Posts Tagged ‘hobbies’

Wave Surfing Etiquette

by S.G.R.B

In surfing, no matter if you have become an expert in the sport, there are basic things you have to think of all the time. These are the five things that you should know as you go surf wave:

Always be cordial to the local surfers- Most of us are passionate about our hobby and love to spread the knowledge. This goes for any hobby but most especially for those with tight knit communities. A lot of surfers are willing to teach you on the ins and outs of the sport, the tides of the local beach, tips in paddling out into the water without being pounded to a sand bar and the courtesies involved in it. If you are new in the sport, ask for help.

Get yourself the right board for the area- if the area is only for small surf wave, don’t get yourself a short surf board. Short boards often plow through the water and makes it difficult to paddle fast in catching small waves. Small boards often feature the stomp pad found on the back which is used for tight maneuvers like cutbacks. When you are unsure about what board to get, you can ask for the help of the surf-shop employees of the shop found in your locality.

Make use of wax that’s suitable to your conditions- This is significant. One of the things to frustrate you is when you are out in the water and you start slipping off the surf board since you are using the wrong type of wax. There are two kinds of wax, typically. Cold water wax is said to be softer and more sticky than wax used for warm water. If this water is cold enough for this kind of wax not to melt, use it. Warm weather can pose a problem to the cold water wax because of its low melting point and it will run off the board which makes your fiberglass board slippery making you fall off the board every time you try to stand on it.

Surf the break outside- there are a number of new surfers who are surfing the shore break. This happens to be the most common mistake. These are not the waves for people who surf. If you ride these you sure are not to get any significant ride. You might also risk your surf board for getting damaged if you surf the shore break- the skeg or the stabilizing fin at the bottom of the surfboard might get caught in the sand and snap off sending you flying off to the sand. Look for the sand bars where the waves break away from shore. This enables you to surf wave on the deep enough water over the sand bar without breaking the surf board. It provides you the chance to maneuver.

If you live in a cold climate, do not go surfing in winter – It may be tempting, and the waves are often best in winter. Most surfers do go surfing during the winter but that is not a good thing to do. Surfing in cold water in winter can develop a condition called “surfer’s ear.” This is that growth in the ear that would let you lose an essential amount of hearing in that specific ear. It’s caused by cold water that gets into the ear canal. Surfing waves during winter is definitely not worth the risk.

Various Types Of Waves For Surfing Adventures

by S.G.R.B

Surfing is now a popular sport acclaimed by people from different parts of the globe. It allows for an adrenaline rush for those who seek for thrills. Surfing same as all other sports requires techniques specifically for any surfer to perform it well.

Like any other sport it has its own origins but in surfing there are no clear details of how it started and who invented int. But James King, an American expeditionist, had some accounts dating back 1779 of seeing locals from Kealakekua Bay in the Hawaii Island riding on the waves with the use of wooden boards. It is even believed that the best surfer was heralded as the chief and he owned the best board.

In the modern days, surfing has become widely accepted with a lot of followers, in fact, it has been considered to be part of the Olympic Games, even though it’s still subject to a lot of debates. Basically, surfing holds a lot of promises for this sport’s enthusiasts as well as for those who would love surf adventures. But what does one has to do for him to turn into a master?

Same as in any other sport, one should know the game well, just like a mountaineer before he goes on that climb must first know the terrain of the mountain he’s climbing in the same way before a surfer has surf adventures, he must be introduced first with the different kinds of waves. You must be wary of your ssfety first before you decide to put up a show since not all waves are suitable for surfing. There are basically three different waves and one of them is called the shore dump wave which rises when it’s already near the shore and it has a sharp rise but can’t hold that long as it slams back again in the shallow part with a huge impact. This type of waves is not suited for surfing as it might cause injuries to any surfer and to those who are swimming on the shallow areas as well.

Another type of wave is the rolling waves, the type that starts from the deep ocean going off to shore with moderate intensity and it doesn’t fall down so soon thus giving surfers enough time to ride the waves. This kind of wave is quite suitable for surf adventures.

Finally, we have surging waves, these are the not so high ones and they continue to hit the beaches and oftentimes an indication of a coming storm.

Now being familiar with the different types of waves, you can now go out and make your own surf adventures and make them into great memories. But make sure of your safety still so you’ll still have the chance to tell people about your surf adventures.

Principles In Learning To Surf

by S.G.R.B

Are you interested in learning to surf? Surfing appeared to have taken the world like a large wave.  Same as the huge swells, each time you put those feet on the surfboard, a new and exciting adventure awaits you. Perhaps you have taken interest in the sport that has become a lifestyle, yet you don’t really know surfing 101. It’s significant that you are familiar with its guiding principles.

Take note that you are just like a sand particle and the vast ocean would be like it could swallow you whole.  It’s never just about yourself but most importantly the wide world that surrounds you. Always be attuned to the twist and turn of your natural environment.

Believe in what your instinct tells you.  With your awareness of the huge expanse that surrounds you, you can react and respond alertly to it. One great thing that leads to fatality is the panic that results from being not aware. Preparedness also comes from the understanding that not everything around you can be controlled.

 Learning to surf is always the equivalent to getting wet so be ready always. This is the beginning of fun. Conquer those large waves and say to the ocean that you’re ready to get into the huge expanse of water.  Of course, before you set off into it, make sure that you are equipped with the right knowledge of the basics of surfing. Be determined and always keep safe.  Your own surfing instructor must stick with you when you paddle out into the ocean and he should be around in your first few tries of getting wet.

