Fifty Things I Wish I Knew BEFORE I Started Surfing! #10. Surf Apps

When I started surfing, I didn't have the luxury of surf apps to help me plan my sessions. I had to rely on tide tables and news forecasts, which could have been more accurate and reliable. But now, with the power of technology, you can access real-time data and predictions on your smartphone. Surf apps can make a huge difference in your surfing experience if you know how to use them properly.

Some of the key features to look for in a surf app are: - Wave height: This tells you how big the waves are, measured from the trough to the crest. The higher the wave height, the more powerful and challenging the surf. - Water temperature: This tells you how cold or warm the water is, measured in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit. The water temperature affects your comfort, performance, and the type of wetsuit you need to wear. - Wind: This tells you how strong and in what direction the wind is blowing, measured in knots or miles per hour. The wind affects the shape and quality of the waves, as well as your paddling and balance. Generally, offshore winds (blowing from land to sea) create cleaner and smoother waves, while onshore winds (blowing from sea to land) create choppier and messier waves. - Tide: This tells you how high or low the water level is, measured in meters or feet. The tide affects the depth and shape of the waves and the accessibility and safety of particular spots. Generally, high tide creates fuller and softer waves, while low tide creates shallower and steeper waves.

With this information, you can plan your surf sessions according to your preferences and abilities. For example, imagine this scenario: You have a busy week at work and can only surf after 5 PM. The sun sets at 7:30 PM, and you live 20 minutes away from the beach. You check Surfline, one of the most famous surf apps, and it shows that the wind will be solid and onshore for most of the week, except for Thursday at 4 PM, when it will drop to less than 5 MPH and turn offshore for 5 hours. That's your window of opportunity! Forget about the laundry, dinner dates, yoga, or chit-chat with Mom - it's time to surf! Then you can do all those things later, around your surfing schedule. That's the surfer's life!

I will write more about the weather in my next posts. Stay tuned!

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