Surfing Tips by Ricky
Surfing is the best sport in the world. Simple. Now you have made the wise choice to think about giving surfing in Portrush a try, I thought I would share some tips with you!
Firstly lets start with the equipment you will need for surfing in Northern Ireland – all the equipment discussed in this section is provided free with each surfing lesson at Alive Surf School.
Wetsuits
Choosing the right wetsuit is really important. Wetsuits can seem a bit daunting to anyone who has never seen one before – strange rubber things that look like you need a degree to get into them, shorties, steamers, summer, winter, long arm, short leg…….the list goes on! DON’T WORRY – GETTING THE RIGHT WETSUIT IS SIMPLE IF YOU FOLLOW MY TIPS.
There are basically two types of suit you need to consider for surfing in Portrush, summers wetsuits and winter wetsuits. As you have probably guessed, a summer wetsuit is designed for people who want to go surfing in the summer months (May-September) and winter wetsuits are designed for the surfer who wants to go in all year round! When trying on a wetsuit remember – THE ZIP GOES UP THE BACK NOT THE FRONT! This is the most common mistake beginners make so remember this tip 
It is crucial that your suit is not to big and not too small, surfing in a wetsuit that is too small restricts the movement you have and surfing in a wetsuit that is too big can result in getting cold in the water.
OK, so you are now looking at the right section of the surf shop for your wetsuit – what to do next? Ask! All the guys in Woodies Surf Shop, Portrush, are experts with well over 20 years surfing experience and can answer any questions you have – they will make sure you get the wetsuit that is right for you. Gul wetsuits are the leading UK wetsuit company and Alive Surf School only uses their product as from years of experience they keep me cosier in the sea than anyone else
Surfboards & Bodyboards
If you have decided to buy a surfboard or a bodyboard and you are a beginner remember the key rule, do not buy an expensive board!! One of the most fun things about learning to surf is having a wipeout – they are part and parcel of surfing and will result in your boards taking a few knocks which will create ‘dings’ in your board. These dings can usually be repaired but why practice on an expensive board when a cheaper alternative will be just as good?!
Your first surf board should be big – long and thick. I know all the boards you see in the surfing movies are short and thin but you aint a professional (yet!) so what you need is a surf board that is buoyant and easy to paddle. A good size of surf board to learn on is around 7 feet long and 20 inches wide, it should be about 2.5 inches think. This all depends though on what size you are, a board for a 7 year old kid is going to be different to a 30 year old man. If in doubt when choosing a board always ask ask ask – Woodies is a great place to start and you can always call me too………
Buying your first bodyboard is pretty exciting – the surfing scene in Portrush was once completely dominated by bodyboarders (I was one of them) and Portrush has brilliant bodyboarding waves. Buying your board follows similar rules to surf boards – there is no need to buy a really expensive board when you are learning to surf, start with a basic model and as you improve you can upgrade The general rule is that you should stand your bodyboard on its end and if it reaches to your belly button that is the right board for you…..easy peasy!
Learning how to surf
The best way to learn how to surf is to come for a surfing lesson with Alive Surf School in Portrush. We are the longest running surf school in Northern Ireland and have been running surfing lessons for over 8 years. Our lessons typically last for 2 hours each and are a great way to learn how to surf in a safe and fun environment. We provide all wetsuits and surfboards/bodyboards, fresh water, suncream (if we are lucky enough to need it!) and even have homemade soup and hot chocolate for afterwards
All our instructors are past or present members of the Irish Surf Team and we have almost 40 years surfing experience between us, we are all qualified beach lifeguards and surf coach instructors and experts in having loads of fun!!