Surfing Waves for Beginners: Surfing Apparel, Board Shorts and Surf T Shirts vs. Wetsuits and Speedos

Today in the 'How to of surfing waves for beginners' i just wanted to ramble a little bit about surfing apparel, surf t shirts, surf shorts, board shorts and wet suits. Have you heard that saying 'clothes makes the man?' This is not necessarily true when it comes to surfing, although i must admit that a surfers wardrobe is pretty laid back. Although not totally pertinent to beginning surfers and learning how to surf i must mention that having the right apparel while in the water makes paddling, and catching waves so much easier. I'm sure tons of guys have tried surfing with a speedo and have probably thought that it was the best way to surf. I agree! I've surfed in surf shorts and a shirt but must admit that surfing with just a bathing suit or bikini is so much easier. I feel lighter, cooler, and not obstructed by any clothing or fabric. It's gotta feel the same for guys--have you ever wondered--? Maybe it will be the fad of the future? Maybe Quicksilver will bring out their line of men's speedos for 'ultimate wave riding' ah the thought.

As a teen i didn't really have a style, and when i first started surfing i felt like i needed to adopt that surfer style. Surfers looked so cool. So i went out and bought surf t shirts, and looked for cute surfer girl outfits, i so wanted to be looked at and recognized as a surfer. I didn't really need to, but i felt that was a good way to fit in. But, it didn't matter what I wore, I was still a surfer. I think sometimes we get judged by the way we look, and if we do not fit the part, we can't possibly be this, or that. So I guess my point is be yourself! Okay that was random.

If your looking for some good surf t shirts Quicksilver, Billabong, Rusty, Roxy are all top surfer companies that have high quality and affordable t shirts. My favorite though are the long sleeve surf t shirts, usually after a surf you can put one on and I just think that they are comfortable. These companies sell their products online or through retail and sometimes you can find good deals. Its not often that you will wear a t shirt in the water, if your surf spot is usually cold year round you'll be wearing a wetsuit, if its warm surf then its 'half nakedness' year round(you know what i mean). If you've seen someone with a t shirt on while surfing most likely it is because
A. They don't want to show their flab
B. Are prone to chaffing
C. Did not put on sunscreen and hope that the shirt will protect them from U.V rays
D. They are trying to keep warm.
The answer is 'false'.
These are all valid reasons for wearing a t shirt in the surf, there's nothing wrong with it, but it does slow you down while surfing, and you can still chaff.

The other hot topic for this post are board shorts, or surf shorts. As much as i love surfing in a bikini, I wear board shorts on colder days when the water is a little bit chilly. I used to have a favorite board short, it was a hand me down from my brother, but they were the absolutely most comfortable, stretchy, loose, beautiful surf shorts i ever had, i loved them. That being expressed, its important to find a good pair of surf shorts. Surf shorts can be found everywhere, even in Walmart-how wonderful! And you even get a choice of elastic or tie, hard decision right. Although i despise elastic board shorts it is a matter of taste, and may be comfortable for certain people. I personally like wearing mens surf shorts because there's a lot of variety, and they are not too tight. In contrast womens board shorts are stylish but don't have a lot of variety. The surf stores that i mentioned above sell all these things so they are really easy to find. They even sell kids surfshorts-its like the baby gap of surfing stores.

To reiterate find something comfortable that you can wear in the water whether its a t shirt and surf shorts, or just a bikini, or a speedo-watever floats your board. Surfing is all about being comfortable and being able to move. As far as surfer fashion you can do it or not, most surfing companies create clothes that fit well and feel good, so if not for fitting in with the crowd, get these clothes because of the latter.

Surfing waves is all about feeling good, when your at your maximum height of inner peace, you will perform well out in the ocean. That's all for right now. In a later post on 'how to surf waves for beginners' we will contemplate the wetsuit.