Top Five Surfing Accessories

Technically, all you really need to have a great day surfing is just a surf board, but there are some great surf accessories on the market that will allow you to enjoy the waves so much more!

Sun Screen- This might seem like a no brainer but many people leave this important accessory at home. Proper sun screen will protect you from damaging UV rays and keep you from getting sun damage that causes wrinkles. Even if you don't believe in the health problems related to sun exposure, lack of sun screen can cause sun burns that will keep you off of the water and out of commission for a while. I like Coopertone's line of Sport sunscreens for keeping my skin protected. You can find this sun screen at any drug store.

http://coppertone.com/coppertone/products/products_sport.jsp?utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=sunscreen&utm_campaign=sunscreen_bing&buf=999999

Surf Board Leash- It might seem very basic but a leash will save you from having to track down your board on shore after you wreck. It will also prevent your board from hitting into some poor swimmer! A high end Dakine brand leash is a good investment at around $25 to protect your surf board.

http://www.essentialsurf.com/ikorb.php?func=catalog&category_id=77&product_id=341

Board Bag- Having a bag will let you travel with your surfboard on an airplane to an exotic location. Even if you aren't going somewhere far away, storing your board in a bag will protect it from premature browning of the finish. Bags will differ in the amount of padding in the lining. At a minimum you want a bag with 5 mm of foam padding around the board. Most bags come with a shoulder carrying strap that makes transporting your bag to the water so much more comfortable. I like having a bag to round up all of my items likes keys and swimsuit cover up. You can buy a decent bag for toting around your board for around $50.00 but it's a good idea to spend a little more to get a nicer bag if you will be traveling with your bag, long distances.

http://www.surfboardshack.com/surf_shop/board_bags.html

Surfboard Nose and Tail Guard- These are rubber covers that fit over the nose or tail of your board. It will protect your board's nose and tail when you hit into rocks or sand banks. These sell for $10 to $15 dollars but they are well worth it. My board gets the most wear in these areas.

http://www.surfboardshack.com/surf_shop/noseguards.html

Wax- Wax helps keep you on the board. Wax should be applied before taking a board out. It's applied to the top and the sides of the board but never to the bottom. There are myths about how it is supposed to be applied but there's really not set method. Just put it on the sides where you're going to grab and the top where you want your feet to stay planted. This is one the cheapest accessories starting at around $1.

http://www.swimoutlet.com/product_p/10600.htm