10 Handy Surf Apps to Help Improve Your Wave Riding Experience [Updated]
December 4, 2018
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Technology is making its way into every aspect of our lives. It’s getting us our news, helping us keep schedules, take notes, keep in touch with friends, make new ones, find love, and so much more.
All we need to do is simply take out our smartphone and almost everything we need to know about anything we can think of can be found right there. When it comes to surfing, there are plenty of apps that can help surfers keep track of their sessions, provide information about the weather, tides and surf reports, or help them find hot surf spots. But because they’re so many of them, it can be hard to weed out the bad ones.
Worry not, we have tried many of them out and knows which ones are worth downloading. Here are 10 of the best surf apps to help improve your surfing experience:
1. Joel Parkinson Pro Surf Training
The Joel Parkinson Pro Surf Training app was created to help surfers train better. Joel Parkinson was the 2012 ASP World Champion and these particular workouts were based on his actual surf training program. The app offers 30 programs with over 150 exercises that will help you improve your fitness levels and get you in the best shape of your life for the sport you love the most: surfing.
It is one of the best, if not the best, surf-oriented workout programs out there!
Price: $2.99
Download for iOS: Joel Parkinson Pro Surf Training
Download for Android: Joel Parkinson Pro Surf
2. NOAA Buoy and Tide Data
Many people say that the NOAA Buoy and Tide Data is the best app when it comes to surf weather data. We tend to agree, even though it all comes down to personal preference. The cool thing about this app is that it takes its information for the NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center and it also has tide predictions, moon phases, maps of buoy locations, and can be used through GPS or with a manually entered location. It’s a good one, guys!
Price: $1.99
Download for iOS: NOAA Buoy and Tide Data
Download for Android: NOAA Buoy and Tide Data
3. Surfr
Surfr is another widely popular surf app that will tell you everything you will need to know about surfing conditions in a particular spot. What’s awesome about Surfr is that it features over 8,000 popular surf destinations from around the world. It connects you to the existing surf community in a particular spot so that when you arrive there, you’ve already made friends and know exactly where to go for a good surf!
Price: Free
Download for iOS: Surfr
Download for Android: n/a
4. iSurfer
iSurfer is one of our favorite apps in the world, simply because it is a very useful tool to have. This one’s actually a collection of apps that help surfers improve their technique by keeping track of their surf sessions. It also offers priceless video tutorials on various surf maneuvers, instructions, and reviews. iSurfer helps surfers choose the right equipment for them, teaches about currents and other safety issues, and even explain one or two surfing terms.
Price: $0.99
Download for iOS: iSurfer
Download for Android: n/a
5. TideGraph
TideGraph isn’t just for surfers who need their tide information every single day. It’s also for boaters, vacationers, and fishermen who depend so much on the sea. Aside from the fun and interactive tide graphs, the app will also show sunset and sunrise, moonrise and moonset, and even moon phases. You can save your locations and find new ones using GPS. We’re telling you, TideGraph is going to prove mighty useful!
Price: $1.99
Download for iOS: TideGraph
Download for Android: TideGraph
6. Coasting
The best thing about Coasting, in our opinion, is how clean the interface is and how incredibly simple it is to use. If you’re not a gadget person, and the thought of complicated apps makes your hair stand on ends, then you will love Coasting. You’ll get surf forecasting, ideal wind and swell direction, comparison of all these at various surf breaks.
Furthermore, you can even create your own personalized list of surf breaks that Coasting won’t share with others, so you can add all those secret surf spots that you’ve fallen in love with for your eyes only.
Price: $3.99
Download for iOS: Coasting
Download for Android: n/a
7. goflow
goflow is a social app for all those who love being active. No matter the sport, be it surfing or kitesurfing, goflow will connect you with others just like you, who love the great outdoors and the ocean. You can share your surf photos or videos, explore new destinations, follow and meet athletes, and even learn how to improve your technique from other goflowers. If you’re an expert surfer, you can join the goflow community as an expert and earn some money teaching others about your passion! Join the goflow tribe and you won’t look back!
Price: Free
Download for iOS: goflow
Download for Android: goflow
8. Trace Surf
Trace Surf uses a highly innovative technology that will measure all your actions when you’re in the water. You do need to pair it with your Trace in order to use this app, but when that happens, you will be blown away by what it can do.
This app will show you the number of waves you’ve surfed, the speed, the ride distance and time, the cutback angle, airs, and even the number of calories you’ve burned. It’s the ultimate app for surfers!
Price: Free
Download for iOS: Trace Surf
Download for Android: Trace Surf
9. MSW Surf Forecast
This one’s another incredibly popular app that we can’t recommend enough. If there’s one app you need as an active surfer, this is the one! MSW Surf Forecast gives you so much more than seven-day surf forecasts for thousands of beaches around the world.
You’ll have access to webcams, tide graphs, surf reports, wave buoy data, wind stations data, and even a local business directory, so when you make plans to visit a surf destination, you’ll know what you’ll find there. It’s truly amazing!
Price: Free / Extended features for MSW Pro subscribers
Download for iOS: MSW Surf Forecast
Download for Android: MSW Surf Forecast
10. Surfline
Surfline is a staple in many surfers’ lives and for good reason. It has been helping surfers find the best waves ever since 1985. With Surfline, you get access to weather forecasts, live camera, long-range swell forecasts, and even surf entertainment, such as awesome surfing stories, news, videos, and photos. It’s a whole universe of surfing that Surfline is going to open up for you and we’re certain you’ll love it!
Price: Free / Extended features for Surfline Premium users
Download for iOS: Surfline
Download for Android: Surfline
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