With surfing, you must know about the basics and be able to figure out how you can cultivate it.  Open yourself up to learning new and better things.  Don’t be ashamed to ask people especially those who are considered as experts in this field. Being receptive to the idea of learning new things is welcoming the possibility of the newbie you turning into an expert.

With all these things, you can be sure to explore the surfing world with greater ease.  All surfers begun with their humble beginnings. These don’t make learning to surf an easy thing.  Time and practice is of the essence in the surfing world. Your feet as they settle on those boards won’t be able to function if you don’t understand a thing about the principles of surfing. As much as it is an extreme sport, much care must be given to ensure the surfer’s safety.

Now that you have learned the basics of surfing perhaps it’s the right time you look for that perfect swell and the perfect people to help you get into the world of surfing fast. Always be willing to take note of these principles and realize that learning to surf is your best chance to having that great adventure.

4 Factors To Think Of In Taking Award-Winning Surf Pictures

by S.G.R.B

Photography as an art of taking pictures is always enjoyable for the one taking it and the ones who look at them as well. The photographers would love the fun in searching for the right angles and the proper lighting to have breath-taking shots while the ones to watch it would love to observe and marvel at its uniqueness and search some possible hidden meanings.

Photography may be anyone’s hobby and anyone can be taught to do it as well. Normally beginners would start at taking still pictures like sceneries or flowers because it’s easier to find a good angle, but have you ever wondered how pictures in sports events are taken? Since these have moving subjects, in the same manner have you ever thought about taking surf pictures in competitions? If you are a sucker for surf pictures then these four easy tips can help you in taking award-winning shots not only in surfing but for photograpjhy in general.

First is that 99% of quality is based on the lighting aspect; when taking shots be sure to do it at the right time, which is early sunlight, since most high-quality surf pictures are taken during this time. Sunsets may be a good time for these pictures since you can easily find a silhouette of a surfer that can make it more artistic. When it’s cloudy and the sun is overcast, you can make use of the camera’s black and white feature. Color can be dull during overcast so it’s much better to have them taken out. Take note that the sun is considered as the photographer’s best friend.

Second thing is the equipment which makes good cameras are tantamount to great photos but it doesn’t mean they are expensive. You can still find good quality cameras which are not that costly. When you want to get into the water and take surf pictures in great detail or just to have a piece of the action then you must provide a good housing for your cam to prevent it from being soaked in water.

Third, you can still take lovely shots in the shore. Take a quick stroll and look around you for some good spots with a great angle. You can select wide shots and not only focus on zooming in. Be sure to use anything found in the foreground like a person, a tree or anything and set your focus on the surfer in the background.

Lastly, practice is the key; when taking surf pictures timing is everything there is to it. You should be at the right time and place for you to take great shots of a surfer. You need a lot of practice for you to achieve this. Then continue to take shots and consistently look at your own work and se if you like them. Think about how you can make the shot look better. Digital photography is getting more popular each day so it’s better to try it.

Choosing Your Scuba Diving Equipment

by S.G.R.B

There are several types of diving masks such as full face diving masks that allow underwater verbal communication, diving helmets using surface supplied diving equipment etc. Prescription masks are also available for people who wear prescription glasses.

The Fins allow you to move freely underwater and should perfectly fit the feet. It should neither be too tight nor too loose which can hamper swimming capabilities, be very uncomfortable and even dangerous while taking a dive. The snorkel lets you breathe at the surface without raising your head from the water, and should be no lesser than 30 cms in length. The weight belt helps you maintain buoyancy so you should consider getting one if you’re a beginner.

Scuba Sets:

There are two main types of scuba sets ?open-circuit and closed-circuit.

Most scuba divers use standard air – 21% Oxygen, 79% Nitrogen ?for their open-circuit scuba sets, which is much more cost-effective than using mixtures such as heliox and trimix. The open-circuit scuba set (also known as Aqualung) itself is quite simple so is also cheaper and more popular than other types. Basically, the user breathes in from the set and out to waste, with the gas cylinder worn on the back. There are 2- and 3 backpack cylinders open-circuit scuba sets available.

Closed-circuit scuba sets use rebreathers. In this system, exhaled air is reprocessed by the rebreather to make it fit for re-inhalation. This can be very economical for people who need to take long dives. The three types of rebreathers include oxygen, semi-closed circuit and fully-closed circuit rebreathers.

Accessories you should consider:

Regulator and Buoyancy Compensator (BC) ?The regulator, which carries the air from your cylinder, should be equipped with a gauge and second mouthpiece. The Buoyancy Compensator, such as such as a back-mounted wing or stabilizer jacket, is crucial for neutral buoyancy to control depth.

Dive watch: Electronics like a dive watch comes in quite handy when measuring your time and depth underwater. A dive computer is also available for the same purpose which is more accurate but more expensive.

If you plan to really move head with your scuba diving adventure, consider getting other useful accessories such as underwater light, a surface marker-buoy (SMB), a knife, and a compass etc. Experienced divers, Scuba Dive centers, websites, magazines, etc will all be able to assist you when searching for the right scuba diving equipment and accessories.

The author is a bodybuilding exercise coach and his latest ecommerce is selling contact lens and train horn online.