Surfing

SURFING EQUIPMENT

Surfing is gaining popularity in Denmark and is probably more popular than ever. We are one of the country's largest water sports equipment retailers and of course have everything you need to get started or maintain your surfing. Below is a brief introduction to the different product categories that are relevant to the surfer. Before you start surfing, we strongly recommend that you carry out a surf course at WestWind. A course will give you an educational insight into the sport and a realistic insight into which surf equipment makes sense for your level.

The surfboard

Surfboards come in many shapes and designs today. For beginners it can be difficult to navigate around and that is why we have also put together a short guide, which can be found at the bottom of the surfboard category page. The page can be found in the menu or by following the link here. But in short, there are many different types of surfboards, and typically it is your level that determines which boards you can surf. In addition, the wave conditions will also be very decisive for which board you should choose to surf.

Leash

A leash is, in short, a string that connects you, typically your ankle, to your surfboard. You should always use a leash, as it protects yourself and others from uncontrolled tipping over in a wave. Without a leash, your board is at high risk of being taken by a wave all the way to the beach, and is thus exposed to being dinged or scaring others. Something you want to avoid at all costs! At the same time, the leash also acts as a safety feature for other surfers in the water, as you are largely responsible for your board not hitting others. This helps the leash to be secure. Leashes are available in different lengths and thicknesses, and the length of the board and the size of the wave you are surfing help determine the choice of leash.

Surf fins

When you are looking for fins, one of the most important things is to make sure that the fin/fin set fits in the fin boxes that are installed in the board. Typically, there is a distinction between FCS 2 or Futures fin boxes. Few boards also have the old FCS 1 fin box, but such a board is now very difficult to dust off. The most classic fin setup for a shortboard is called a thruster setup. This fin setup consists of a total of three fins. For longboards, it is more common to run a single fin setup, which as the name suggests is a single fin. However, single fins have a larger surface area compared to the individual fins in a thruster setup. In addition, there are also twin fin setups, which are two fins that are typically designed to fit fish surfboards.

Traction pads

For the shortboard, a tail pad is essential. It gives the surfer a sense of where they stand on the board and whether they are standing correctly to perform a given maneuver. Some also find it nice to have a front pad attached. The front pad can save you a lot of wax without compromising on grip.

Surf wax

Surf wax is a surfer's best friend. As a surfer, you will use a lot of packs of surf wax throughout your career. Wax comes in different softnesses. The water temperature is the primary factor that determines which type to use. In Denmark, you will always use a so-called basecoat wax before applying other types of wax. The basecoat is a hard wax that acts as a layer of wax that allows softer wax (top coat) to stick better to the board. If you manage to find the balance between applying a good layer of basecoat and top coat wax, you will get a surfboard with lots of grip, which is an essential feature for performing various surf maneuvers with more precision.

Board bags

Surfboards are fragile creatures! The board must be taken very good care of during transport and storage to give the board a long life. An important step towards giving boards the best conditions for a long life is to buy a board bag. The board bag protects your board from dings and other scratches when the board is on land. Board bags are available in many designs as they must of course fit the many different board shapes. Typically, it is a good idea to buy a board bag that fits the length of your board bag. You can also invest in a board sock, which as the name indicates is a type of sock that can also protect your board. Board socks are typically made of a piece of cotton fabric that in many ways resembles a large towel, which of course fits over your board.