Shonan Surf Community @ Shonan Hiratsuka

🌊🏄🏽‍♂️🌞🌺⛩️Hiratsuka Surfing Session – Hiratsuka Beach, Japan

Welcome to our surfing community in Shonan!

This is NOT a surf school. It is a community for people who want to enjoy surfing together, meet other surfers, and make new friends.

✨Our main goal is simple: to enjoy surfing together and have a good time! ♬✨

🌟 For Beginners 🏄🏽‍♂️
Beginners are all WELCOME! We can teach basics up to a point and share some tips and help a little, but please understand that this is not a lesson. We cannot stay next to you all the time in the water and teach you everything step by step. If you would like instruction or personal coaching, I recommend booking a surf lesson at one of the local surf shops. If you feel nervous or unsure about joining, feel free to contact the organizer and ask away! ♬ We will assist you as much as possible!

🌟 Event Details 🏄🏽‍♂️
📍Meeting point
In front of the Tsunami Evacuation Tower at Shonan Hiratsuka Beach Park, 湘南ひらつかビーチパーク 津波避難展望台, which is about a 15-minute walk from the South Exit of JR Hiratsuka Station
⏰ Time
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM (The schedule may change depending on the waves.) After surfing, we may go to a nearby café to relax and chat but this is optional and depends on everyone’s schedule.
👥 Maximum number of participants
10 people (Feel free to join us even if you’re alone!) Most of us are all participants alone!
💵 Partcipation Fee
1,000 yen

🌟 Surfboard and Wetsuit Rental 👕🛹
If you need a surfboard or wetsuit, please rent one from a local surf shop. The rental fee is approximately ¥3,000–¥7,000, depending on the equipment and shop. If you need help finding a nearby surf shop to rent gears, please contact the organizer.

🌟 What to Bring 🎒

• Towel
• Sunscreen
• Swimsuit
• Change of clothes
• Drinking water
• ID (identification)
• etc…

🔖 There are lockers at the beach, but the number is limited.
🔖 Hot-water showers are available for a fee. Freshwater showers are free.

⚠️ Weather and Surf Conditions 🌊
Surfing depends on the ocean, and conditions can change quickly. The event may be cancelled the day before or even on the day of the event if:

• There are NO suitable waves.
• The waves are too BIG or DANGEROUS.
• The wind, current, or other conditions are not suitable for surfing.
  I will do my best to check the forecast and share information about the waves as soon as possible. However, the final decision may sometimes have to be made on the day.

⚠️ Safety 🌿
Please understand that if the conditions are not suitable for them, we may not recommend beginners to enter the water. The organizer cannot guarantee the safety of all participants. Everyone must decide for themselves whether to enter the water, based on their own surfing ability, experience, and the actual ocean conditions.

🌟 Basic Surfing Rules and Etiquette 📖
Please learn and follow these basic rules. They are important for everyone’s safety.
● Study the basic rules in advance as much as possible.
● Don’t Rush into a Crowded Area
If you are new to surfing, please do not rush into a crowded area where many people are catching waves. We recommend practicing in a relatively quiet area, away from other surfers.
● One Person, One Wave
One wave should normally be ridden by one surfer in one direction. Do not try to catch a wave that someone else is already riding or has priority to catch.
● Never Drop In
“Drop in” means taking off on a wave in front of another surfer who has priority. If someone is already riding a wave, do not paddle for that wave or take off in front of them. You could cause a serious accident.
● The Surfer Closest to the Peak Has Priority
The peak is the part of the wave where it starts to break. When two or more people are going for the same wave, the surfer closest to the peak generally has priority. If someone is in a better position, let them have the wave.
● Do Not Paddle in Front of Someone Riding a Wave
When you are paddling back out, always watch for surfers riding waves. Try to paddle around them or through the whitewater, rather than getting in their way.
● Do Not Let Go of Your Surfboard Carelessly
Your board can hit and injure someone. Always keep control of it, especially when other surfers are nearby.
● Apologize if You Make a Mistake
Mistakes happen, especially when you are learning. If you accidentally get in someone’s way or drop in, check that they are okay and apologize.