Anders Eliasen, a real waterman who lives with and from his passion for water sports. He passes on his knowledge on surfing courses in WestWind
1) What is the best way to get started with surfing? Course? Friend services?
Surfing is one of those sports where a course is the best way to get started. However, it should not be ruled out that you can successfully get good help from your experienced surfer friend. However, you must never underestimate the conditions if you are new to the sport. Always go out with an experienced person and also make sure you learn about the surf spot before jumping into the wave. Feel free to follow the five boating tips: Learn to swim, never go into the water alone, read the wind and the water, get to know the beach and don't let the children out of your sight.
If you have a course in mind, fortunately there are many professional schools in this country with well-trained instructors. They are located on the west coast of Jutland and offer courses for all levels. I can recommend you both WestWind Surfshops and Løkken North Shore Surfshop. Here you are on the right track if you want to have a really good start with the sport.
2) Which places in Denmark are best suited? And with whom do I secure the funnest experiences and best communities?
To choose a good surf spot, there are mainly three things that make the surf trip a success in my opinion: Medium to small waves, minimal wind and preferably a wide beach. Of course, conditions are not like this every day. Some days are just wilder than others! But if you are a little creative and patient, you can usually find a place where the sea is not nearly as rough and that will help you significantly. Some of the best-known beginner-friendly spots in Denmark are: Hvide Sande, Nr. Vorupør, Løkken and Klitmøller. It is almost guaranteed that you will find other surfers at these spots, and then it is just a matter of spreading your wings. This is because it is here that the best communities are found and good tips and tricks are handed out with a generous hand. People are very welcoming in the surf community. So if you want to make a strong surfer friendship, offer a cold beer after your surf session. You will soon find out that one of the best things is after a good long surf trip.
3) Which equipment is best suited when I am a beginner or lightly trained? How much should I expect to pay for it? Can the girlfriend and I share equipment? What about our children - can they join?
When you have to choose your first board, one thing is certain; the bigger the board, the more stable, and it makes your first season much easier. Many surfboards are constructed of plastic, which makes them super sturdy. However, they can have a disadvantage in the weight, which is on the heavy end. Construction is well known, but is used less and less. Its successor is a softtop board, which really provides many fun surfing hours for everyone. Here, the advantage is clearly the lighter weight, but still a robust board that can handle a few bumps. The term "softtop" has arisen from the fact that the construction has a solid hard shell, which is normal for all surfboards, but in addition it has been given a protective layer of solid foam. You are of course also welcome to choose the most well-known construction, namely an epoxy board. Here, performance is the highest priority, which weakens the robustness in contrast to the other two constructions. The last important factor when choosing a board is the length. Feel free to choose a slightly longer one rather than a slightly too short one. My recommendation would be longboards of either 9 or 8 feet, of course depending on your height and weight. You can always go down in board length, but preferably start with a large and stable longboard.
When equipment is to be purchased, it can be purchased both used and new. If you must have it all with: board, fin, leash, wax and a possible protective bag, a new set will be in the price range around DKK 6,000–10,000, and a used one will be in the price range DKK 2,000–6,000. Surf shops exist both online and in physical versions. Here, you will receive both guidance and advice regarding the choice of size, shape, etc. and have a warranty for your equipment. In several WestWind stores you can buy used boards as well. Otherwise, there is also good activity in the Danish second-hand market. You can look for the Facebook groups "Surfing Buy & Sell", "Surf gear and used boards in Denmark", "Used Boards and Gear Trade" or the website "dba.dk" for good deals on used equipment. But remember! You can always supplement boards. Better that than selling your first board as soon as you feel you have surfed it. A real surfer has more than one surfboard!
