In an ideal world, all of us would be at the beach seven days a week. But in real life, that’s just not possible. It’s physically hard to surf every day, especially for beginners or even intermediate surfers.
Generally speaking, beginners should surf at least once weekly to maintain their skills and progress. If you wish to surf more often, 2-3 times per week is ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers. Ultimately, it’s best to listen to your body and not overdo it.
Ultimately, the ideal number of times per week to go surfing varies from person to person, so find a frequency that works for you and your lifestyle.
Before we start, I am not trying to annihilate all your dreams of a seven-day surf week single-handedly.
Let’s discuss how many surfers usually make their way to the beach and why they do so.
How often should YOU surf to skill up?
If you keep asking yourself how often you should surf, remember the answer is plain and simple, “as often as you can.” There is no skill ceiling when it comes to surfing, as we are yet to explore all the wild possibilities of the sport.
But how do the pros do it? Surely they are the best surfers among us. Are they all going for it seven days a week? They try to, but nature is a hindrance we mortals can’t comprehend or control.
Usually, pros have practice runs at least 5 days a week, but they can attend training even when the waves aren’t on their team. You must keep your stamina up and prepare for the next session, so the gym is the way to go!
What’s holding them back from going out and surfing the whole week-round? There are a few key factors that make surfing impossible at times. Let’s have a look at those.
Why don’t all surfers surf seven days a week?
Surfing can be a hobby for one and the bread and butter for another. Usually, you don’t want to go out of your way 7 days a week to ride the waves if surfing is a mere hobby. Otherwise, living without hitting the beach daily is a hefty maneuver if you’re a professional.
Despite the obvious lack of proper waves on certain days, a few reasons, such as surfer’s eye and UV exposure, hold people back from surfing all week. Let’s go through the pros and cons to decide how viable it is to surf every day.
Pros of Surfing All Week
1. Health and Fitness
Surfing is well aligned with athleticism. It’s not for everybody for a reason. You will make your muscles work hard to keep yourself afloat, one of the hardest forms of cardio.
As you paddle your way through, your shoulder muscles give you company. You rely on your core, hamstrings, and quads as you stand up and surf the wave. Surfing daily means you are training to become a fitter version of yourself.
Surfing can get exhausting, like any other activity that demands high stamina. Make sure to hit the gym occasionally to keep your muscles ready and well-equipped for the challenges out in the water.
2. Practice
Certain things in all kinds of sports require you to have at least a little bit of muscle memory. Practice is what refines your muscle memory so that you can add more techniques to your arsenal and execute them accurately.
You must practice regularly to skill up or stay in touch with surfing. People who surf every day are more likely to assess themselves in more efficient ways that ultimately help them get better.
3. Self-assessment
The key to improvement lies in self-evaluation. It’s more complex than surfing every day. You need to point out your mistakes and work on them.
Surfing every day implies more practice, but repeating the same mistakes is not beneficial. Notice your weaknesses and start working on them. You can hire a coach for some help with the same.
Consistency goes a long way if you wish to become a professional. Although constant improvement requires lots of self-evaluation, you should recognize that it also leads to a lot of stress.
The key here is to find a balance, make some lifestyle changes, start eating healthy, and start having refreshing walks surrounded by nature. Otherwise, if you are looking to let go of your already existing stress while at the beach, you can cut yourself some slack.
Cons of Surfing All Week
1. Exposure to the sun
The sun at the beach is scorching hot. That may be why people tend to relax under tents that give them shade. While a sunbath is relaxing, it’s certainly not pleasant to have the sun sucking your energy out while surfing. But sadly, that’s something we can only avoid at some times.
While the sun’s heat is tiring to surf in, it’s nowhere as harmful as UV exposure. If you surf 7 days a week, you’re signing up for unhealthy exposure to harmful ultraviolet radiation. Wetsuits can help you counter UV rays to a great extent.
Remember that a sun that feels less hot than usual doesn’t always imply low UV radiation. The longer the exposure period, the harsher the harm it does. Sunscreens help you avoid UV rays to some extent; check their SPF rating.
2. Fatigue
Surfing every day means you’re entering the realm of the ultra-sporty. It’s not for everyone. Some of us have work, some of us live far away from the beach, and some of us have long recovery periods.
Fatigue is a factor everyone must consider before deciding to surf all week long. If you live far from the beach, you’ll put extra effort into traveling. Now imagine that long drive to the beach and back home, seven days a week. Things can get tiring, and that’s where the fatigue steps in and leaves you craving rest.
For those who got long work hours, it could be better to hope to surf the whole week round. You can adjust here and get a proper surfing schedule, settling for around 2 to 3 days per week.
3. Amplified Risk Factors
Cold water, scary, unpredictable waves, surfer’s eye, and fierce marine wildlife increase the chances of all the threats when you consider surfing seven days a week.
You are much more likely to run into each of those incidents, especially if you’re not performing your best because of all the fatigue.
How to make a surfing schedule?
You must assess your availability, skill level, and the amount of stress you can handle mentally and physically. That’s the proper way to determine the number of days you should surf every week.
For a general estimate, you’re in the ballpark if you’re surfing around 2 to 3 days a week. But remember that it’s different for everyone, even for the same person; every other week can vary widely based on your lifestyle.
Consider your tasks and commit to them for a set amount of hours. I classify things as habits, dailies, and to-do(s). For instance, your morning routine can be considered a habit, including yoga, walking your dog, etc.
Dailies include things you do regularly, such as office work, sports, gym, a walk, or a trek. On the other hand, to-do’s is the category where surfing fits in. It’s for stuff you do within a week, but there is no particular daily barrier.
Adding surfing to your to-do list helps you have a more flexible approach. You can decide your timings and account for weather abnormalities without disappointing yourself or hurting your schedule.
Sportsmanship is an honor. You should be proud of your skills and work on improving them further. Efficiency plays a key role in terms of improvement, so make sure to take that into account. Good luck chasing waves!
Expert QnA
Q. Can I surf without a wetsuit?
You can surf without a wetsuit. Rash vests and swimsuits are great alternatives. But keep in mind that a wetsuit adds an extra layer of protection.
A good wetsuit will not only protect you from harmful UV rays, but the thick neoprene layer will also give you extra buoyancy making it easier to stay afloat if you fall off your board.
Q. How safe is surfing?
Surfing is statistically safer than most other watersports, but remember that this is because, ideally, all surfers are expected to know how to swim properly. If you can swim, your paddling will be good, and you will have a plan B in an emergency.
While surfing is relatively safe, that is no reason to ignore the safety precautions. Keep your gear up-to-date and make sure nothing is broken. Make sure you have a proper grip on your surfboard.
Choose your breaks wisely. While a reef break might seem amazing with its consistent waves, it could be better if you fall off your board at one.
Q. What is an ideal temperature to surf in?
The atmospheric temperature you wish to surf in is subjective. If it’s too hot to handle the sun at the beach on a certain day, you won’t be comfortable surfing in that weather.
Water temperature, however, is a different case. The temperature of the water determines the surfing gear you should go for, especially wetsuits. To avoid being surprised mid-action, check proper charts for wetsuit thickness.
It goes without saying that to determine the perfect one. You must try different kinds of wetsuits with different thicknesses. How you feel in a wetsuit in the water and outside of it can vary a little from what the charts describe, but you will have an estimate to work with.
Q. Is it safe to surf as a teenager?
Surfing is for all ages, as long as you know what you’re doing. If you are 15 or below, ensure you have an experienced adult with you.
