Surfing seems easy, right? You only need to paddle out there, duck under those waves, and ride down the face of the waves doing a bit of cut backs and bottom turns. If you had rented a board and had a go you would realize how a real surf experience comes a bit different.
Surfing was brought back to the limelight when a Hawaiian swimmer Duke Kahanamoku formed the first surfing club in Waikiki. Professional surfing competition had become truly popular in the 1960s and it brought about the best surf experience possible. The major organizing body for professional surfing today is the Association of Surf Professionals (ASP), which also includes five regional organizations. A couple of professional surfers would earn about $200,000 or more primarily from competitions but most top pro surfers would earn about $20,000 each year. Top professional surfers would earn more than $750,000 over the course of a lifetime purely from competitions alone. More earnings can come from product endorsements and lessons.
So what does it take to become a professional surfer and live the best surf experience ever while earning money at the same time? Here are some instructions:
1. Get yourself some surfing clothes and at least one surfboard of your own to start with. But you will perhaps not have much success without the main element in the mix: great ocean waves. So it is obvious that it would be much help if you live near the ocean. At all times, you should stay in good shape.
2. Offering lessons is one of the most popular sidelines for surf teaching professionals, who offer knowledge and training to newbies. It can be a major expense but it is definitely worth the investment if you plan on competing professionally. It takes a lot of practice to develop skills as a surfer and there are no shortcuts in this. You can find veteran surfers who offer lessons when you hang out in surf shops like the 2 Mile Surf Shop located in Bolina, California. Nick Kreiger is the program director at that shop.
3. Competing in a semi-professional surfing event is the next step. Be prepared to travel around other destinations to find events. You will gain valuable surf experience even if you only compete in a few events while still practicing on your own.
4. To join the ASP is simple for qualified surfers. You have to apply and pay membership fees. The ASP World Tour is however only for an elite group of surfing professionals who dominate this sport. Female surfers can compete too.
5. Travel the world for you to compete in ASP events and join the ASP World Tour.
6. Endorsing surfing products and providing surf lessons is a great supplement for your income once you’ve made it inside.
