The Surfing Blog

Summer is fast approaching and that means one thing, the sun will be shining. When the sun comes out, so do the sunblocks, sunscreens, face sticks and plenty of kooks. If your skin has been hiding behind thick layers of rubber all year, you are going to want to apply some type of sunblock while you are out surfing. With the amount of time surfers spend in the sun, our skin can be very vulnerable to skin cancer. Here are some interesting facts on skin cancer from skincancer.org.

- Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than 3.5 million cases in two million people are diagnosed annually.

- One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime.

- About 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

- Up to 90 percent of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun.

- The vast majority of mutations found in melanoma are caused by ultraviolet radiation.

Shocking isn’t it. As you can see, skin cancer is a serious problem. It is easy to think it won’t harm you until you personally, or someone you know, gets cancer. As annoying as it can be, there are simple ways to help you prevent getting cancer. When you are going surfing make sure you put on products that block the sun. Products like those made by Panama Jack Suncare. We were able to get our hands on some products they make for surfers and try them out on the sunny North Shore of Oahu.

Sunscreen Stick: One of the most important suncare products for surfers. This should be used year around because even if you are wearing a wetsuit, your face is exposed to UV rays. Panama Jack’s sunscreen stick is SPF 50+ and goes on clear. You can use it on your face, lips, ears and nose. If you are going out for a long session, throw the stick in your board shorts side pocket and apply it every 2 hours. This will help save your face from taking on to much sun and keep you from needing a facelift later on in life (too much sun can cause wrinkles with age).

Zinc: Panama Jack makes a small can of zinc SPF 30+ that goes on white but when you rub it in, it turns clear. A little zinc goes a long way so don’t use too much. Zinc is good to use on your face on those super sunny days.

Sunblock vs. Sunscreen: Just in case you didn’t know, there is a difference in sunblock and sunscreen. Like its name, sunblock blocks the sun, while sunscreen allows some sun to get through. So it would be smart to start the summer off using sunblock and as you get more and more sun, and you skin can handle it, you can switch to a high SPF sunscreen. Panama Jack makes both sunscreen and sunblock lotions of different SPF levels. All their lotions are very water resistant and only need to be reapplied after long periods of sun exposure.

After Sun Burn Relief: If you forgot to apply some type of sunblock or sunscreen and come back from surfing looking like a lobster, Panama Jack still has you covered. After Sun Burn Relief is made to provide relief for those who get a little too much sun. The bottle of blue gel is made from pure aloe, lidocaine, and menthol. It will not only help soothe the pain of your burnt skin but will also help prevent your skin from peeling. Other than protecting your fried skin, you can use the gel to give relief to insect bites and minor cuts when you are in that exotic location and the mosquitoes and reef won’t leave you alone.

If you are looking to start using sunscreen or are sick of the one you use and want a different one, try out Panama Jack. We also want to know which sunscreens you love, which ones you hate, and why. Or if you have any of those awesome “magical” remedies for sunburn that your grandmas’ grandmas’ mother has passed down, let us know.  It doesn’t matter how weird it might be. Posting comments below is much easier than covering the middle of your back with sunscreen without help.  The guy in this picture definitely needed some help.

If you are going to buy your first surfboard, or are just thinking of adding a new board to your quiver, you will have to choose between buying a board off the rack or finding a local shaper and have him make you a custom surfboard. It can be a tough decision and there truthfully are pros and cons to each one. Let me help you make your decision a little easier with an explanation of the pros and cons of each.

Off The Rack: Buying a brand new surfboard off the rack feels great. It’s even greater than that time your mom let you go to the toy section and pick any toy out, because unlike that toy, your new surfboard is your baby and you love her. You don’t want her to get dinged or scratched, you rinse her off after you get out of the ocean, and you make sure she is kept in a safe place in your room. With how much money you will have to spend for that brand new, off the rack surfboard, it should receive that kind of treatment. In fact, the high price of off the rack surfboards tops our pros and cons list.

- Pro: Expensive boards are highly priced because they have been proven to be the best boards money can buy.

- Con: Unless Mom and Dad are paying for the board, or you have a great career job, buying a board off the rack will take some time to save up enough money. New shortboards start around $450 and can cost as much as $850. Longboards cost anywhere from $550- $1400. SUP boards will break the bank costing from $900-$2500.

- Pro: Surf shops carry boards made by the best shapers in the world. You will find Merricks, Firewire, JS, Lost, Stretch, etc.

