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Islands are synonymous with swell and they are usually fantastic places for surfing, arguably one of the best activities for mental and physical wellbeing. The great benefit of surfing is that it can be enjoyed by all ages and abilities, with boards made to suit every size and skill level. Although a surf beach can look chaotic, there is a simple order with beginners staying close to shore in the shallow water where the waves have expended most of their energy. Then, as you get better, you paddle out a little further into deeper water where the bigger waves break (a wave breaks when the depth is 1.3 times wave height) until you find yourself ‘out back’, waiting for the biggest waves.
It is a long path to develop the skills where you can ride large ‘unbroken’ waves, and one way to speed up the process is to visit one of the new wave pools in Britain. There is currently one outside Bristol (left), with another coming soon to Edinburgh, and the idea is to create consistently good waves for you to train on. After a couple of unsuccessful attempts trying to teach my partner Naomi on various beaches around the UK (teaching a spouse is fraught with danger) I booked a surprise birthday present at
The Wave that included a lesson with one of their instructors. The perfectly designed waves and expert assistance meant she stood on her third wave and grasped the basics far quicker than during any of our previous attempts when the swell was invariably too large or too small.
Visiting a wave pool is a little like going on the dry ski slope before a ski holiday when you haven’t hit the slopes for several years. It blows off the cobwebs, gets your muscles accustomed to the movements and means that you are ready to go on day one of your trip. Surfing, in particular, uses specific muscle groups that are best developed through surfing and the first few days of a surf holiday are invariably a toughening up process with wobbly arms every evening. But by building your fitness in a wave pool you can make the most of every single day of your staycation, maximising performance and satisfaction. Plus, going to a wave pool is fun in its own right, giving you a pre-holiday holiday. Go now!