How often do you arrive at a completely unfamiliar, new spot and know nothing about the conditions there? Apart from the fact that you could/should first ask in the local surf store and talk to the locals, there is of course also the option of familiarizing yourself with the conditions in order to have as much fun as possible while surfing and to exclude or minimize all possible risks.
Behavior at a new spot
If you arrive at a new spot that you have never surfed before, you should first find out about the spot and take a close look:
- Bank formation and nature of the subsoil
- Rocks or corals, sharp edges, shallows, etc.
- Sandbanks and current (rip, longshore current)
- Direction and strength of possible currents
- Tidal influences on the spot
- Other dangers
- Lifeguard post or emergency call
Before you jump into the water, you should observe the following things again:
Spotcheck
- What is the current or are the currents straight?
- What are the wave height and wave refraction?
- How do the sets arrive? How long are the set breaks?
- How do other surfers behave?
- How strong is the shorebreak (the wave breaking directly onto the sand)?
Material check
- Is the leash undamaged?
- Are the fins fixed or are there cracks at the base?
- Is the board sufficiently waxed?
- Sunscreen, Food & drink, Warmed up?
- Are you in good mental and physical condition?
- Do you feel fit?
With the help of this small checklist, you can clarify many different points and be sure that you will have a lot of fun – safe surfing is always the best option! We haven’t even mentioned one variant of the spot check yet: the internet, e.g. at https://www.wannasurf.com/spot/index.html you can prepare yourself well in advance for the individual spots.