- Con: The best shapers in the world make all kinds of boards, but you might not find a shape that best suits your local break.

- Pro: The day you see the board and have the money to buy it, you walk out the door with it and can surf it right away.

- Con: There really isn’t a con to having the board right away.

- Pro: You can see and feel the board before you purchase it.

- Con: You might not be able to find the exact board dimensions you want.

- Pro: When you are going to spend hundreds of dollars on a surfboard, the shop employees (especially those getting paid commissions) will treat you like royalty. Try and get a discount. Tell them you really want the board but you can’t afford a new leash or traction pad and you’ll seal the deal if they throw one in free.

- Con: The same shop employees will say anything they can to sell you the board. As nice as they are, they will stretch truths to sell you the board.

Custom: The day you pick up your custom board from your shaper will be one of the happiest days of your life. You will finally get to see and hold the creation you have dreamed of and sketched all over different bits of paper. The waiting process was between 3-5 weeks and the call that your board is ready couldn’t have come and quicker. Topping off the list of pros and cons for custom boards is the dreaded amount of time you will wait for your surfboard to be made.

- Pro: Your board took a couple weeks to make, but for good reason. The board is made exactly how you wanted it to be made.

- Con: Waiting for your board to be finished is worse than waiting for Steve Jobs to announce the latest Apple product. Depending on how long your shaper takes, the 3-5 weeks spent waiting can be the longest of your life. And if a good swell rolls in while you are waiting, those weeks will be that much harder.

- Pro: Your local shaper will know how to make a board for the local surf breaks in the area. The board will be specifically made for the spots you surf most often.

- Con: When you take that trip to some exotic island with hollow reef breaks instead of the usual mushy beach break you surf, your board won’t perform as well.

- Pro: As you get all your boards made from the same shaper, you start to create a beautiful relationship that allows the shaper to better understand your style and likes and dislikes in boards.

- Con: You and your shaper might never click and you never find that “magic” board that works best for you.

- Pro: Custom boards from local shapers are much cheaper than off the rack boards. Also as you order more and more boards from the same shaper they will often charge you less and less.

- Con: Some shapers that are super cheap are cheap for one reason, their boards suck. So ask around before you dedicate time and money to a shaper.

- Pro: By buying custom you are supporting your local surf community and are keeping that little bit of “soul” in your surfing.

- Con: There are none.

If you feel there are too many cons to both buying off the rack and custom surfboards, remember that you don’t always have to buy a brand new board. Check out Tyler’s article on used surfboards. Buying used might be the better option for both you and your bank account.

We want to know what you love and hate about both custom and off the rack surfboards. Leave a comment and let us know your opinion.

I’ve never really thought about wearing sunglasses while surfing, but it makes sense. We make sure we have our shades on when we step out the door on a sunny day and others even “wear their sunglasses at night”. So why not wear shades while we surf all day in the sun? The answer is simple; sunglasses would fall off in the surf. Luckily, Ocean Sunglasses has the solution.

Ocean Sunglasses specializes in making sunglasses you can wear while doing extreme sports, like surfing. They have a wide variety of styles to fit each sports specific needs and conditions and they all will give your eyes 100% UV protection. So whether you are just cruising around on the beach cruiser, or charging 10 foot Blacks Beach, there will be a pair made just for you.

We got a hold of two pairs of Ocean Sunglasses and took them for a whirl in the ocean. Here is our review.

The Australia Model is made with a built in strap on the back of the glasses that help hold them to your head. When I tightened the glasses strap as tight as possible, they fit snug to my large head, (I wear a 7 5/8 fitted cap) but they were not tight. Because they aren’t tight like goggles, this model is great for surfing smaller waves and for those flat summer days out on the SUP. If you want to take them out on a bigger day, make sure you have the glasses leash (also made by Ocean Sunglasses) so you don’t lose them. Overall the glasses are very comfortable and when you duckdive, the lenses clear out quick making them great for surfing.

The other model we tested out is the Tierra De Fuego. These are great because they are 2 pairs of glasses in 1. They come with regular earpieces for use on land, and when you hit the surf you can easily pop them out and pop in a strap to hold them tightly to your face. These shades have a padding you can add or remove and they can fit as tight as you want them to. Being able to tighten them super tight makes them more like a goggle than sunglasses for when you surf. Just make sure you have the face pad on when you tighten them up so they are comfortable to your face. If you are going to get tossed around a lot and don’t want to lose your sunglasses, or use the leash, these are the surfing shades for you. After you duckdive, keep your eyes closed for a second or two because it takes a bit for the water to drain out.

