How to Choose a Surfboard: The Only Surfboard Buying Guide that You’ll Need

You’ve attended a few surfing lessons. You decided that it’s time that you change your life for the better by getting more serious with surfing. Just like with most things in life, you need to make a commitment to become better. This means that if you want to be better at surfing, you need to make a commitment.

The first commitment that you have to make is on choosing a surfboard. But before you go out and buy what Kelly Slater used when he pulled off that insane frontside air in Portugal (it was a Channel Islands Rookie15, by the way), you have to know that it’s generally not a good idea to base your decision on what the pros use.

Surfboard Buying Guide

Choosing a surfboard in itself is quite an experience. Think of it as picking up your first car. There are several things that you have to consider. This article will provide tips on how to choose a surfboard so you can choose wisely!

• Consider the design.

This is not to say that you should go out and buy the most epic-looking board that you can find. Look at designs to see how a specific design can help you turn from a Barney to a professional.

You’re probably a beginner at this point, so choose a board that’s designed for easy paddling. The last thing that you’d want is to be noodled. Also, choose one that’s designed to make it easy to catch waves.

Generally speaking, a longboard is a better choice than a short board. Pros make it look so easy with short boards, but that’s because they’ve had years of practice. Longboards are wider and more stable. They’re perfect if you’re just starting out and settling for ankle busters.

• How much do you weigh?

Now’s not the time to lie about your weight. Save that for the DMV. The bigger you are the longer surfboard you’ll need. This is because you’ll require a board with more flotation.

Surfertoday.com has a very comprehensive surfboard size chart. It also takes your skill level into consideration. Just to give you an idea, your board should be 6’2” to 6’4” in length if you’re a beginner weighing 45 to 63 kilograms.

We’re now talking about the volume of the board. The flotation of the board is calculated by adding the thickness, length and width of the board and then subtracting its weight from it. What you’ll get is the volume in cubic liters.

• What are the types of waves that you’ll be conquering?

A longboard or a fish works best in slower waves. For steeper waves, a short board works better.

Understanding the Dimensions of Surfboards

You need to know about the dimensions when choosing a surfboard. Basically, you need to understand three things – length, width and thickness.

For the length, choose a surfboard based on your height. Taller surfers generally have wider stances so a longer board makes better sense. As a general rule for the width, the wider the board, the better. This is because wider boards provide more stability.

How about the thickness? Don’t make the mistake of underestimating the importance of thickness. This is where your weight is considered. If you’re heavier than average, a board with a thicker rail is better for you to help you get more push.

What to Do Now

With this information, you can now make an informed decision when choosing a surfboard. With these tips on how to choose a surfboard, you should be ready to buy the perfect one for you.

This surfboard buying guide should help you create a shortlist of surfboards but making the choice can still be overwhelming. Come visit our shop and we’ll hook you up. We can help you decide.

 

Your Guide to the Narragansett Surf Report

If ever you’re planning to visit Narragansett or a nearby Rhode Island city, make sure that you visit the Narragansett Town Beach in order to surf. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner surfer or if you’ve been surfing for a long time now. You can’t miss the opportunity to surf at this beach. It doesn’t really matter what day of the year it is. In most cases, you can surf all year round.

photo credit: Beach Surfers via photopin (license)

A good Narragansett surf report will show you that the beach has favorable surf conditions. You’ll get amazing beachbreaks thanks to the combination of the E swell with W winds that are complemented by lower tides.

Speaking of the Narragansett surf report, it’s a good idea to check one before visiting. While it’s true that you can surf basically all year round, you’d want to make sure that you’ll be welcomed by the surf conditions that you’re looking for.

Get the Following Information

You can get the following information with the help of a surf report so you can make the decision if today is a good day to surf or not:

• Surf height

Is the surf flat? You obviously wouldn’t want to make a trip when the surf is flat so make sure to check.

• Wind

The wind will play a good part in determining if you’re going to have a good day out there or not. This is because it will determine how the waves will form before breaking. If the surf report shows that there’s offshore wind, then you’re in for quite a treat because it’s perfect for surfing.

• Current tide

The current tide will determine how the waves will shape up.

• Temperature

It’s not unusual for surfers to surf in Narragansett Beach even in the winter but still, you can benefit from knowing how warm/cold it is out there. In addition to the air temperature, you should also check out the water temperature. At the very least, it will show you whether you should pack your suit or not!

