Reasons to start surfing in spring

Officially, spring arrived in the northern hemisphere on March 20th. The spring equinox is a reality, although in many parts of Spain it does not seem so because the landscape is more like winter with a white mantle covering much of the northern part of the peninsula. What nobody can deny is that the days are longer, there is more sunlight and routines are altered. The sun is warmer and you feel like having a few rods on a terrace, as well as starting to practice sport more often. For many, this change of season is the beginning of ‘operation bikini’. The coldest people hurry up to this time of year to start running.

Sport therefore becomes more important in everyday life and there are many options beyond jogging in a country that has such a wide geographical variety. With around 5978 kilometres of coastline, surfing is a proposal that is gaining followers by leaps and bounds. Whether it is because it has become an Olympic sport, because of the commercial use that brands make of it or other factors that escape our control, the truth is that surfing is experiencing a boom that was unimaginable a few decades ago. Who doesn’t already have a friend, family member or acquaintance who has tried it? We are going to give you a few reasons to give it a try this spring.

Warmer waters

With the arrival of spring, the water temperature rises. In many places in Spain, more than one bath is given at this time of the year. The water is warmer and the body gets soaked. In other words, it is not so lazy to get in. As far as surfing is concerned, the neoprene acts as a second layer of skin, so the time inside can be extended without fear of suffering hypothermia or anything like that. In fact, in contact with movement, between paddling, passing the foam and trying to stand up, you get warm from the first wave. It is at this time that many surfers take the opportunity to change the thickness of their neoprene because there is too much of it in winter, a clear sign that they are more comfortable.

Opening of surf camps

During part of the autumn and all of the winter, most of the surf camps are closed. The season starts for much of this sector in spring, so it is a good time to consider going on a trip in this way. We are talking about the possibility of enjoying the surf of a camp for adults. There is no maximum age to join one. You just have to be of legal age and be willing to experience new sensations. If you have a busy schedule in spring, keep in mind that you also have the options of going to surfcamp in summer and even in autumn or winter, although for the last two cases the number of destinations is reduced to the Canary Islands.

Places to surf in spring

Spain is, together with Portugal, the European country with the most beaches suitable for surfing. Throughout the Cantabrian Sea, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, there are schools specialised in surfing. It is true that Cantabria, the Basque Country and the Canary Islands are the Autonomous Communities with the greatest tradition in surfing and its younger brother, bodyboarding. It is no coincidence that the ‘riders’, who dominate the national circuit and from where most of those who make the jump to the world championship come from these areas. On a regional level, the Canarian archipelago has Yael Peña and Melania Suárez as its great hopes for the future in surfing, while in bodyboarding Yeray Martínez has, for example, been competing with the best on the professional circuit for many years.

Possibility of picking up some colour

Surfing is a sport in contact with nature and grateful to the body in every possible way. As it takes place in the open air, it allows you to catch some colour. Once our surfing session is over and if the weather is good, there is always the option to lie down on the sand for a while and enjoy the sun with caution and we refer to a limited time using a good sunscreen. The sun is not as tight as in summer, so it is less harmful to the skin. The truth is that, although there are more schools with offers for beginners in spring, few places guarantee you as much accuracy as Lanzarote and the Canaries in general that the weather will be good. If you’re travelling from a colder part of Europe, your body needs a little sun and in other parts of Spain it doesn’t shine as regularly.

The Canary Islands have a subtropical climate with an average temperature of between 18 and 24ºC all year round. That eternal spring of sunny days, blue skies and stable temperatures make it an idyllic place to live and enjoy a holiday. Considered the best climate in the world, it has therapeutic properties and many retirees of different nationalities establish their residence here to enjoy a better quality of life.

Opportunity to get in shape

There are few sports more pleasing to the body than surfing. The physical changes are visible and evident in just one week of camp, making the figure more slender and toning the muscles in express time. Not in vain is this one of the most complete exercises that exists. With rowing, standing and wave manoeuvres, all muscle groups are worked. Just take a look at any local surfer with a fibre board, finding one with a German or British-style beer belly is as complicated as finding a needle in a haystack. In the men’s sector, chocolate bars abound, while in the women’s sector there is no sign of cellulite.

Increased happiness and concentration

Surfing has become a therapeutic discipline due to the proven health benefits it brings. Beyond getting fit, it involves emotional well-being with increased happiness and concentration, among other things. Whether it is your first time or you have been surfing all your life, catching a wave produces an indescribable sensation. This release of endorphins increases happiness and makes it easier to sleep. At the same time, it is an activity that improves people’s concentration. It is an activity which, in contact with nature, and given its complexity, makes one forget about stress and other problems associated with work by going out as good as new after a bath.