A Guide to Planning the Perfect Surf Trip

A rite of passage in surfing is the ‘surf trip’. There is honestly nothing better in this world than loading up the van, punching in a coastal destination on Google Maps, dialing into your pre-made playlist on Spotify, and just letting the good times roll. To me it’s a sense of complete freedom. No matter what is going on in your life, a coastal road trip gives you the opportunity to ‘switch off’ from everything and just enjoy the moment. Some might call it therapeutic whilst others look at it as being exhilarating. Whatever the case may be, you have to be willing to embrace anything that is thrown at you, and understand that the ultimate goal is to score incredible waves with your friends and/or family.

Searching for waves

The key to a surf trip is to find empty waves. Easier said than done. But the beauty of having a van and an abundance of time is that you can search the coast for surf spots once considered pointless. Sure you can punch in some towns on Magic Seaweed and see what’s popular in the area, thus guaranteeing you a decent surf, but I feel it’s always better to find something of your own before resorting to the already established wave in the area. Remember, time is on your side. Just because a ‘secret spot’ isn’t firing the moment you lay eyes on it for the first time, doesn’t mean it won’t deliver some swell the following morning. Additionally, when said spot does eventually wake-up and produce the goods, it’s best to keep all social media turned off - for obvious reasons. At the end of the day, a surf trip is all about switching off and removing yourself from the constant communication and social grind that you face on a daily basis. Don’t ruin it by telling the world how amazing the wave is, because when you go back the following year, there is a strong possibility that the line-up will be crowded.

Bringing the right equipment on your surf trip

It’s always best to pack a couple of surfboards when you’re hitting the road for a few weeks. The first reason being that if one breaks, you’re going to need another, so you can continue to enjoy yourself. The other reason is that waves change. If you plan on clocking a few kilometres, chances are you’ll come across vastly different beach, reef and point breaks. So you’ll need a change of equipment in order to surf the wave the way it’s meant to be surfed. Two surfboards will be fine, but three will be even better. You’ll need to pack a lot of wax and some resin in case you get a ding in your surfboard. Personally, I don’t think there’s a real need to bring extra fins and leg ropes, as you’d be really unlucky if you managed to snap all your ‘leggies’ and lose a few fins. Basically, whatever you have on your board in the first place, should be fine for the duration of the trip.

Sleeping options on a surf trip

Pillows and sleeping bags are obviously a necessity. You’re going to be snoozing in your van every night, which is a lot different to your comfortable bed at home. So, you want to make it as pleasant and relaxing as possible. In most cases the ‘sleeping area’ is located at the back of the van. A big part of how much REM sleep you’ll get comes down to how good your mattress is. Given you’re going to be surfing all day every day it’s wise to ensure it’s of a decent quality. Otherwise you’ll be waking up sore and tired. I like to have the boot constantly open when I’m sleeping in a van for two reasons. The first is it allows for a breeze to move through the van, and the second is that when you wake-up, you’re literally looking at the surf. There is literally no better way to start the day in my opinion.

Food and drinks for a surf trip

If you’re going on a surf trip, you should already know how hungry and thirsty surfing makes you. Hence, it’d be wise to overstock. Your best friend for the duration will be coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. It’ll give you the strength to get out in the water every day. And if it happens to be cold in the morning, a hot cup of Joe will warm your body up and you’ll be good to go. Additionally, when you come in from your session, you’ll need to hydrate as the salty ocean will have done a number on you. Always have bottles of water handy. When it comes to food, bananas are your best friend, as well as all other fruits, plus eggs, bacon, cold meats, salads, steak, sausages and chicken. Basically when it comes to main meals, you’ll want meat that can be thrown on a BBQ. Because in case you didn’t know, there’s not really a gourmet kitchen in a van. Simplicity is key. One more thing you’ll want to stock - beers. But know this, you won’t be consuming a truck load each night. Sure you can try, but you will honestly be so cooked from surfing all day, you’ll have one beer and call it a night...

Fuel

Chances are you’re going to be off the grid when you’re on a surf trip. That means no petrol stations. The last thing you need is to break down in the middle of nowhere, without reception and endure the thought of wild animals coming for you in the middle of the night. Thus, fill up at least two jerrycans just in case the one thing you don’t want to happen, happens. And when you do come across a petrol station and you have half a tank left, it’s best to top up. Trust me.

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If you haven’t already started to plan your next (or first) surf trip then I suggest you do so. Not only will your surfing improve dramatically, but you’ll learn a lot about yourself as a person, and understand just how awesome the world is when you’re not dialed into technology 24/7. Surfing is something that should never be taken for granted. Even on the crappiest of days (surf-wise) you just have to stop and think that you could be stuck in the office crunching numbers. The worst day spent on the water, is better than the best day spent at work - to an extent.