Surfing is a sport for all ages. It's a community ingrained activity that invites anyone and everyone to experience it. It’s the perfect sport to learn at home if you live by the beach, or while you are on holiday in an exotic location.
Whether you're an experienced or beginner surfer, middle-aged or have a young family, surfing is a sport that can and should be enjoyed by many.
Here at Wetsuit Centre, we pride ourselves on our shared advice and information, as well as our vast collection of watersports equipment. If you’re looking to buy wetsuits online, why not visit our online store?
When Can You Learn to Surf?
For those looking for a holiday that incorporates learning how to surf, whatever your age, whether you’ve glided past the age of 50 or you want to introduce your eight year-old to riding the waves, everyone can get in on the surf.
Although children of all ages can learn how to surf, the recommended age to introduce children to surfing is about eight. This is only because at this age they will quickly understand the concept of surfing and can catch their own waves independently. More importantly, it is essential that your child knows how to swim.
What Time of Year Should You Surf?
There’s no specific time of year that you should or shouldn’t surf. Technically there are waves all year round somewhere in the world.
However, if you’re looking for the warmest temperatures in the UK, we recommend around August and September, after the sun has spent the summer warming up the water.
In general, the summer is also great for beginner surfers, as waves tend to be small and gentle during this time of year and are perfect for those who are getting used to the water.
If you’re looking to catch the best waves then you will often find them during the winter season. The waves tend to be bigger, and the swells are much more reliable. If you’re looking to catch a wave while tackling the colder elements, we recommend taking a look at our mens and womens winter wetsuits.
Advice for Beginner Surf Holidays
If you’re unsure how to go about surfing, then it might be best to sign yourself up and whoever’s accompanying you on your adventure for a surf lesson or two. This way, your instructor can notify you of any local dangers, areas to avoid, and the best breaks in the area.
What to Look For When Choosing a Surf Location
We’ve listed some helpful factors to bear in mind when planning your surf holiday!
Lifeguarded Beaches
The most important part of your surf holiday is that you are kept safe. If you’re planning on heading out unsupervised then we highly recommend choosing a beach that is overseen by a lifeguard.
The RNLI offer a great information pack, which should be of interest for all surfers - beginner and experienced too. It consists of advice about beach safety. They even offer a list of lifeguarded beaches in the UK.
Research Local Area
Before hitting the waves, make sure that you’ve done enough research on the local area. You want to be sure of any potential hidden rocks, rip tides, as well as keeping up to date with the weather predictions and tides during your stay. Make sure you scope out the area and talk to local surfers and lifeguards; the more you know, the better.
Accommodation
Ideally, you want to be situated in an area close to the beach as this will allow you to quickly access the beach, meaning you can spend more of the day catching the waves, not to mention being surrounded by stunning coastal scenery.
If you’re a die-hard surfer then you’ll probably want to consider camping or setting up in the back of your van. Otherwise, if you’re looking for creature comforts after a tiring day in the sun and sea, you might want to check out the local accommodation for hostels, hotels, caravans or B&B’s.
We hope this article has helped you to ace a surf holiday for all ages. If you need any more information or advice, do not hesitate to contact us, we are always happy to help! You can find more articles relating to surfing locations, size guides and much more on our blog.
