15 Things Only Female Surfers Will Understand

The culture around surfing involves its own attitudes, lingo and priorities. The latter is especially true for female surfers whose passion for the water is something their non-surfing sisters just can't comprehend.

You Wish You Had Longer Arms

Some female surfers are blessed with naturally long arms, but many are left to awkwardly struggle while carrying their board around the beach.

Bikinis Suck

Sure, bikinis help female surfers show off their hard-earned beach bods, but they just aren’t practical for actually shredding waves. One-piece swimsuits are the way to go to avoid wedgies.

You Have To Prove Yourself

Being the only woman in the lineup is just going to happen sometimes, and if you’ve never surfed with the guys before, your first ride with them will be critical for gaining the respect you deserve.

You Hate Plastic Bags

Being in the water so often forces you to witness firsthand the impact pollution has on aquatic life. This is especially true when it comes to discarded plastic bags. Now, when you go shopping, you either bring your own bag or choose paper.

You Love Post-Surf Naps

While riding a huge wave is super thrilling, one of the best parts of surfing isn’t exactly what most people expect. Curling up in bed with that slightly achy but wonderfully fatigued post-surfing feeling is the absolute best way to fall asleep.

 You Could Never Just Lie On The Beach All Day

A lot of girls go to the beach just to lie about soaking in the sun, but that would be torture to most surfers. The waves are crashing right in front of you — how can you not jump into that gorgeous water!?

Leggings Are So Essential

Every surfer knows the struggle of trying to wriggle their way into jeans after hitting the waves — and we’ve all learned our lesson after that. Leggings are crucial for female surfers to keep legs dry and comfortable.

You Do Yoga Constantly

Without a doubt, the best exercise for any surfer is yoga, since it builds your strength, balance, and flexibility. Since yoga rarely requires any equipment, it’s not difficult for you to break into a pose or stretch anywhere — although your friends might think you’re a little weird.

Your Friends Don’t Understand Your Priorities

Speaking of your friends, if they aren’t surfers, then they most likely have some much different priorities than you do. They can’t understand why you want to be cold and wet all the time, and you can’t understand how they just want to go shopping or stay inside all the time.

Winter Is Hell

Surfers live and breathe for the summer, so of course those three months of snow and ice we call winter are pure torture for any surfer. Maybe you’ve tried using a winter wetsuit, or tried to convince yourself that snowboarding could tide you over, but what you’re probably doing most often is looking up tickets to some tropical island where winter has no power.

You Can Only Date Other Surfers

You and your fellow surfers just speak the same language. You can make jokes about all those innuendo-y surf terms (rubber up, strap on, wax job), and you want to spend the day hanging out in the ocean together. Non-surfer guys just don’t understand a really big part of your life — at least until you teach them to surf!

But Not Every Surfer

Sure, you want to date a guy who likes to surf, but most likely not your closest surfing bros. You form a tight bond with the other surfers you carve with, and they become like your family. The guys you surf with are more like your brothers than anything else.

You Have More Boards Than High Heels

We all know those women who spend all of their money on clothes, shoes, and jewelry. That’s definitely not you. How could you blow all your cash on a pair of high heels when you just saw a shortboard that you must have!?

But You Can Still Look Glamorous!

So maybe buying fancy clothes isn’t your ideal purchase, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look amazing dressed up! All that time surfing has made you a bronzed, toned beach babe that can rock any look.

You Choose Your Foods Carefully

Surfing is a sport, and requires both a lot of energy as well as a strong body. Surfers take care of their bodies with what they eat — avoiding fast food and sugary snacks and instead making meals high in carbohydrates and proteins.