Surf is a sport that originated in Hawaii and was first mentioned about 500 years ago, when James Cook arriving in these new lands, wrote that he had spotted some natives riding the waves of the ocean on board a wooden board. He was not the first traveling surfer, but he unknowingly proved that sometimes you have to travel to find surf :D. And people have been traveling around the world looking for the perfect wave ever since. Because surfing is much more than a sport: it is a lifestyle and passion that drives you to go, travel, search for waves, meet new friends, see new places…it is in the end not just about the new wave that you have surfed, but about the whole experience of a surf trip. And what better way to go surfing than on a classic surf road trip. Now every person is different when it comes to traveling, packing and to the definition of “bring only the essentials”. But here is a list of things that you really must take with you:
- Documents
Quite some surf trips were ruined an cancelled right from the start when people had everything from wax to electrical wetsuit hanger/dryer, but the forgot their documents. So this is the no.1 basic thing if you are going somewhere. Take your ID, drivers licence, passport… with you!
- Bathing suit and gear
This may also seem obvious because going on a surf trip you would hope to spend all day in the water. And getting a pair of boardshorts is not that hard almost anywhere in the planet. But, you don’t want to be the guy that instead of running for that first session has to run around looking for a place to buy a new pair of boardshorts. Or even worse, going on a cold water surf trip it often happens you are missing one bootie, or maybe a hood, left glove etc… And if you can find boardshorts almost everywhere or even borrow them from your friend, mission a thick neoprene glove is more of a problem. So, double check!
- Sunscreen products
Like the song says, “wear sunscreen”. And to wear it you have to bring it with you:). If you have to stay all day under the sun, especially at certain latitudes, it is always better to have a sunscreen.
- Drugs and supplements
To avoid inconveniences, always bring some medication and/or supplements that you will need. They may not be available in our destination or. they might have a different name or it might be very hard to explain in another language of which you speak only a few words what kind of drug do you want. Before putting them in your backpack (for a perfect travel backpack guide click here), however, do an online search to see if they are allowed, as each country has different rules. You never know if your destination might not allow even your multivitamins formulated for diabetics. In case of essential medicines, for pathologies or special treatments, get a certificate from your doctor.
- Flip-flops and sunglasses
Classic surf lifestyle items.
- Snorkel mask
This item falls under “if there is a day without waves”. I always bring my mask and I almost never use it :o. And then I always feel sorry that I didn’t. Exploring the sea, underwater landscapes, can be a beautiful experience.
- Action camera and smartphone
Inevitable companions not only for travel but for everyday life. To take pictures and shoot videos to share on social networks and to show friends where you are surfing and under what conditions. Actually I rarely forget these things BUT! I forget the following all the time: memory cards, chargers, adapters, cables. So make sure you have everything!
- A car insurance for your road trip
While road tripping in search of the perfect beach and the right waves don’t forget the one thing that can for sure ruin your trip – if something happens to your car. So double check you have insurance that covers everything you need and the place you are going to. One idea for the insurance is theaa.ie where you get instant car insurance quote online and thanks to that you can choose the insurance option and customize it adding special extras for the type of vacation you are headed to. Check out their website and learn more about how to protect you and your trip from bad surprises!
By the way, I did not mention surfboards, it is kind of obvious you should take them on a surf trip lol, but if you are not sure which one to take, here is a list of all known wave riding vehicles to further confuse you:).