Sure, tipping back waves of beer is one way to inner bliss, but nothing compares to catching waves at the beach—that moment when lip crests over you, making you and the wave feel as one. Everything else melts away. Surfing produces powerful healing affects, which is why surf apps need to deliver. Sure, there are the standards like Surfline and Magicseaweed, but there are also many other lesser known but equally helpful apps in the sea perfect for helping you catch the tastiest waves. 

Surf Watch: This could very well be the king of forecasting apps. Surf Watch features at-a-glance NOAA data; customizable, location-specific swell alerts; surf alarms; and push notifications to let you know when your favorite break is pumping. 

Coasting: With a tag line of “easy surf forecasting,” Coasting provides a slew of information including actual conditions with ideal swell directions and ideal wind via an exceptionally user-friendly interface. The app can also recommend surf spots based on conditions, allowing for comparison between alternative breaks. 

TideGraph: With this app, you can view a snapshot of an entire month’s worth of tidal data rather than for a specific break. It also shows whether or not any give break is currently rising or dropping and at what rate. 

NOAA Ocean Buoys: The NOAA Buoy and Tide Data app pulls weather info from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Buoy Center, providing users with a detailed breakdown of wind speed and direction, water and air temperature, and atmospheric pressure and tide info.

goFlow: The social media supreme of surfing, this app functions much like Facebook where you set up a profile, add your friends, set your location, and customize your break feed. Found a great new spot? Take a photo, rate the conditions, and—voila—post it. The app even connects with Facebook. 

Parkinson Pro Surf Training: The 2012 ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) World Champion, Joel Parkinson, developed this app with his longtime trainer, Wes Berg, to provide his fitness and training programs. With different tour stops featuring its own slightly varied routine, the app also allows for the creation of your own programs spanning 30 programs and 150+ surf-specific exercises. 

Surf Journal: Document your time in the sea with this journal app—log your sessions, tide conditions, best swell direction, and map where you’ve hanged ten. The app allows for photo uploads for sessions and the ability to add custom surf spots on your personal map, over time building a digital storyboard of your surf adventures. 

iSurfer: As a collection of apps, iSurfer is built for all skill levels and offers techniques, tips, board selection and repair, and the option to share details about your session. There are even apps showing specific board shapers, allowing users to peruse different models and even order a custom board.