There are a lot of other information that you can find by checking out a surf report. A good one will also feature a surf cam that you can check out so you can see for yourself how the waves are.

When it comes to the Narragansett Beach, you can check out this Narragansett surf report. It also has a surf cam that’s provided by the Warm Winds Surf Shop so check it out!

John John Florence vs JetBlue: Who You Got?

It hasn’t been a good week so far for the social media staff of JetBlue. Last week, John John Florence issued a “big thanks” to JetBlue. We’re assuming that it was issued sarcastically, because what happened according to John John isn’t something that one should be thankful for.

Here’s the post by John John Florence on his Instagram:

Taken from https://www.instagram.com/john_john_florence/

What followed was more than 3,500 comments, mostly of support to John John Florence and criticisms to JetBlue with hashtags like #jetbluesucks.

As mentioned, it hasn’t been a good week so far for the social media staff of JetBlue. Their social media accounts are bombarded by furious messages from fans and non-fans of John John alike. Look at this post and check out the hate messages that the airline is getting:

Taken from https://www.instagram.com/jetblue/

Is the barrage of hate that JetBlue is getting justified? Well first of all, one can imagine by looking at that damage that this is no minor accident. It’s a monumental accident, done on purpose or otherwise. It’s not just some slight mishandling. It looks like it got ran over by a train.

To make matters worse, John John had to pay $500 to travel with that bag of boards. Wow. We can imagine that he has a lot of money but still, that’s a lot of moolah just for them to mess it up.

Wait it gets worse. According to John John, JetBlue said that they’re not responsible for the damage. So John John Florence vs JetBlue, who you got?

What to Do in Rhode Island if You Don’t Know How to Surf

While it’s true that Rhode Island is popular for its surfing spots, there are actually a lot of fun things to do in Rhode Island that don’t include wiping out. You’ve come to the right place if you want to know what to do in Rhode Island if you can’t stay on a surfboard even while it’s on dry land.

Rhode Island is a pretty small state but it has a lot of offerings that make it popular among tourists. This is true even in surfing cities like Narragansett. If you don’t know to surf and you happen to be visiting the city, you’ll be happy to know that there are several things to do in Narragansett RI.

This article will provide a list of fun things to do for non-surfers. They’re so fun that even surfers will surely set aside some time in their vacation to check out these activities and attractions. This makes it a good list if you’re traveling as a group and not everyone knows how to surf. This way, everyone can have a great time.

Hit the Beach

Even if you don’t know how to surf, you can still hit the beach and have a lot of fun. Rhode Island has over a hundred beaches, with each one having its own appeal.

Visiting the Narragansett Town Beach should be first on your list of things to do in Narragansett RI. While it’s popular for its surf, it’s also a nice beach for swimmers. There are also water sports that you can enjoy. This is why it’s a popular option for groups that have surfers and non-surfers alike.

photo credit: Misquamicut via photopin (license)

In addition to the Narragansett Town Beach, here are other beaches that offer a lot of fun things to do in Rhode Island:

• Barrington Town Beach
• Easton’s Beach
• Jamestown Town Beach
• Third Beach (Middletown)
• Blue Shutters Town Beach
• Charlestown Town Beach
• Scarborough Beach North and South

Go on an Adventure

If surfing is not your choice of adventure, here are some other adventures that you’ll surely enjoy:

• Skydive at Newport.
• Climb at an indoor climbing facility.
• Go horseback riding.
• Go parasailing.
• Join a kayak tour.
• Go rollerskating.
• Play laser tag.

What to do in Rhode Island? As you can see, even the adventurous tourists have a lot of choices.

Play Sports

Make sure to pack your golf bag! With Rhode Island oceans serving as the perfect backdrop, Rhode Island is home to some of the most scenic golf courses in New England. If you’re game for a golfing vacation, make sure to schedule a trip to South County since it has a lot of the best golf courses in Rhode Island.

It’s not just golf. There are also tennis courts where you can play a competitive game or two. Visit Providence and play at the Centre Court Tennis Club or The Indoor Tennis Court. If you’re a fan of tennis as a sport, then make sure to visit the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum in Newport County.

