How to Surf for Money
By Eric Hammer
There are really only two ways to surf for money (and by surf,
we mean on a surfboard on the waves, not surfing the Internet).
The first option is to surf in professional contests. Doing this
means of course going where the best waves are and then being
judged. Often, it costs money to join these contests and you
only make money if you win.
Of course, if you do happen to win the contest, then you can
also earn additional money by offering to appear in advertisements
for various sporting goods companies. In addition, some particularly
popular surfing professionals have turned their ability to surf
for money into a line of products of their own. Laird Hamilton
for example is quite well known as a professional surfer and
today, he offers his own line of products through his web site.
The other option for how to earn money from surfing is to
offer lessons. Typically, this will be in tourist locations where
people go and want to learn what you (hopefully) already know.
The work often involves working with people who are not very
advanced however, so be prepared to spend a great deal of time
repeating the fundamentals over and over again.
How Much Can You Make?
It is impossible to quantify numbers for people who surf for
money in contests. People like Laird Hamilton have managed to
earn their entire living doing nothing but surfing in contests
and then turning that into a business empire all its own.
Those who offer surfing lessons typically charge by the day
and earn anywhere from $100-$300 per day for their services,
depending on where they happen to be located in the world (obviously,
learning to surf off the coast of Waikiki beach will be more
expensive than learning to surf off the coast of Honduras).
Ways to Make More | Related Opportunities
| Tips
Always remember that few people earn their entire living from
surfing and fewer people still earn their money from surfing
in contests. Therefore be open to other possibilities. If you
intend to earn money teaching people how to surf, be prepared
to work in tourist areas.
However, you also need to realize that there will be high
and low seasons in these areas and that the competition to get
work as a professional surfing instructor can be extremely stiff
(after all, everyone who loves this sport wants to earn money
for doing what they love).
Qualifications / Requirements
Surfing ability.
First Steps
If you do choose to go the route of entering contests, it's
best to start small and work your way up. In other words, look
for local contests that you can win where you can get used to
how judges look at what you do. Then, move on to professional
contests where people surf for money (i.e. real money - not the
$50 gift certificate to the local Red Lobster).
If you plan to try offering lessons, try doing it for free
for some friends and or relatives. See how it goes. Then, offer
your lessons for the low end of the spectrum (around $100 a day)
so you can build business. Drop by hotels in the area and ask
to speak to the concierge. Explain that you offer surfing lessons
and ask if they would like your card (obviously, you'll need
cards of some kind). Most such people will probably have a list
of people they recommend, however they make take your card if
they are new or if they want to make sure they have someone they
can recommend when their regular person is out.
You can also try putting out flyers or pamphlets in tourist
areas. Always ask the owner or manager if you can do so, otherwise
your flyers may end up in the garbage soon after you leave.
Resource
Association
of Surfing Professionals - This is the official web site
for the surfing community.
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