While Taiwan is not known as a "surfers' paradise", there are quite a few places in Taiwan where the sea glides into a sandy beach; where coastal mountains serve as a backdrop; where there are waves suitable for beginners as well as advanced surfers. The surfing in Taiwan is decent all year 'round.
Beginner Surfers in Taiwan
As a rule, longer boards catch smaller waves, are more stable, but offer less in terms of steering. Short boards are less stable, require more paddling to catch a wave, but afford the oppurtunity to impress your friends with fancy maneuvres.
Some tips for beginners:
- Stretch before going out
- Use the leash! The cord on your board attaches to your ankle, so that if you fall off, your board doesn't take off into the deep blue without you.
- Don't forget to paddle! You need to make sure you will be travelling as fast as the wave when it arrives.
- To get up: push with your arms and slide your feet under you into a wide stance.
Rentals and Purchases
If you're looking for a longboard (2-3 meters long) to rent in Taiwan, ask for a 'Chang Ban', which should be wide, thick, and made of foam. DO NOT PAY MORE THAN NT$500 for a beginner surf board for all day. If you want to buy a surfboard, prices start around NT$20,000 because they are imported.
Other Water Options
If you're not too keen on surfing, or if it's just not enough, there are several other options for you.
- Body/Boogie Boards - offer the same thrill as surfing, but feel safer and are much easier to carry and catch waves.
- Windsurfing - Taiwan offers perfect conditions for windsurfing. There is always a wind, and there are loads of places to windsurf safely.
- Kitesurfing - is "the new surfing" wherein you strap a small board to your feet and attach a kite to your waist.
Links
Here are some links that have English as well as Chinese language options.
- Click here for the Central Weather Bureau
- Click here for Spider Sufing
This is a chain surf shop in taiwan. They have web cams with updates every two minutes. - Click here for The Kitesurfing Center in Taiwan
- Click here for Kitesurfing, windsurfing, and surfing lessons plus rentals
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