6 Reasons to Get You from Thinking About Learning to Surf to Actually Getting out TherePerhaps you need a little convincing, a few inspirational reasons to get you in the water.

Chad Schwab


6 years ago in South Africa

Well, you clicked on the link and opened this blog. That’s a good start!  Perhaps you need a little convincing, a few words to nudge you into the water?

I was lucky enough to have a father who surfed. Like most 5-year-olds, my father was my hero. I would head down to the Ansteys Beach on weekends and watch him paddle into the ocean and come back to shore with the biggest grin on his face. That got me thinking, “I want to be this happy, all the time!”

When I was 6 he took me out for my first surf lesson and I have never looked back.
Not everyone is lucky to have surfing run in the family. However, there is very little holding you back from going down to your closest surf school, suiting up, waxing your board and starting today!.

Here are my Top 6 reasons to get in the lineup:

The Challenge

“Challenges increase the dopamine receptors in the brain, which makes you smarter, confident and bolder” – Ian H. Robertson.

I’m not saying that after your first surf you’re going to be as smart as Albert Einstein. The challenge surfing presents, whether it be popping up or landing that first air, releases Dopamine and Adrenalin, both the fundamental building blocks of confidence. I find after I have pushed myself in the water, I walk up the beach feeling that I can take on the world!

The Ocean, the best personal trainer

What an awesome way to get fit, lose some of those extra pounds or maintain that beach bod! The best part about surfing is you don’t realise you’re exercising. There are so many beautiful distractions and the ocean becomes a time warp. An hour of exercise in the ocean can seem like 5 minutes.

Clean living

Being outdoors, in the cool ocean, receiving a healthy amount of vitamin D and being refreshed and detoxified by the salt water is way better than sweating it out in a hot stuffy gym.

Close to nature

There are very few things better than sitting on your surfboard, between the waves, admiring the beauty all around you. It’s indescribable having a pod of dolphins swimming under you, watching a seal and her pup surf waves or just listening to the raw power of breaking waves exploding on a sandbank. Being so close to raw nature is a form of meditation for me. I most certainly feel the most alive and at peace when I’m in the water.

Sense of adventure

Sometimes heading down for a surf at your local beach isn’t all that easy. Often the swell, wind or tide aren’t in sync but that’s no reason to get your boardshorts in a knot. Being a surfer means you may need to travel to go find that perfect wave. Like they say, “It’s not always the destination but the journey”. Some of my best memories haven’t been in the water but rather on the road-trip with good mates listening to great tunes.

The best night’s rest

Lastly, one of the best reasons to start surfing is the restful sleep you have after a day in the water. Your body is tired from all the paddling and pop-ups and your mind is more peaceful after time with Mother Nature. Once your head hits the pillow, it’s straight to dreamland where you’ll probably be dreaming of the next day’s surf. 🙂

If that doesn’t get you amped to grab a board and learn to surf then I don’t know what will? I hope that was somewhat inspirational?