Follow these golden rules of gear care and you will make your equipment last 10+

If you are like me, you want your very own surfboard and surfsuit to be your loyal friend in good waves and bad wipeouts, on rainy days and in sunshine waves - ideally to last you a lifetime. But in reality your surf equipment is entangled in a complex love and hate relationship with the salty sea and air, the corrosive sand and intense sun, sharp rocks, your knees and other people in the water.

We have put together some golden rules,  that will make your equipment last:

Avoid sand

Everybody loves the beach, where we often hang out before and after our surf sessions. However, our surf equipment does not love it there and the reason is: Sand! Firstly, sand screws up your wax transforming it into sandpaper. Secondly it helps to slowly destroy the velcro of your leash, so it can end up loosening the grip whilst you are in the water. Lastly, sand also carries salt, which, in combination with the sun, is extremely corrosive to all of your gear.  Therefore, avoid dragging your leash in the sand and even avoid leaving your board lying in the sand (although we see it in too many movies and on the beach daily).

Tip: Rinse your surf gear straight at the beach, if facilities are available and store them away before enjoying the beach.

Shower it off

Wash your gear immediately after every surf session, not only your wetsuit, rash vest, bikini, board shorts etc. but also your board itself and most importantly the leash. This way, you get rid of all the unwanted sand and salt in an instant.

Tip: Rinse your wetsuit and bikini/ board shorts/ UV-protection regularly with special wetsuit shampoo (by hand in the bathtub with cold water) to get rid of sweat, sunscreen grease and other unwanted liquids!

Keep it cool and covered

To avoid (mostly dirty-yellow) discolouring of your board and bleaching out of your surf-wear and melting away of your wax, put your board and leash immediately in a cover after surf and hang your surf clothes in a shady place after rinsing. This way, you keep them covered from harmful UV sunlight, cool and clean from sand and salt.

Tip: Boardsocks do a great job in protecting your board easily from sand and sun at the beach!

Hold on to your board

Ai dios! We all know the moment when you just want to chuck our board and dive underneath that massive wave coming at you in a flash. To put it in the simple, wise words of my grandma: Don’t do it! No matter how strong the urge to toss it, not only can you potentially shoot your board towards other people damaging them and their boards - but also, your board is at stake.

Many people also forget the strain on the leash in such wipeouts. Your leash is your best friend and when your board gets pulled back heavily, whilst you rest underneath the curl too many times, your leash will quit the loyal relationship and eventually simply rip. Hold on to your board, turtle roll, duck dive or do anything in between the two possible for you, to make your board and leash last.

Tip: To avoid your board and body kissing solid earth at rocky/reefy spots, wipe out falling flat on your back! This way, you and your board will not dive deep.

Store it right

After your surf session, store your gear like you would bring a baby to sleep. Never lean your board upright on the wall without the security of a wall rack, the likelihood that your board will slide down and get damaged is very high. When your wetsuit is dry, don't hang it on a normal garment hanger - it will loosen the neoprene over time. Rather hang it like a trousers over the trousers-bar of the hanger. Try to avoid folding it too much, surf suits like to breathe.

Tip: Examine your board, leash and gear after every surf to detect possible damage and repair immediately to avoid further destruction!

The more obsessed you are about following these rules, the longer your equipment will last. So be the helicopter-parent of your surf gear and you will spend your savings on another surf trip or three and avoid many uncomfortable moments in the water!

Jasmin