As a surfing beginner, you have probably fantasized about how it feels to go surfing alone and be out in the waters just with nature.
To some, it seems like a peaceful adventure where you forget about the rest of the world, while others see it as an anxiety-filled, scary experience.
So, Is It Safe to Surf Alone as A Beginner?
No! you should never think about surfing alone if you don’t have significant experience as a surfer. As a beginner, you are still unfamiliar with the sea and how to properly control your board, making the sea a dangerous place for you. While there are times you might not have an option if you have no one to learn surfing with, this is a dangerous idea, you should ensure to stay close to the shore and surf the broken waves, surf on calm waters, have someone looking at you in case you need help and keep some distance from other surfers. Generally, you should wait until you get experience and high confidence to go out surfing alone.
What Are the Pros of Surfing Alone?
Surfing alone is enthralling and features many benefits. Any individual that decides to go surfing alone does it for their reasons.
However, some of the pros of surfing alone include;
1. More Space For Self Expression
Surfing can sometimes be a very intimidating sport. Seeing other people speed down waves, doing perfect bottom turns, and kicking out stuff that looks like meters of air time, can make you hold back.
When you are in water alone, nobody will judge you, and you are less likely to feel intimidated.
You will be free to try new moves, express yourself, and not get discouraged if you fail the first time. When surfing alone, you have enormous opportunities to gain new skills.
2. No Struggle for Waves
Another main reason why surfers prefer going solo is the lack of competition.
Being a solo person to a particular section of the waters will give you a chance to pick and select the breakers you surf on.
You can hence be able to ride the best surfs as long as you want and allow the smaller breaks to pass by.
3. Connect More With Nature
Spending your time alone enjoying nature has been revealed to have massive benefits to our overall health.
Even more, surfing alone gives a chance to thoroughly anticipate and appreciate life and the nature surrounding you, which can even be more beneficial.
Surfing alone is similar to forest bathing alone as you sit quietly on the mountain top.
4. Decrease The Dangers Presented By Other Surfers
The danger of surfing alone falls under both the benefits and disadvantages.
As a pro, when you are the only individual in the sea area, you will have a zero chance of colliding with other surfers. A higher number of surfing injuries result from collisions.
Also, surfing with the locals applies when evaluating if surfing is dangerous.
Surfing with local, territorial surfers means claiming all the best waves, which can sometimes become aggressive.
What Are the Disadvantages of Surfing Alone?
Although surfing alone comes with many benefits, there are some shortcomings to consider before hitting the waters with no other individual in the area.
These include;
1. Having No One To Watch Your Back
One of the main reasons surfing alone is not recommended is that no one will help you if something terrible happens to you.
Immediately you get into the ocean; you stop being in control.
Anything wrong can happen in a blink of an eye, from hitting your head on your board and getting a concussion to feeling dizzy and light-headedness.
If there are surfers in the ocean, you are most likely to call them for help, and in the case you can’t call for help, it is more likely they will help you if they notice anything unusual.
2. Competing With Others Makes Us Better
Like any other step, competition helps to improve our motivation.
Seeing a friend surf better than you will motivate you to improve.
More so, if there is stiff competition for every wave, you will try and ride smoother, paddle harder and get to the back as quickly as possible.
While the lack of competition makes most surfers prefer surfing solo, the lack of competition can stagnate your journey for improvement.
3. Difficult To Push Your Limits
Constant practice and pushing our limits make us perfect.
In this case, paddling out on a day when the breakers are more significant than you have ever faced or daring a strong rip current may be daunting but can help to improve your surfing skills.
However, pushing your surfing limits alone with friends to encourage and cheer you on will probably make you extra cautious or even not try to go over the massive break in the first place.
How To Be Safer and Have Fun When Surfing Alone
If you want to go surfing alone, it’s essential to know the safety precautions you need to take before hitting the waves. Some of the safety measures to keep in mind include;
1. Select The Right Weather
Surfing alone in rainy weather is never a good idea.
Rain makes you less visible to people enjoying the beach, as well as the fact that sharks love hunting in stirred-up water.
Although you are surfing alone, it is always essential to have someone checking you out from the shore.
2. Choose The Ideal Time Of The Day
Going surfing at dawn or dusk is beautiful.
However, it increases your risk of being attacked by sea life.
More so, you should not go surfing alone at night. The best time to surf alone is during daylight hours, although the midday sun can sometimes be scorching.
3. Surf A Section You Know
You should never hit the oceans alone if you have not surfed before if it is on the spot.
When alone, do it in a break that you know well, how the marine floor is like the direction of the breaks, the way the currents work, and how they move along the coastline.
The more you know the section, the fewer surprises you can expect and the safer it will be.
4. Select The Right Waves
While it is necessary to push your limits higher, this is not the right time.
Always surf in the type and magnitude of surfs you are conversant with. It’s the time to experience a quiet time but not try new things out.
5. Bring Some Music
Surfing with others while listening to music can make it riskier.
However, when alone, you have no one to worry about.
6. Inform Others Of Your Whereabouts
It is always essential to tell a loved one where you are going.
Also, it will be a great idea to tell a non-surfer buddy to come with you and hang out on the beach as you surf in case of anything.
Bottom Line
Ultimately, surfing alone as a beginner is not safe.
However, once you gain sufficient experience, you should consider it at some point.
Related
Reference
New to surfing. Is it safe to go alone? – Reddit.com
Surfing alone? (As a beginner)- Surfing Waves
Do surfers learn to surf by themselves alone? – Quora.com