I mean really, who uses those cute tiny bikinis that you see in magazine ads? Further more whom really looks that good after a wipe out? The reality is far from the fantasy. Here is a scenario that most surfer girls find themselves in after a wipe out; hair flung into your face, bathing suit top pushed to one side, and bottoms are wrapped around your ankle. After catching your breath you realize that under the water you are practically naked.
With the Chica Brava guide on What to Wear When Surfing, hopefully you will never be in this predicament.
Here in Nicaragua we are fortunate enough to have warm water all year round, so this list will leave out a few items you might need in colder water. Being fashionable is of upmost importance when out of the water, but in the water we focus solely on the bathing suits ability to stay on, the protective properties against the sun, and okay, we lied, and how cute it is. Let’s start our list off with the most important part, the bathing suit, the bikini, and the swimsuit!
Bikini
Bikinis come in all different shapes, sizes, colors, and styles, and personal preference ranks high on the list of what to choose when picking out your surfing attire. In our experience, when first beginning a surf adventure, wiping out is part of the game. Wiping out can cause bathing suit tops to slip to the side and bottoms can easily be taken out by the massive white wash hitting you on the inside.
If you are going with a two-piece first let’s discuss the top. Tops that have good support and stay on thru anything are the best to choose. We have quite a few in our Chica Brava surf shop; here is an example of a good fitting top. .
Bottoms have the same requirement as tops to stay on even in the direst situations. A good rule of thumb for surfing bottoms; buy one size smaller than normal. These babies need to be tight, or you might end up naked from the waist down. Buying a size smaller will help the bottoms stay on and a cheeky bottom always make your butt look better.
If you choose a one piece there are a couple things to remember. Make sure it fits; if it is a little too loose you could end up with a forever wedgie! And people remember the tan lines! A cute looking one piece could leave you with some wacky tan lines, so check to make sure you wont be walking around looking like a zebra.
Salt water, sun, and a good ocean thrashing tend to break down the elastic quicker than your pool suit. So, we recommend just hand washing your bikini and hanging it to dry in the shower. No washing machine required!
Rash guard
Next on our list is a rash guard. This handy shirt can protect you from the sun, prevent rashes on the stomach and ribs, and is helpful not to expose yourself after wiping out and your top takes a slip to the side. A lot of companies are making their rash guards with UV protection, so no joke on the sun protection.
The wax on the surfboard can cause a gnarly rash and leave you in pain and sitting on the beach. This is where this garment comes in handy. Like bikinis rash guards come in all different shapes, sizes and colors. We have long sleeve and short sleeve, midriff and ones with zippers, any style to fit your personality.
Board Shorts
Every surfer gal has worn a pair of board shorts in her life. Whether they tie in the front, are long or short, or have an elastic waistband. Not everyone wears board shorts but they can come in handy if you need some extra sun protection on the top of your legs.
Make sure they are not to snug in the leg area, but extra snug on the waist. Tie strings seem to stay on better than the elastic waistband which can stretch out.
Alright, now you can hopefully avoid any wardrobe malfunctions next time you are in the line up. If you have not tried surfing yet, come on down to Chica Brava! Make a reservation, and book your flight! Don’t forget if you come down to Nicaragua with nothing more than your flip-flops we can supply everything from our Chica Brava surf shop.