Everyone can enjoy surfing. There is a surfboard and a wave for everyone because surfers come in all different shapes and sizes.
I often get asked, “Are there weight restrictions for surfing?” In the sport of surfing, there are no official weight limits or restrictions. Surfboards are made to provide surfers with floats so they can properly ride waves. It’s as easy as riding a bigger surfboard for heavier surfers.
Read on if you want to learn more about the sport or find some useful advice.
Table of Contents
Can Overweight People Surf?
Yes, absolutely, obese individuals can go surfing! To ride the waves, there is no weight restriction. Since surfing first gained popularity a few decades ago, many obese people have participated in it regularly. Some well-known professional surfers have also been overweight, but I’ll get to that in a moment. Compared to modern surfboards, some of the early surfboards used in traditional Hawaiian and Polynesian cultures were over 18 feet long and weighed over 150 pounds, making them far less agile in the water but still able to carry big riders. One thing to be on the lookout for is the possibility that you won’t be able to locate a rental facility prepared to lend you a surfboard. They frequently don’t have the right size board for you, so this is primarily a safety issue on their end.
They probably don’t get many obese riders like us and won’t keep a bigger board on hand that won’t be used very much because the majority of their customers fit the archetype of the skinny surfer dude.
Which Surfboard Size Should I Buy Given My Weight?
The capacity of a surfboard to float a certain amount of weight is crucial since it aids surfers in selecting the best surfboard. Age, experience, and weight of the surfer are the main determinants of surfboard sizing in general.
It is advised to ride a larger board if you are heavier because it will provide more float, but if you are more experienced, you may be able to get away with a smaller board.
How Does Weight Affect Performance for Surfers?
You will run into folks from all walks of life at the beach. Additionally, you’ll see surfers of all shapes and sizes, from little kids to enormous adults, effectively catching waves. The performance of a surfer is not always impacted by weight. In order to catch
waves and perform successfully in the ocean, balance, coordination, and fitness are more important than size.
Surfing Techniques & Surfer Weight
Advanced surfers ride waves by performing tricks. When a surfer builds up speed and propels themselves and their surfboard into the air, they are performing certain tricks like airs. They then land and continue riding. For smaller/lighter surfers, airs are simpler.
Surfers of all sizes can undertake additional manoeuvres including cutbacks and turns. Sometimes a surfer’s weight behind them helps them accomplish cutbacks and turns with additional force.
Guidance for larger Riders
There are a few pointers you should bear in mind if you’re a larger rider going out surfing for the first time.
- Use your stomach to push yourself up when it’s time to stand on the board and surf the waves while you’re face down on the board and in the water.
- Both in-person and on YouTube, watching other surfers is a terrific method to pick up some useful advice. You can learn a lot by watching, as the legendary catcher and outfielder for the New York Yankees Yogi Berra, often stated.
- You should check the weather forecast because surfing is greatly influenced by the weather. It’s essential to research these conditions or consult a local before you head out because they change based on where you’re surfing.
- The most important things to remember are to “be safe” and “have fun,” nevertheless. It is preferable to return to the shore and try again another time if you are uncomfortable with the waves or believe a riptide may be approaching.
Common Questions:
Am I too heavy for surfing?
There is no weight limit to go ride the waves. Since surfing started to grow in popularity a few decades ago, many fat people have surfed every day and even some famous professional surfers have been on the larger side, but I’ll get to that a bit later.
How much weight can a surfboard support?
Alternatively, an experienced surfer can ride a surfboard that’s 35% – 40% of their body weight in volume. This formula varies depending on wave conditions, age and how often you surf.
Does weight matter for surfboards?
A heavier board can really help push through that. If you make a board lighter and lighter you’re going to take away material and inherently make the board weaker as well. In general a heavier board, especially with us at Appletree Surfboards, will be stronger than the lighter version.
Conclusion and closing remarks
With the aid of specially made boards and instruction from qualified instructors, fat people can absolutely enjoy the sport of surfing. Larger builds can be found among some of the best surfers in the world. Everything I’ve said about boards in this article is really general advice. The expert shaper you hire to create your personalized board will be much more knowledgeable than anything you could learn from an online article. The most crucial thing to keep in mind when surfing is safety, but with a little local knowledge, a good surfboard, and a healthy dose of care, you should have no issues.
Take pleasure in the waves!
Furthermore, a good surfboard requires proper maintenance, so take good care of your surfboard by using a surfboard rack and setting up a suitable surfboard rack location in your home.