Try your Luck at the Casinos

It’s not Vegas, but Newport Grand Slots is popular among tourists. There’s also the Twin River Casino in Blackstone Valley.

Go on a Sightseeing Tour

Now, this is one of the fun things to do in Rhode Island if you’re with a group! Newport County and Providence have some fun tours that you can check out. Here are some tours that you should definitely check out:

• Ghost Tours of Newport
• Gansett Cruises
• Bird’s Eye View Helicopters
• Newport Gourmet Tours
• Newport Historical Society Walking Tours
• Experience Rhode Island
• Taste of Rhode Island Tour
• Summer Walking Tours (RI Historical Society)
• Coastal Biking Adventures, LLC

Learn How to Surf

You don’t know how to surf? Then learn how to surf! There’s no reason for you not to enjoy the Rhode Island surf just because you don’t know how to surf. This is especially true if you’re visiting Narragansett. You wouldn’t want to miss out on all the fun, right?

Wave Push!

One of the most exciting things to do in Narragansett RI is to learn how to surf. Check out the lessons of Warm Winds! You’ll be surfing in no time!

Who is John John Florence?

No, that’s not a typo. His name is really John John Florence, even if MS Word doesn’t want to agree. Unless you’re a beginner, you know who this guy is. After all, he’s one of the most marketable stars to ever step on a board. But since you’re asking who he is, there’s a good chance that you’re just starting out in this sport. You can benefit from knowing who John John is because his story may just serve as an inspiration.

Early Life

John John was born in Hawaii on October 18, 1992. He’s pretty lucky to have a mom in Alexandra who is a pretty good surfer in her own right. He’s also lucky that he grew up in Hale’iwa. To be more specific, he grew up at a house by the ocean in the Banzai Pipeline. Looks like that as soon as he was born, he was born to surf.

That’s actually close to being accurate. According to John John Florence himself, it didn’t take him long to get on a board. He was actually on a board first before he could walk, when he rode a board when he was just 6 months old. He was wearing a vest and was supported, but how many people can say that they got on their first board when they were just 6 months old?

It didn’t take him long to take the sport seriously. While a lot of 3 year olds were just starting to run, he was actually already surfing on his own. This early start paved the way for his early success.

Success Early in His Career

His popularity started sometime late 2005 when he became the youngest ever surfer to take part in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. His inclusion was due to his strong performances in the amateurs wherein he won 5 awards including the 2003 1st NSSA Nationals Open Mini Grom, Explorer Menehune Champion and the NSSA Nationals Open Boy’s and NSSA Open Boys in 2005.

While he gained recognition as being the youngest surfer in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, he actually didn’t do too well as he failed to move on to the second round. However, he did show that he can surf with the big (and older) boys as he did better than Shane Dorian who was older than him by 2 decades. Chalk his poor performance up to nervousness due to his inexperience.

Even early on in his career, he got recognized even by his more experienced peers. The great Kelly Slater was quoted as saying that, “John John’s going to know the waves on North Shore like no one we’ve ever seen before.”

Present Success

John John Florence has figured prominently in the Men’s CT Rankings. While he was at the 34^th spot back in 2011, he was sensational in 2012 that gave him a 4^th ranking. He slowed down in 2013 and dropped to 10^th, before recovering in 2014 in order to rank 3^rd. In fact, it was in this year when surfer Mitch Crews marveled at John John’s performance at the 2014 Billabong Pro Teahupoo. Mitch said that John John is, “the man out there, rules the line up and makes everyone look silly.” This year, he’s settled at the 12^th spot no thanks in part to an injury.

A Marketable Surfer

John John Florence is one of the more marketable names in the industry. In fact, a lot of people are searching for information about the John John Florence surfboard. He actually has an endorsement deal with Pyzel Surfboards. He has other endorsement deals with Monster, Vans, Hurley and Spy. It’s easy to see why he has several endorsements. After all, he’s the 2014 Men’s Reader Poll #1 according to Surfer Magazine.

About the John John Florence Surfboard

So you want to be like John John? While there’s a good chance that you didn’t have the early start that he had, you can start by checking out his surfboard of choice.

While it’s true that he sometimes carry around a couple of bags with him, which means having 10 or 11 boards with him, there’s one surfboard that’s affectionately called the John John Florence Surfboard – The Bastard. Shaped by Jon Pyzel of Pyzel Surfboards, John John has trusted this board from Trestles to Europe.

