How to Store Surfing Equipment
Are you familiar with how to store your surfing gear correctly? Proper storage is crucial if you want your gear to last more than one season. This blog provides useful storage information for first-time and seasoned surfers on properly storing your surfboard.
Why You Should Storage Surfing Gear
When you buy surfing gear, you expect it to last a long time. To ensure its longevity, you will need to store it properly. The last thing you would need is for the sun or accidental damage to the board. If you store your gear properly, you will save money by not needing to repurchase equipment.
Common Surfing Equipment
Before getting into how to store surfing equipment, we need to know what equipment needs storage. Some everyday items include surfboards. These are the most expensive parts of surfing, ranging from just a few hundred dollars to a couple of thousands. Another pricy item is the wetsuit. Neoprene wetsuits can fade and wear out if not stored properly. Some miscellaneous surfing accessories like leashes, traction pads, fins, surfboard bags, and wax need special instructions on how to store items properly.
How To Store Surfing Equipment
When surfing season is over, preparation becomes very important if you want your gear to stay in great shape during the off-season. You want to clean any sand, dry it, and check your gear carefully before putting it away.
Cleaning and Drying Your Surfboard
To properly clean your surfboard, you want to remove all sand and saltwater from it. Use fresh water and a cleaning product to rinse it off. Pay when cleaning its important to clean out the surfboard of any wax. Small debris can gather on board and cause imperfections on the finish. After properly cleaning the surfboard, make sure wipe away any moisture from the board to prevent mold.
Removing and Storing Fins
Surfboard fins should be removed from your surfboard before putting it to long term storage. We recommend removing the fins from the board and storage them in a padded fin bag or special surfing container that protects it from damage.
Checking for Damage and Making Repairs
After surfing season is over, you should check your surfboard for any dents, cracks, or other damage that might have happened. If something pierced through the surfboard layer, water may have gotten into the board and could delaminate it. If this happens, we recommend taking it to a shaper to repair any imperfections.
Storing Surfboards
Surfboards are the most important piece of gear for any surfer, and they need to be stored properly to maintain their original condition.
Choosing the Correct Storage Unit
To prevent damage depends on where you store it. Surfboards should be kept inside, in a cool, dry place, out of sunlight. If you want to keep it in the best condition we recommend climate controlled storage.
Horizontal vs. Vertical Storage Options
There are two ways you can orientate your surfboard for storage. You could lay the surfboard on a flat surface. We recommend this method if you have more than enough space. If you plan to place it on the floor, make sure there is something between the floor and the board to prevent scratching. Storing your board vertically is also a popular method. If you choose this method, make sure the board does not tip over. Use a surfboard stand with foam padding or a protective cover to cushion the part that makes contact with the floor.
Protecting Your Surfboard
You could use a surfboard bag to protect your board even more while in storage. This keeps dust and other debris and prevents any scratches if dropped or fragged.
Cleaning and Drying Your Wetsuit
Rinse your wetsuit well with clean water after your last surf session to remove salt, sand, and other grime. Scrub the wetsuit from the inside out with a wetsuit shampoo to eliminate any smells or germs that remain. Dry the wetsuit by hanging it up in a cool, shady place that isn't in direct sunlight, which can damage the neoprene over time. If you are interested in storing surfing materials, we recommend Added Space Storage. We have various storage units to keep your surfing safe until next season.