Overall, if your eyes struggle in the sun or you just want to be smart and protect them in the surf, make sure you pick up a pair of Ocean Sunglasses. Make sure you check out the many styles of shades they have at http://a-o-sports.com

Don’t forget to let us know how you like them and if you would wear them in the lineup?

Here are some extra photos we took while trying the glasses out:

Summer time is almost here and that means it is time to start planning that summer surf trip. With so many different places to go, how can you decide the best location for you? We are starting a weekly “Surf Destination Spotlight” here at thesurfingblog that will help inspire you to travel to those places you have always dreamed about. So check back often to get the scoops on a new location. It’ll help get you through that week of work stuck in the cubicle.

To start off our Surf Destination Spotlight we want to spotlight the one and only reggae island, Jamaica.   Home to Bob Marley, Reggae, Red Stripe and great, un-crowded surf, Jamaica is a surf trip you will never forget. 

Jamaica is a great summer surf trip because summer is the season when it lights up with swell as the trade winds blow across the sea all day. You’ll want to wake up early during your trip to catch some early glass, as conditions can get choppier throughout the day. But just like California, you can catch glass off in the evening and even get lucky enough to have it all day sometimes. If conditions aren’t great, you can always take in the sites until they improve.

The standout spots in Jamaica are on the east side of the island, so you will want to fly into Kingston. Jamaica offers beach breaks, lefts, rights, hollow shallow reef breaks, A-frames, waves peeling through bays, etc. You will be able to find waves to suit your desires. If you want a more local take on where to go to score the best waves while you are there, make sure you contact Jamnesia Surf Club. The legend, Billy Mystic and his crew will show you an awesome time.

Jamnesia Surf Club is also the best place to stay while on the island (it is the only surf camp). Unfortunately, as kind as everyone can be, there is a dangerous side to Jamiaca too. Staying with the local surfers at the surf club is your best bet to scoring good waves and staying safe.  They will make you feel like long time friends from the moment you meet them.

If you want to venture off on your own and stay somewhere else, yet you want to still be close to the surf, you’ll need to stay in Kingston.  Not the safest place in the world, but there aren’t really any options outside of Kingston on the east side of the island.

If you don’t care about how luxurious the hotel is, you can stay for under $60 at places like:

- Hotel Sandhurst,  Olympia Crown Hotel,  Indies Hotel

If you have your wife and or kids with you, you might want to spend a bit more money on a nicer location.  Some places under $200 are:

- Terra Nova Hotel,  Goblin Hills Villa, Morgan’s Harbour Hotel

But make sure you consider staying with Jamnesia Surf Club.  It truly is your best bet for an enjoyable surf trip in Jamaica.

To get you excited about the surf Jamaica has to offer, here is a brief explanation of a couple main breaks in Jamaica.

- Boston Bay (picture to left) looks like it came out of the animated movie “Surfs Up”. Located in a beautiful bay setting, at Boston Bay you can go either right or left. And just like in the movie “Surfs Up” watch out for the urchins, they can be quite painful.

- Lighthouse is predominately a right and can be quite the high performance wave. When its going off you will definitely get barreled. The greatest part is the wave empties into a channel, providing for a nice and simple paddle back out into the lineup.

- Long Bay is another bay that will have you feeling like you are surfing a movie set. The wave more often breaks left, but you can find some rights too. On a good day the wave lines up nicely and you can score some long rides.

- Zoo is a great wave if you have the experience. It’s a little too heavy for the beginner. Zoo could easily be considered one of Jamaica’s best waves and therefore can have more of a crowd than other spots.

While you aren’t surfing there is plenty of Rastafarian, One Love, Jah Bless culture to take in. For hardcore reggae fans check out the Bob Marley museum and don’t miss the crazy tour guide who has the funniest laugh and smokes weed throughout the tour while singing Bob Marley songs. If nature is more your style, check out the rivers and waterfalls, zip lines, and ATV tours. There are tons of tours for all types of activities. You won’t be bored while you aren’t shredding waves.