Speaking of Jon Pyzel, John John has a long relationship with the board shaper. In fact, John has been shaping boards for John John since the latter was 5 years old. It’s safe to say that Pyzel Surfboards as a company has played a good role in the success of the Phenom, John John Florence. With the partnership and his innate skills and talent, John John Florence is not yet done; he’s just getting started.

photo credit: JJ Florence – Rip Curl Pro Peniche via photopin (license)

John John Florence and His Love Affair with Pyzel Surfboards

Who’s not familiar with John John Florence? It seems that everywhere you go; you’ll read about him or hear a conversation  going on about him. It’s easy to see why this is the case. He’s just 22 years old but he’s been riding on his own since he was 3 years old. He wasn’t just some grom on a board. He was gnarly. He still is and from the looks of it, he’s not slowing down anytime soon.

Impressive Career

His young career has been very impressive so far. He first gained notoriety in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing of 2005 to 2006 as the youngest surfer ever to compete in that tourney. He deserved his spot, as he’s won 5 awards in the amateurs before that. He didn’t do too well in that tournament, but he showed great things to come. Chalk it up to inexperience and being “pretty scared” – words of Florence himself.

Surfing greats have great words about him. Even the living legend Kelly Slater recognized his potential and John John Florence is making Slater look good with his prediction.

John John Florence Surfboard

It’s not a secret. Florence loves his Pyzel surfboard. In fact, he grew up with Pyzel surfboards. You can say that they grew up together. The partnership is now in the spotlight especially with how he dominated the European leg of the Tour with the surfboard affectionately called, “The Bastard”.

The Specs

Being 6’1 in height and weighing 167 pounds, Jon Pyzel of Pyzel Surfboards shaped this board to be the perfect John John Florence surfboard. It’s as tall as Florence with a width of 18.65 inches. It’s 2.31 inches thick and has a 26.5 liter volume. It has a round tail that’s 14.25 inches wide. It has a nose that’s 11.63 inches wide.

This board has an interesting bottom contour. It lacks the typical flip found on other boards. You’ll find a single concave at the bottom with a double concave that runs through the board’s fins. This allows it to feel free. This feature also allows Florence to tip on to the rail even at amazing speeds.

The board, along with other boards used by John John Florence, is built out of Arctic. Pyzel believes that this is the best foam that’s currently available in the market.

Should You Get It?

You can get the same board but make sure that the dimensions match your weight and size. If you’re around 6’1 tall and 167 pounds, it can work for you. However, you also have to consider your skill level. This specific board is not for beginners. Sure, it can work for you, but you won’t be able to maximize its specs.

Fortunately, there are a lot of other Pyzel surfboards for sale. Warm Winds just started carrying these boards in stock. They have full runs of the Pyzalien, Slab and Rat Skull in stock. You can check them out. You may not be riding the John John Florence surfboard, but hey, you’re riding a Pyzel surfboard. If these boards are good enough for Florence, then it should be good enough for you.

photo credit: JJ Florence – Rip Curl Pro Peniche via photopin (license)

Hotels in Rhode Island that are Near Warm Winds

We’ve been seeing a rise in the number of tourists booking a Rhode Island vacation. A good percentage of them are making their way towards Narragansett to do one thing – surf. If you’re visiting to surf, of course, it’s a must that you visit Warm Winds for all your surfing needs. This is especially true if you need surfing lessons and gears.

Where to Stay

Surfing in this part of the country is amazing. This is why most people can’t get enough. Simply put, a day trip is not enough. Of course, Narragansett and Rhode Island for that matter are not just about surfing. This is why it’s a good idea to book a stay at a hotel. There are a lot of hotels in Rhode Island and this post will talk about the best ones that are near Warm Winds.

• Village Inn at Narragansett Pier Hotel and Conference Center

This is one of the top rated hotels in Narragansett and should help you have an amazing and relaxing Rhode Island vacation. Renovations are expected to be finished by May of 2015 so make sure to check it out after that! As a bonus, it’s just walking distance from Warm Winds!

• 1900 House

It’s not really a hotel but we’re including it on this list of the best hotels in Rhode Island near Warm Winds because like a hotel, it offers accommodations. But unlike a hotel, 1900 House offers personalized service which can help you have a relaxing time. It’s a home away from home.

