Buying Second Hand Surfboards: The Benefits and Pitfalls

Surfing is a fun experience for children and adults alike. There are many great places to go surfing in the United Kingdom, including many of the beaches around Wales and Cornwall, England. While buying surfboards can be expensive, second hand ones can be a possibility. Here are some of the benefits and pitfalls of this option.

Lower in Price and Suitable for Most Budgets

When you buy second hand, you will usually find that the price is much lower. This is great as it makes surfboards suitable for the majority of budgets. This is often a great option for those who are just learning how to surf. It gives them something to start from and decide whether it is a sport that they would like to take up in the future. Surfing is very difficult to master and it can be a waste of money buying a new one.

May Have Been Created for a Specific Person

It is possible to buy custom-made surfboards. This is something to look out for when buying second hand. Instead of being designed for the average person, the length, weight and other characteristics are for the original buyer. This could be an issue for the person who is going to use it the second time and often takes the price up. Do your research into the board to determine if this is going to be a problem.

You Won’t Get Something Specific

There are many benefits to buying a custom-made board. The main one is that it will be designed specifically for your needs, build and preferences. When you buy off the rack, it may be too large, too heavy or just not in the colour that you prefer. You can’t get a specific design when you buy second hand. All that are available are those people are selling.

The History of the Surfboard

Some people take good care of their surfboards. Others will have regular accidents and may have had to have them repaired. It is essential that you find out about the history of any second hand board that you consider buying. The last thing you want is to find out that the rope snap or the board breaks while in the sea!

Do your research to really benefit from second hand surfboards. They are great for learners but you need to make sure they were cared for!

Clever Lifesaver

British designer (Ross Kemp)  no not the actor ! has designed a rescue craft for Lifeguards,its called ASAP which i think is a very clever name. It can be launched quickly and easily by a single Lifeguard and is designed to carry one injured person,its also powered by the Sun.Apparently Richard Branson has taken an interest in the project .The prototype travels at 15mph(24km/h)  ASAP is still in developement but watch this space for future developements . If you would like to visit the website and learn more its here www.asapwatercrafts.com

Wind Swells in Hastings

As summer draws to a close, it’s time to start thinking about the UK winter waves. I’ve got to be straight with you – it might not be massively popular with some people in the UK Surfing scene, but I’m looking forward to smashing up the wind swells at Hastings come November time.
Let’s face it – nowhere in the UK has the same quality waves as you can get in ocean surfing abroad, but that doesn’t mean we’ve got nothing. Hastings tends to be a bit hit and miss when you’re trying to catch a few, but it can happen on the right day and winter is definitely better for it than summer. It’s only because it’s a tad exposed and open that it can be difficult to get what you’re looking for, but trust me, when it comes, it comes good. On a good day, you can get 150-300 meter waves length wise, so perfect if you’re looking for something fairly steady to work on your basics with. And hey, it’s not that deep, so you can get out there and just enjoy yourself.
I say get down there and hit it up – unless you’re scared of the cold and you’re one of these pathetic summer-surfing-only types. Chicken.
Wind swells are more common than ground swells, and you’ve got to watch out for the locals (there’s some nutters in Hastings – I should know, I’m related to some of them!)
Just from popular opinion by the way, best wave direction in Hastings is from southwest. UK Surfing is very dependent on getting the right wave direction given our location, so don’t make the mistake of coming at this beach the other way, you’ll just end up paddling around and not getting much action.
But word to the wise: Watch out for rips and the local pollution. Sorry Hastings folks, but it’s true! Sometimes, your ocean is hella-dirty! Apart from that though, it’s a fairly good spot for all experience levels, and it’s especially quiet (usually empty) during the week, so if you can get down and surf before the weekend, do so. Though, that’s not to say it’s packed at the weekend of course, you’ll probably only see a few other guys out there at most.
UK Surfing still has plenty to offer. Looking forward to catching you there once the nights start drawing in!