For surfers the seasons are quite simple. We only talk about summer or winter when we want to plan our trip or plan to stay here. The reason for this is that there is such a big difference between the conditions of the waves in both seasons .
Summer here in Fuerteventura, like you might have noticed, has got a lot more windy days. You can say that more or less in a month you will get about 5 to 10 days with less or no wind. In winter you will have 20 to 25 days where the wind is not present.
Now most people would think that you need the wind to be able to surf. This is right up to a certain point. You need the wind in order to create a wave. Still the best would be if this waves get created far away from its shore on which it´s bound to break. Compare the ocean to a windy lake and you can see it with you own eyes. You will see that there is more time and distance in between the ocean waves. And this is what we need as a surfer. Waves with quite some time in between, other then the nervous braking waves of the lake. The big difference is the time that the wind had been blowing and over what area and how long the swell has been travelling before it turns into a wave.
The big thing with surfing is that you are depending to the nature and you can not always have the perfect waves. This is what make is so enjoyable because every good day is like an extra gift.
All the days that the waves are not prefect you can still enjoy yourself plus you work on you fitness and ocean skills for the following good days. If you go out every day even if it is windy and the waves are breaking from all directions, you will notice that on the good days you are more fit. This means more waves and more improvement. So if you want to become a good surfer, go out every day that you find the chance. Even if it is small, messy or cold. At the end all the hard work pays off and you feel in tune with the ocean.
It doesn´t make much sense to check the forecast of the waves on the long run. We are here out on the ocean so the prediction can change quite a bit. Up to 3 days you can rely on it. If you look ahead for one week, you can see there might be a swell coming but the date that it arrives can change and also the wind conditions can be different then predicted. The best way is just to see if the wind will drop. If you see this, you know that on that day you should try to get in the water for sure. So drop your appointments and try to get away from work, school, relation or family. At first people around you might not like it so much. After a while they understand and it just becomes part of who you are.
Stay stoked!
Oscar Schenk,
Hotzone Surfschool
If you would like to participate in one of the lessons from The Hotzone Surfschool. Check www.hotzonesurfschool.com or call Oscar Schenk; 0034666578284