Jamaican food is delicious. Local meals consist of ox tail, rice and peas (which really is rice and beans), brown stew chicken, plantains, fresh fruit, and the the world famous “jerk” style of cooking. Make sure you stop at the different Jerk Stands on the side of the road and get some jerk chicken or pork. It’s a uniquely spicy seasoning that you’ll love, and its not expensive. Also for a quick bite, you can stop at any gas station and pick up a Jamaican patty.  They are like an empanada, stuffed with different meats, and range from mild to hot. For beverages, while in Jamaica you have to drink Red Stripe beer. It’s the national beer. If you don’t want beer, you have to try Ting. It’s a grapefruit soda that comes in a glass bottle. They are both perfect post surf beverages.

You can find delicious Jamaican food at these restaurants in nearby Kingston

- Tastee Patties (cheap and quick)

- Gauchos Grill

- Norma’s on the Terrace

- Island Grill

But like I said, if you want to save money, buy from the local stands along the road.

So make sure you listen to your fill of Bob Marley and Buju Banton before you book your tickets so you can sing along to the reggae vibes. If you have been or are planning on going, leave your comments and let us know about it. One Love…Jah Bless!

If you are a local or just got back from a trip to Jamaica and want to add any content (places to stay, surf, eat, etc.) email us at editor@thesurfingblog.com.  Help your fellow surfers have a great trip. 

On April 20^th, 2010, an explosion on the oilrig Deepwater Horizon caused the rig to sink and the oil to start spewing into the sea, (hope you didn’t own stock in BP). Depending on who you ask, the amount of crude oil being deposited into the Gulf is anywhere from 5,000 – 25,000 barrels per day. That is 210,000 – 1,100,000 US gallons. That is a lot of oil. If you remember back to your 4^th grade science lessons, oil and water don’t mix. Not only do oil and water not mix but oil also doesn’t mix with the animals in and around the water, people who play in the water, and those who make a living catching animals that live in the water.

So how is the spill affecting those who live near the Gulf?

As the slick moves closer and closer to shore, beaches inevitably will be shut down. For surfers, when beaches are shut down, that means you can’t sleep at night because you have too much energy built up that you couldn’t get rid of while surfing. But even more unfortunate than not being able to surf for a couple weeks, is that as surfers, we love Mother Ocean. She provides us with waves that allow us to do the thing we hold so passionately to, surf. By the time the whole fiasco is contained, there will be 1,000,000+ gallons of crude oil floating around, destroying our lovely Mother Ocean. This is not good. Surfing Southern California after a rainstorm will seem delightful compared to surfing the oil-slicked waves of the Gulf. As surfers, we will need to do as much as we can to help in the efforts of cleaning the beaches we freely use and saving the wildlife that truly call the Gulf home.

Local businesses are already being affected by the oil slick. Those who fish the seas of the Gulf for fish, crabs, shrimp, oysters, etc. aren’t being allowed to go out and earn a living. Not only are they banned from fishing, but instead have been asked to help by setting out booms and other things to help contain the contamination.

An oil slick in the ocean probably has the largest impact on the marine life. Animals are defenseless as thick; crude oil invades their surroundings. Reefs become smothered, birds and fish become covered in oil not allowing them to fly or breathe and the ecosystem in general suffers. Unfortunately, the marine life in the Gulf of Mexico are going to heavily feel the impact of the oil spill.

What can we do as surfers to help?

A website, Deepwater Horizon Response, has been set up for those looking to stay up-to-date with news and volunteer information regarding the oil spill. They are looking for people who can lend a hand to help. If you have a boat, canoe, or just want to help out here is the list of hotline numbers you can call:

We welcome your questions or comments. Please note the following hotline numbers:

• If you are interested in volunteering, or know someone who is, please call the Deepwater Horizon Response Volunteer Request Line at 1-866-448-5816

• To report spill related damage claims, please call 1-800-440-0858

• To report oiled or injured wildlife, please call 1-866-557-1401

• To report oil on land, or for general Community and Volunteer Information, please call 1-866-448-5816

Call 281 366 5511 to submit all Deepwater Horizon Response suggestions.

As surfers it is important to step in and help. Your efforts won’t go unnoticed. We need to help protect and maintain the beauty of Mother Ocean. As we all come together and help clean and maintain the oil slick we will find greater appreciation for the ocean and the wildlife that live there. Lastly, the quicker the oil is cleaned up, the quicker we will be able to get back in the water and surf!

Thanks to Deepwater Horizon Response for organizing the efforts of those who want to help.