Surfing is one of the most popular watersports for extreme sports enthusiasts, and with a wide variety of locations worldwide, can be one of the most exhilarating. Many who visit the coastal regions in the southern hemisphere — such as the vast beaches of South Africa and Australia — go for the rich variety of surfing conditions during the warm weather. Surfing is also a popular choice for backpackers who embark on excursions down under. As with all extreme sports, there is an element of danger associated with surfing, ranging from collisions with fellow surfers, marine wildlife and also the risk of drowning. Because of this it is important to arrange some suitable cover before to take the plunge. Take the time to compare travel insurance prices before you embark on your trips, and also for any equipment you might be taking along. Don’t be afraid if you haven’t brought a board with you, surf shacks will usually hire out equipment such as wetsuits and boards. More experienced enthusiasts will also have taken out some form of surf insurance against their possessions, in order to cover against equipment damage — both during transit and when you’re riding the waves – and medical cover in the event of an accident. Or ‘wipeout’ if you prefer the lingo. As popular as surfing is, for a beginner it can be quite difficult to get the hang of, which is why it is important to ensure that before you travel you arrange to take some surfing lessons, as well as doing some travel insurance comparison to ensure that you are covered against any injuries. When embarking on a surfing excursion for the first time it is important to be careful, pay attention to what your instructor says, avoid paddling out too far and don’t try and do too much too quickly. Once you’ve got the hang of it, surfing can be a pretty ‘gnarly’ experience, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

David is an experienced web author based in the UK