• Ocean Rose Inn

It’s not the best overall, but the location is hard to beat. This is especially helpful if you want to check out the other things to do in Narragansett RI. After all, you’re looking for the best Rhode Island vacation so make sure to check out other attractions.

• Stone’s Throw Inn

It’s a fitting name because it’s a stone’s throw away from Warm Winds. This is why it’s on this list of hotels in Rhode Island. One thing it has going for it is its amazing breakfast. You’ll need that before hitting the surf!

• Blueberry Cove Inn

Since you’re looking for a relaxing Rhode Island vacation, you’re probably looking for cozy hotels in Rhode Island. Unfortunately, most hotels are not really cozy. This is why you have to check out the Blueberry Cove Inn.

It’s only about 300 meters from Warm Winds so that’s a huge bonus.

• Tower House B&B

This is more than a kilometer away from the surf shop, but that shouldn’t be an issue if you’re looking for the best bed and breakfast. A lot of tourists are calling this the best and for very good reason. The place offers clean and amazing rooms and the service is top-notch.

Do Your Research

As you can see, if you’re looking for the best hotels in Rhode Island that are near Warm Winds, your best options are cozy inns and relaxing bed and breakfast places. For someone looking for a relaxing Rhode Island vacation, it’s not a bad thing at all.

Things to do in Narragansett Alone: Who Needs Friends when You have these Activities?

Sometimes you just want to enjoy life on your own and there’s nothing wrong with that! Narragansett, Rhode Island is one of the best places where you can do just that. Explore the beautiful beaches and scenery that the town has to offer while challenging yourself to try new activities. This article will help you to make the most out of your solo getaway as it will list the best things to do in Narragansett alone.

Take a Trip to the Beach

Narragansett Town Beach

photo credit: Narragansett Beach II via photopin (license)

Narragansett is known for its beautiful beaches and there are so many to choose from. In fact, it’s home to some of the best beaches in Rhode Island. Here are just some of them:

• Narragansett Town Beach
• Scarborough
• Salty Brine
• Roger Wheeler

Pack a nice lunch; grab your beach chair and head on down to one of these for a relaxing day. You’ll soon find out why it’s one of the best and most relaxing things to do in Narragansett RI when you’re flying solo.

Visit the Point Judith Lighthouse

The Point Judith Lighthouse is just one of the many beautiful scenic places in Narragansett. From here you have a breath taking view of the ocean and can catch the greatest sunsets. There are some benches, but bringing your own blanket is the best! Don’t forget to bring your camera because you won’t want to miss capturing the landscape.

This is one of the cheapest things to do in Narragansett as well. It’s one of those activities that won’t burn a hole in your pocket.

Take a Surf Lesson

Wave Push!

photo credit: Warm Winds website

Looking for a little more adventure? Taking a surf lesson is one of the things to do in Narragansett that you shouldn’t miss! There’s nothing quite like trying something new and challenging yourself. Lucky for you Narragansett is home to a great surf shop that also offers lessons. Warm Winds is located right near Narragansett Town Beach at 26 Kingstown Road. They have a store full of lifestyle clothing and surfing gear. As I mentioned before, they also offer individual surf lessons and rentals. If you’ve ever wanted to give surfing a try, this is your chance to do it. Warm Winds has a super friendly staff with a passion for surfing. They will make you feel comfortable and support you in your new venture. Make sure you put this on your to do list! Come back from your solo vacation and show your friends all the new tricks that you’ve learned.

Take a Hike!

That’s right; take a nice walk through the John H Chafee Nature Preserve located on Boston Neck Road. This is the perfect place to enjoy the great outdoors that Narragansett has to offer and is one of the most relaxing things to do in Narragansett Rhode Island. With tons of small trails and great views of the ocean this is a great place to spend the afternoon. There are a ton of things to do in Narragansett RI even if you’re flying solo. Take a relaxing trip to the beach or test your luck surfing in the Rhode Island waters. No matter what you choose, you’re sure to have a great trip!

How to Find Out the Rhode Island Surf Forecast

Generally speaking, the Rhode Island surf is good all-year round. Sure, it’s not perfect all the time, but it’s usually good. As a surfer, you don’t want to settle for just good. You want to make sure that the surf is perfect during the time of your visit. At the very least, you want to make sure that it’s favorable. This is especially true if you’re visiting from another state or if you have guests that you want to introduce to the RI surf culture.

