When you are in the ocean , always have the utmost respect for its power and be ready for what it can dish out. The beach you surf at will have its own characteristics and learning these just by watching it for a good while and asking people who are local will reveal a lot to you before you jump in.
Riptides are present at most beaches or surf breaks where there are breaking waves. The Rip is the draining excess water of the pushing or dropping tide. It can be seen where the waves are not breaking to either side of a spot where the waves are and will pull out to sea. This area will also be deeper than the wave break as it channels the water back out to sea . This is where one can panic when you lose foot hold of the sand below you and start to drift out. the key is in most cases never to turn and fight the current taking you out, this can tire you and waste precious energy. In most cases turn and paddle with the current and it will take you out to the back where you will eventually be able to paddle onto a breaking or broken wave and come into shore again, making sure you don't get stuck in the same channel and this happens all over again. The main thing to remember is never let go of your board. this is your lifeline and it can be very different out there without this floating device.
Equipment should always be checked before paddling out. Fins need to be tight in their slots/ boxes and check your surfboard / bodyboard leash for any small cuts or cracking. The velcro must be working correctly and not worn out so as the cuff comes off the wrist or ankle when pulled . to have a leash snap when out back can be a frightening experience as your board will most likely wash into shore and leave you to swim . This can be a chore if the waves are bigger than 3 foot and you have to keep focused on conserving your energy while getting to the shallows. The weight of a wetsuit can also feel daunting and this is also why it must fit your body correctly as any water flushing can cause deadly extra weight.
The other thing to remember before paddling is to take the time to watch and study how the other wave riders are using the specific break. Wave Etiquette is something that seems to be a dying or fading pastime. There are a few rules to learn when being out there and we will be covering this in a later section. Keep your eyes open for other surfers , greet and be friendly always. There is nothing worse that a surfer that is new to a specific spot just does their own thing and gets in the way of the crew already in the water. There is a flow to this and you as a beginner need to grasp this early on to avoid any safety issues in the water.
These are just some basics to get you thinking about others in the water and not to scare you in any way , the sea can be an incredible place to spend time and when you are ready for worst case scenarios mentally and physically this can take a lot of the stress of a first time back line surf off your shoulders.
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