Fuerteventura is one of the most popular destinations for surfing in Europe, due to its year-round favorable water conditions and mild temperatures topped off by amazing scenery and white-sand beaches. All good ingredients for a memorable surf holiday!
You want to give it a try and learn how to surf in the “wild island” of the Canary archipelago?
Read these useful tips!
As for many things, it’s always better to start surfing with a school, and you will find tons of them in Fuerteventura, offering experienced instructors, quality service and great equipment.
If for any reason you prefer a DIY approach, you’ll find in Fuerteventura a great playground for it. However our suggestion is always to start with a school to learn in the simplest, fastest and safest way. You can have one-to-one lessons or join a group class. You also have the option to stay in a surfhouse, like CoCo Surfhouse, where you’ll be able to “breath” surfing all day.
If you want to learn by yourself, or even if you just want to be more free to go around the island, it’s always recommended to rent a car that can get you to the surfing spots without fuss, possibly with a roof rack, or large enough to sling your board in the back. Remember: roads on the coast can be rough and rental companies’ insurances do not cover you if you’re on unpaved roads. You won’t need your own transport to go with a surfing school, they will drive you to the spot.
What about the equipment? Well, the basics are, as you can imagine, the wetsuit and the surfboard (+ leash). All schools will provide you with them, and if you prefer to go by yourself the best option is to rent them…in a surfing school! If you’re planning to stay longer, you’ll find lots of surf shops on the island, and a very lively second-hand market (Wallapop and Facebook Marketplace can satisfy all your surfing needs).
The surf wetsuit is very important in the cold Atlantic ocean waters. Especially in winter and spring months, water is hardly warmer than 19°C, and the strong winds make it all chillier.
Also, the wetsuit will protect you from small scratches and cuts during the practice. Depending on the time of year, you should use a longer and thicker suit (3-4mm) or a shorter and thinner one (1-2mm).
The choice of the board is very important: when you’re just starting, a surfboard longer than your height is what you’re looking for, with plenty of width and volume to aid buoyancy and balance (and to help you catch waves, of course!). Generally a 7-8ft foam board does the trick.
What else? A soft basin, similar to the one you would use for your washing. It will help you before and after your session, in the “transition” phases: get changed protecting your feet and store your wetsuit after surfing. If you want to keep your feet nice and safe, consider buying water shoes too.
Straps for your surfboard are another must, in order to tie it tightly on your car in case you don’t have enough space in the back.
Last but not least, sun screen, and plenty of it. Fuerteventura lies on the 28th parallel, on the edge of the Sahara Desert. Sun is strong, all year round, and you’ll be spending a lot of time in the water: 50+ sunscreen or total screens is what you need. The most commonly known screen in the world of surfing is “Zinc”, used to protect the most sensitive areas of the face: more than 50 sun protection, waterproof, and 100% natural to prevent pollution of the oceans. Oh, and it will paint your face blue, so everybody will know that you’re a surfer!
All that said, never forget to be safe when you go surfing, both with a school and by yourself.
Fuerteventura waters are just as wild as the island. Don’t overdo it and follow all the advice given.
If you’re caught in the current, first of all, keep calm! Swim parallel to the shore, not towards the current: you will get tired before getting out. When the current eases, then swim to the seashore.
Go to a particular surfing spot only if the conditions are good for your level. Check the tide, the waves, and the wind. Don’t go surfing by yourself when nobody is around. Surfers are literally everywhere in Fuerteventura. If you can’t see them, it’s because it’s not safe to go in the waters.
How to check the conditions? A lot of apps are used in this respect. The most popular ones are: Magicseaweed, Windy, Windguru, Surfline.
Don’t ignore these recommendations. It can get rough, and in the end we’re here to have fun!
You want to know which are the best spots to start surfing in Fuerteventura? Check out this post!
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