How to plan a successful day surfing

Planning a successful day surfing can be logistically challenging and intimidating, especially for beginner surfers. After all, there are a lot of factors to keep track of.

You want to choose the right surf spot, make sure the surf conditions look alright, pack and transport your surf gear (or rent gear), and pack everything else you need for a fun time!

Putting all these pieces into place can feel overwhelming. Just like surfing itself, the logistics of planning a successful surf day are learned over time and get easier with experience.

Fortunately, there are many tips that you can learn ahead of time that will help your overall surfing experience be more enjoyable.

I have been surfing casually for 8 years, and have made my fair share of mistakes during the process. To help you avoid these same mistakes and improve your surfing experience, here are 6 steps to plan a successful surf day for beginner surfers.

See the end of this article for a full checklist of items you need for a successful day surfing

Table of Contents

1. Set aside some time

To go surfing you’ll have to set aside some time in your schedule. The entire surfing experience can take a while, and may be more of a commitment than many people realize. Surfers spend anywhere from 30 minutes to 6+ hours in the water during a typical day surfing.

Outside of the water, you’ll need time to pack up your gear, get to the beach, hang out, get home, and unpack your gear. You’ll have to take all this into account when planning your surf day.

As a beginner, you should probably set aside an entire day. That’s usually the best way to make the most of the experience. You will have plenty of time to surf and hang out on the beach. You can also end the day with a bite to eat and a beer at a local restaurant or have a bonfire and watch the sunset.

So clear your schedule on a Saturday or take a weekday off. That way, you won’t be rushed by other commitments. However, if you must run off to other obligations, make sure you give yourself plenty of time in the water. You don’t want to cut your surf session short!

If you’re feeling adventurous, you could even camp the night before, and surf the following day. This is a great way to split up the drive if you live a little ways from the coast or if you just want to spend more time at the beach!

2. Choose a spot to surf

So you’ve put aside a day or more to hit the beach. Now you need to decide which beach! Depending on your location, you may have a lot of options or you may be limited.

Maybe you already have a place in mind. If you don’t, search for information online, ask friends, or call a local surf shop for guidance. Websites like Magicseaweed and independent blogs are good places to start, but it’s often helpful to talk to someone too.

Wherever you are, you’ll want to find a surf spot that is suitable for your skill level. Surf spots often correlate to skill level. Many spots are known to be great for beginners while some are typically only for experts.

However, many surf spots are appropriate for all skill levels. You just want to make sure you don’t go somewhere beyond your abilities.

3. Check the conditions

You’ve marked a surf day on your calendar. You’ve chosen a spot to surf. Now, you need to check the surf conditions. You’ll have to look up a surf forecast and make sure that the conditions are suitable.

Surf forecasts aren’t always exact, but they give you a good idea of the conditions. Check the forecast anytime within 5 days before the big day. If everything looks alright, you’re good to go. But there’s a chance that you’ll want to call off your plans. Sometimes, it just isn’t worth it if the conditions are bad.

To check the surf conditions you’ll want to look up a surf forecast. The main items to look at are the wave size, the period, and the wind. At some spots the tides are important as well. I won’t go into all the details of reading a surf forecast here as that is a whole article in itself.

In brief, look for waves 2-4 feet high, a period larger than 8 seconds, and wind less than 15 miles per hour. These are decent conditions that should be suitable for a beginner at most surf spots.

If you don’t know how to read a surf forecast, there is a lot of helpful information online that you can find. You can always ask a friend or call a surf shop if you want another resource. Of course, you’ll also want to check the weather, as well as potential rose or beach closures.

4. Gather your gear

So the conditions look good for your surf day. Or maybe you’ve said screw it and you’re going anyway. Either way, you’ll need to gather your surf gear. This step will look a lot different if you own your own gear or if you have to rent.

If you are renting gear, you don’t have to worry about packing your own! Of course, you will have to swing by a surf shop to pick up rental equipment. Surf shops have different rental timelines.

Some offer single day rentals and require the gear back by the end of the day; 5 pm for example. Find a place to rent gear and give them a call to ask about the rental schedule.

If you are bringing your own gear, pack it! Go through the checklist at the end of this article to make sure you don’t forget anything. If you live near colder waters, don’t forget your wetsuit.

Everyone has different ways of packing their wetsuit down to the beach and out at the end of the day. I use a good old fashion reusable grocery bag. Functional and economical!

5. Don’t forget the food

What is a successful surfing day at the beach without snacks? All that paddling and wiping out will leave you, well, wiped out! You’ll want to replenish your strength with some well earned calories. My go to is a veggie sandwich with some pretzels and a bar of chocolate. Whatever you do, don’t forget the food.

Food is great, but you’ll need water too. When you’re working hard in the water, you may not realize when you’re dehydrated. I bring at least two liters and sometimes more for myself if I’m going to be at the beach for more than 4 hours.

You can always leave some extra in the car if you run out down on the beach. Trust me, it is such a bummer to cut a surf day short because you don’t have enough food or water. Don’t make this mistake!