The Essential Surf Travel Checklist
Prepare for unfamiliar breaks with a solid gear checklist, safety worksheets, and local community considerations before you travel.
Read note Travel
Surf Travel & Guides
Field Notebook Articles
Practical, safety-minded articles written to guide your spot research, prepare you for travel, and build good habits in the water.
All Notebook Notes
Knowledge for deliberate progression.
Explore our field notebook articles below. Each one focuses on practical decisions, respect for local lineups, and condition awareness.
Travel
Sustainable Surf Travel
Minimise your environmental footprint, respect local lineups, support coastal economies, and build positive community relations.
Read note Travel
How to Choose a Surf Destination for Your Level
Match a trip to your real ability — from mellow beach breaks to heavy reefs — using wave type, season, and on-the-ground safety nets.
Read note Travel
Planning Your First Surf Camp Trip
What a surf camp really includes, how to vet a reputable one, what to pack, and how to set realistic goals for your first week.
Read note Spots
Understanding Surf Forecasts
A practical guide to reading swell heights, wave periods, wind directions, and tide graphs to accurately forecast a session.
Read note Spots
How to Assess a New Surf Spot
Observe a lineup from the beach, spot rips and shallow reefs, identify safe entry and exit routes, and read local hazards.
Read note Spots
Beach, Point & Reef Breaks Explained
Beach, point and reef breaks each behave differently. Learn how they form, how they read, and which suits your level.
Read note Spots
Rip Currents: How to Spot Them and Escape Safely
How to read a rip from the sand, what to do if you are caught in one, and how experienced surfers use them wisely.
Read note Beginner
Lineup Etiquette 101
Understand the unwritten rules of priority, drop-in safety, peak positioning, snaking, and how to stay safe in crowded lineups.
Read note Beginner
Choosing Your First Surfboard
Demystify board volume, shape dynamics, soft-tops versus minimal fibreglass designs, and choosing the right setup for learning.
Read note Beginner
Mastering the Pop-Up: From Prone to Your Feet
Break the pop-up into one smooth motion, drill it on dry land, and fix the mistakes that keep beginners on their knees.
Read note Beginner
Wetsuits Explained: Thickness, Fit & Water Temperature
Choose the right thickness for the water temperature, nail the fit, and understand seams, zips and care so a suit lasts.
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