What You Need to Know

Generally speaking, it’s never a good thing if the forecast says that the surf is flat. Just to be more specific, here are the things that you should check:

• Water temperature

You’re looking for warm water temperature. You’d want to know if a wetsuit is a must.

• Wave details

You need to know two things – how high is it and what is the interval in between waves? If you see from the Rhode Island surf report that the wave details are summed up as “three feet at ten seconds”, then it simply means that the waves are three feet high and they come at ten second intervals. That’s pretty average.

Beginners would think that the intervals should be short. Short intervals are not a good thing because the longer the interval, the larger the wave. For example, “three feet at ten seconds” is better than “three feet at four seconds”.

If you’re a pro, then you’d probably drop everything you’re doing right now if you see something like “eight feet at twenty seconds”. Have something like “ten feet at twenty seconds” and pros would postpone their wedding, and their surfer partner would understand.

• Wind

The wind also plays an important role in the quality of the surf. If you want to experience a good day, the Rhode Island surf condition should have no wind. Some people think that having wind blowing on your face while you’re facing the surf is good, but it actually makes the waves bumpier. That’s not good.

If there are winds, you’d hope for offshore winds. These are winds that blow from behind you when you’re facing the surf. This can lead to a cleaner wave.

Make Sure to Check Out the Surf Cam

A lot of the Rhode Island surf forecasts feature a surf cam so you can see for yourself what the conditions are. A lot of them feature the surf cam of Warm Winds so make sure to check it out.

Check out the SwellInfo.com site for the surf forecasts in Rhode Island.

 

 

Warm Winds Surf Shop: Your Friendly Narragansett Surf Shop

The surf RI culture is booming and we have a lot of people and businesses to thank for that. Of course, we tip our hat to Joe McGovern (RIP, Joe!) who basically paved the way for Narragansett surfing. Thanks to him, surfers from all over the world have discovered what locals have known for decades – surfing in Narragansett rocks!

Surf Shops are All Over Rhode Island

With the rise in the popularity of surfing in RI, it just follows that surf shops have set up shop all over Rhode Island. If you’re looking for a Narragansett surf shop, you can’t go wrong with the Warm Winds Surf Shop. After all, it’s been around since the early 70s. From its humble beginnings as a rather small board brand in 73, it has now grown to be one of the most trusted RI surf shops.

About the Surf Shop

You’re not going to miss this shop if you visit Narragansett since it’s right across the street from the Town Beach just along Kingstown Road. It has always been a popular fixture in The Pier, with surfers and curious people going in and out regularly. The shop has always strived to become the most trusted one-stop shop for surfers and judging from the feedback that it’s been getting, it’s doing a good job.

Premium Products and Services

The shop takes pride in selling high quality products. Its surfboard inventory is impressive, to say the least. With more than 500 surfboards currently in inventory, you can surely find the right one for you. It’s not just surfboards. The shop also carries wetsuits, surfing accessories, hats and clothing.

Beginners also make it a point to head straight to Warm Winds Surf Shop before they try to conquer their first surf. Ask locals for recommendations for surf lessons and most of them will point towards Warm Winds. After all, the shop has been offering quality lessons for more than two decades now. If you want to join a lesson, head over to the Warm Winds Surf Trailer at the Town Beach’s south parking lot.

But with the friendly atmosphere of the shop, it’s quite obvious that they also put a premium on providing high quality customer experience. This was reiterated when Warm Winds Surf Shop was featured on Transworld Business. According to Ryan Litwin, the new owner of the shop, they make sure that the shop is staffed correctly by staff members who are expected to showcase top-notch knowledge and attitude.

A Friend of the Community

The shop regularly supports the community. They do this by holding surfing camps, sponsoring contests, putting together beach clean-ups and even sponsoring movie nights. Understanding the fact that the community is also big on skating, they’re working with the community in order to set up a new skate park.

Check Out what the RI Surf Culture has to Offer

It’s time for you to check out what the surf RI culture, specifically the Narragansett surf culture, has to offer. Check out Warm Winds Surf Shop today!

photo credit: svenstorm via photopin cc