Thursday, May 10, 2007

Tahiti Surf - A Super Place for Surfing

Vacation destination, Tahiti is a superb place to visit especially if you enjoy water based activities. Aside from some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling in the world, Tahiti is also renowned for its excellent surfing. One of the most common beach activities, the surf breaks and swells in Tahiti are top class and entice surfers from all over the globe. A great experience for all to enjoy, surfing in Tahiti is fun for everyone.
Tahiti Surf Destinations
There are several places to go surfing on Tahiti Nui. These Tahiti surf destinations are known for their first-rate swells and breaks. On the northern coast you can find some good surfing at Point Venus and Matavai Point, while in southern Tahiti the best breaks are located at Fisherman’s Point and Papara. All easily accessible, the waves here attract surfers from all over. For the more keen surfing enthusiast, a good idea would be to head out to Tahiti Iti. On the southern coast here some excellent breaks can be found at the Big and the Small Pass.
Tahiti Surf Schools
For those who do not know how to surf or need to brush up on their surfing skills and techniques, there are a number of Tahiti surf schools, in which you can enroll. The surf instructors here are seasoned local surfers with plenty of experience, and who understand the waves and conditions here well. Several surf schools can be found all across town in the capital of Papeete. These schools are an excellent resource and usually have their own surf shops as well from where you can rent out a surfboard and other surf gear like wet suits, board wax, etc.
Tahiti Surf Season
For the enthusiastic surfer, there are two surf seasons in Tahiti. The first surf season is from October to March, while the second surf season lasts from April to September. During the October to March season the waves are smaller but are more consistent, while in the April to September period the surfing is world class with powerful hollow waves to ride. This is the best time to come here, if you are an experienced surfer.
Tahiti Surf Championships
The ideal destination for the competitive surfer, Tahiti offers some truly world class surfing at Teuhupo'o. Meant for professionals only, this beach plays host to the Billabong Pro Championships in May here annually. An international event, with pro surfers attending from the world over, the waves on Teuhupo'o are the biggest and toughest on Tahiti to ride!
For a more in-depth view of the Tahiti & French Polynesia, visit GoVisitTahiti.com. Offering key travel data on this tropical paradise, GoVisitTahiti.com is dedicated to ensuring you see the very best of the Tahiti vacations and other French Polynasian islands.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J_Gonsalveshttp://EzineArticles.com/?Tahiti-Surf---A-Super-Place-for-Surfing&id=525733

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

The Art Of Surfing

Since its hey day in the 1960’s, surfing through the ocean has become a popular past time. Riders love to pound the surf with their waxed boards and ride large waves into the shore. As like any sport, there is risk associated with surfing. Surfing implies that a rider can successfully use their arms and legs to maintain balance upon a surfboard as the wave begins to swell and crest.
Most beginners will enjoy this sport because the cost of getting into surfing is relatively low. A good board can cost $200 - $ 1,000 depending on the material it’s made from. Many beginners can buy a good board used and can take up the sport at a nearby beach. Before you begin, there are several things you should learn.
How to keep your board nearby should you wipe out
How to swim out towards an incoming wave
What to do should you collide with another surfer
What conditions are right for surfing and which ones are dangerous
Surfers should know how to swim. It’s the basic necessity to keep you afloat should you go out too far or if you lose your board on a wipe out. Most surfers start out on their boards flat on their stomach and begin to kneel into a crouching position as they approach a wave. Upon reaching the swell of the wave, they should be in a upright position heading into the ebb or top of the wave. As soon as the reach the top they begin to navigate through the remainder of the wave using their feet to steer into the cresting tide. Usually most surfers ride a wave from right to left.
There are times when a surfer can get closer to another surfer and collide. Try to remain as far away from swimmers as possible and keep a clear 180-degree view as much as possible to avoid dangerous situations. Know exactly how far you are from the beach at all times. There are times when surfing is at its premium right before a storm or when currents are at their strongest. During this peak time, it is good to exercise caution for your own personal safety. Depending on how warm the water may be you may have to be concerned with sharks. Although a shark attack is considered rare, there is always a possibility in some regions.
Surfing has become so popular that there are various spin-offs of this sport including windsurfing and kitesurfing, which allows the user to reach heights of 20’ above the ocean. Depending on the location wave swells can grow upwards of 15-20’ high; so the more experience you amass the more challenges you will seek. All beginning surfers should take at least one or two lessons to get the basics down. In no time at all you will be hunting the monster waves and hanging ten with the best of them.
Surfs up!