| Low Tide: | Marea Baja |
| Small waves: | Pequeñas olas |
| Big waves: | Grandes olas |
| Tubes or Barrels: | Tubos |
| Rocks: | Rocas |
| Sting Ray: | Pastinaca |
| Jellyfish: | Medusa |
| Spanish | English |
| Fish: | Pescado |
| Shark: | Tiburón |
| Boat: | Barco |
| Sand: | Arena |
| Wind: | Viento |
| Rain: | Lluvia |
| Sun: | Sol |
| Hot: | Caliente |
| Cold: | Frío |
| Right: | Derecho |
| Left: | Izquierda |
| Island: | Isla |
| Secret: | Secreto |
| Spanish | English |
| to surf | surfear or hacer surf |
| surfer | surfista |
| to catch (a wave) | agarrar (lit to grab) |
| wave | ola |
| cutback | recortar |
| Mmanoeuvres | maniobras |
| it’s crowded | hay muchas personas, está llena |
| aggressive | agresivo |
| style | estilo |
| good style | estilo bueno |
| a big wipeout | una caida espectacular |
| learning | aprendiendo |
| to paddle | remar |
| I wiped out, I fell off | me caí |
Surftrip Tip 6 Get stoked
Get Exited for the surf trip by watching a surf movie, see the different surf spots or all-ready checking the forecast
Watch a surf movie, movies like soul surfer, chasing mavricks, Step Into Liquid and, Andy Irons: Kissed by God will inspire you!
Check the forecast… click link below to check
Watch the waves on the surfspots close to your destination, via google or YouTube. You can also read about the surfspots or search for a surfguide of the area.
Surftrip Tip 7 book a surfcamp
Surf camps are a fantastic opportunities to improve your skills. You will get personalized tips from professional instructors. It becomes more of coaching rather than lessons, because the instructor will get to know you. He or she will guide you during the week and give the best advise. Furthermore you have a nice place to stay and al the surfgear you need. Most of the time there is a program, that you can join. Finally there are other surfers with whom you can socialize & share the stoke!
join A Surfcamp with WIbi Surf!
A week full of fun and surf! During the surf camp you will learn to surf better, in quality waves. During the week we help you surf with surf coaching, video-analyses and picturres. so you have proof of your surfing and progression! Also there is the possibility to do surfskating, yoga and even a massage!
Feel free to invite friends to join your trip! You’ll be able to share expenses and have a lot of fun, you can create the best memories together!
