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TIPS FOR THE WEEK
Surf Flat? What Now?
The Quiver
You’ve just endured the mental torture of consecutive flat days and you're at break breaking point when you wake up to a swell catching you off guard. Your favorite board still has some duck tape barely hanging on over a crack in the rail you’ve been putting off fixing for months. Three blocks worth of wax layered on your board has been on there for a few months that may as well be a cake of soap!
Tuning up your boards on these flat spells is always a good idea so you are ready for the next swell. Preparation is key and you want your equipment in the best condition possible. Get your quiver all tuned up so your ready for anything. Here’s your checklist:
Get some fresh wax on your board. Old wax is shit! Nothing beats a fresh wax job and too many layers of old wax will not only have less traction it will weigh your board down. Another good point to mention is to make sure you are buying the correct wax for the water temperature. For example, in Western Australia, I’m using one type of wax for the summer and a different block for the winter. If you're looking for a new tool to dewax your board then check out the latest innovation in tools to scrape the wax off your board. I’ve used this personally and find it works well, especially to get into all the small pressure dings. Check out Wax Fresh (this is not an affiliate link, just a good recommendation on a good product). Do you want to WIN yourself a Wax Fresh? If you're already a subscriber to The Lineup Newsletter then all you have to do is jump on Instagram, like the post, follow us, and tag a mate in this post: Wax Fresh Instagram Post
Wax Fresh
Have you been putting off fixing those small dings on your board? Rip off the duct tape and get the solarez or sun cure out. Stop being lazy, it is time to get those dings repaired and stop the water from seeping in and water-logging your board. Let your board dry out first if this is the case. Give your board a good inspection for other dings you may not be aware of. If you going to get your repairs done professionally then it’s always the best time when it’s flat because you know it won’t be getting done any sooner if there is surf!
If you’ve been sporting the same leash for a while it’s a good time to check it for any cuts and nicks. Best to check it now before the next swell turns up and bin it if it’s going to snap the next time it gets stretched. Secondly, don’t forget about the leash string. Make sure it is in good order. If it’s a bit old just change it out for a piece of mind and make sure it’s not too long that the rail saver isn’t doing its job.
Check your fins and the fin plugs. Check to see if your fins are fixed and the fin plugs are good and not cracked. It’s easy to knock your fins into the reef or rocks and not think much of it. A cracked fin plug could see you bust your fin out as you rip a big turn!
Lastly, give your board a good wipe down nose to tail and top to bottom. Get your weapon looking sharp and aerodynamic. You want your board like a hot knife cutting through butter!
Wetsuits
Unless you are disciplined about rinsing your wetsuits out in freshwater as David Goggins is about running then you should use this time to give your wetsuit a quick inspection. Letting your wetsuits dry out while they are soaked in seawater will degrade your wetsuits faster over time. Seams will become weaker and you are likely to get a tear at the ends of the arms and legs when you frantically try to force your limbs into a wetsuit that’s as stiff as a board and rough as 50-grit sandpaper. Get yourself into a good habit of getting your suit rinsed out when you are done for the day. If you’ve found any small tears or holes get them repaired and patched up before it becomes a bigger problem. You might just have someone local that can do it for you for cheap. If you're in Perth, W.A. Google JAM Wetsuits, good quality work for a super reasonable price!
Physical Conditioning
It’s no surprise to learn that the best training for surfing is surfing itself. Unless you have your own personal wave pool every surfer will go through a drought when the surf is like a lake. So, when the surf is flat is a good opportunity to give the body a tune-up. You should have already adopted a regular conditioning program however on the days of surfing this can be considered part of your training for that day, but its always a good idea to have some sort of recovery protocol. This may include a stretching routine or even an ice bath. If you want to elevate your surfing and reduce the chance of injury do some research on sport specific training programs to keep yourself in good physical condition.
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