Fringe surfing: alternative ways of riding waves to enhance your salt life.

Bellyboarding, bodysurfing, skimboarding, SUP surfing, foil surfing, mat surfing and even bodyboarding these days all make up the fringe surfing landscape. Fringe surfing being alternative ways to ride waves rather than just shredding on your standard surfboard. As we slide into full on silly season, where low pressure system swell senders become fewer and farther between, these other disciplines are ways to make use of the UK’s lackluster high season junk we mostly get. Of course, every now and again Mother Nature bucks the trend and delivers a thumping pulse (maybe combined with glorious sunny weather). But it doesn’t happen often and so if you want to maximise your fun in the brine perhaps it’s time to look elsewhere – at least for a few weeks.

Junky, small, weak waves? Grab a hydrofoil for some foil surfing fun!

Fun’s the name of the game with these activities. If you start taking it too seriously then there’s really no point. After all, the furrowed brown face of surfing’s what you’re trying to escape by adopting a different way to slide. Still smacking the water in frustration? Then you’re possibly a lost cause and may need to sit it out until autumn. For most who try one of these alternative wave riding machines, however, it’s all stoke with often the person (or people in question) suddenly viewing their local spot in a new light. Discovering you don’t need perfect conditions can be revelatory. In some cases (such as with foil surfing or mat surf – as we know from speaking to committed individuals) – this new fringe surfing lifestyle becomes THE main focus. And why not? Again, if it ends being more fun than trying to pilot your toothpick surfboard round a break then so be it. The main thing’s that you’re getting wet and loving it. Life’s too short, after all…

One other benefit of fringe surfing antics is a lot of these disciplines don’t require the rider to jaunt off paddling outback. Take belly boarding as one example. Standing in the shallows is fine, whilst you wait for your wave. This is great for families – especially families with younger, smaller children. It means mum, dad and offspring can all be in the same spot, enjoying the ocean together. And that kind of experience is gold.

Kneeboard ripping with Matty Gallagher.

So if you’re fed up with surfing’s lack of fulfillment through the UK’s summer months. And angry at Neptune not delivering. Perhaps it’s time to switch your tack and look at a fringe surfing discipline. Who knows, if many do the same thing it might end up being mainstream ways to ride waves and not so much on the periphery.

For anyone searching for gear that suits fringe surfing activities (as well as surfing proper) scope out NCW’s webshop where you’ll find all the goodies to enhance your sessions –

https://www.northcoastwetsuits.co.uk/shop/