Surfing

Surfing is a sport that spans all generational gaps and is truly a symbol of living freely and enjoying life. Surfers are laid back and don't have a care in the world except for what waves they can catch that day and how much fun they're going to have. No matter your age, you can go surfing and have the time of your life.

Surfing is done by standing on top of a long board, usually made from fiberglass, and riding waves as they catch you in the ocean. It takes quite a bit of practice to be able to get up on the board while it's moving and to stay balanced once you're finally up. You can easily hire a surfing instructor if you're in a tropical area or hot surfing spot and get the hang of it in a few hours or days. Surf boards come in two fairly standard types. There are standard surf boards which are for people of average or "regular" height and then there are long boards that, implied by the name, are longer than standard ones. These longer boards are either used for another type of surfing or for tall people that cannot fit on the regular board.

You lay on your surfboard stomach down and use your arms to paddle out to a prime spot in the ocean. You then sit on your board with your legs dangling on either side of it while waiting for a wave. It is often an unspoken rule that each wave that comes in "belongs" to the surfer that was there first. So depending on when you arrive to the surfing spot, you will have to wait in a "line" out in the water to wait for the next wave to take. Trying to surf on the same wave as other people without their consent is dangerous and may result in some unwanted conflict. Buying surfboards for a holiday isn't the smartest idea so if possible, by all means rent them. While they make nice souvenirs, until you know what you're doing there's no sense in spending an arm and a leg on a surf board. Surfing is perfect for anyone that loves the ocean and with a learning curve that instills a sense of accomplishment once you finally get it, you'll want to come back for more.