It's that time of year again - the lineups are proportionally growing more slammed with seasonal "surfers". With the warming water, only one question comes to mind...where were you guys in january? Already missing the desolate beaches with the rest of you guys who aren't afraid of a few ice cream headaches. I cant't be the only one that gets a little agro this time of year. I just hate dodging costco boards every other wave.
The past couple times I paddled out is felt so weird to walk over the dunes and see so many people in the water...stall able to find a peak to myself but just weird.
It's a crazy phenomenon... On the west coast, Mid-Atlantic and North East, it seems like beach-goers all have the itch to rent a board and "learn to surf" on their 3-4 day vacation, which makes perfect sense. We all once wanted to learn.... The strange thing that I noticed, is down here on Hilton Head, the water is 80 degrees, there are a couple hundred thousand extra people on the island, yet NONE of them rent surfboards and "attempt" to surf.... I am NOT complaining at all, but with the warm water and influx of people, I have no idea why there aren't foam board rental tents and stuff all over the beach.... There are more locals in the water this time of year, I.E. every major swell event, even mid-morning on a wednesday, everyone shows up, but its all the same dudes I saw last year. Local plates. More than half of them are ghosts in the winter, but its all locals down here. Strange.... Every dingle berry from France in his speedo was on a foam top in CA, clogging up the lineup and becoming hazards. Viva La South I guess. I don't know how it is up in Charleston, but the touristas all by $6 boogie boards and stay at one beach down on the south end. Them suckers are never up in the "regular" surf spots.
I love it when I'm out surfing and the "beachgoers" (usually guys) get all excited to see a woman surfing and swim out toward me as I catch a wave and get in the way..................
The tourists around here conglomerate around the pier which makes sense as it's within spitting distance from the food and booze. Our only lifeguards are within a couple hundred yards of the pier so it's no surfing from 10-6. We have a handful of surf camps that cater to local kids. We have our fair share of crowds at the regular spots. I think you may find more soft top tourist at IOP.
Never thought of that aspect of being a surfer girl. That would get annoying. Stick a gopro on your nose and post some close ups of busted teeth and lips.
Oh ya... Those old summer pros... I really missed them back in January... I love the way that they paddle out and proceed to paddle past everyone in the line up to the peak... Then not able to even make a wave! Anyways... I try hard not to let it get to me... The waves are better in the winter and the anger doesn't make me feel good... I'm super thankful- I moved over the winter a few towns south (don't worry- I'm still near Belmar,NJ- the best break on the east coast) and the line ups at my new local spot is totally empty- I guess it's not so popular but I have been watching the sand bars and jettys - there is two that work well on alternating swell direction/tides... My old spot was one of the better known Monmouth county spots and always crowded but it was convenient... It was regular to have 50 or more guys out... Maybe the answer is Belmar NJ... Even when it's crowded it doesn't feel crowded and all the surfers are cool... Plus the waves are always 4ft bigger then anywhere else!
On this topic of summer crowds: it's very evident the impact on crowds in the water that these surf fucasting websites are making. Everyone's watching SI or MSW or Surfline. Reason I say this, is cause there was a semi-blah day recently fucasted for AI. When I hit the ocean (camping at AI) very few people in the water. No complaints. Contrasted with a couple weeks earlier when the fucast was clean & green, dozens of people bobbing around out there. All because of the Internet.
Maybe we should start the anti-forecasting site...or at least not talk about how we scored on here until October.
yes, I actually totally agree with Yankee.... and my answer to that is: "Belmar, NJ best spot on the east coast"
It hasn't been that bad in Delmarva so far in June, I've been surfing relatively uncrowded waves during the weekdays, but I know it won't last long.
I don't chime in here much (mainly due to my coastal location,) but it's the same deal here in Oregon. The most consistent break on the north coast is empty during the week with a small handful out on the weekends between October and April, only to exponentially start filling up in mid-May. Come Labor Day you're dodging 2-dozen kooks on BICs and soft-tops rented from the handful of shops up here. Said shops do a pretty good job at dispensing Surf-101 etiquette, but it's a frustrating to say the least when some hipster with a waxed mustache flails about wide-eyed and petrified and chucks his rented Surftech foamie right in the line you just found. I suppose it could be worse...
boo phukin hoo,whats new?im madder about beaches not being free anymore.just have to get out there and search for an empty sandbar.most of these "surfers" are only out when its 2-3 ft,which is normal for this time of year.over the years its gotten a lot worse,lol when I started surfing,which isn't even that long ago,like 14 years ago,if I seen another surfer I looked like I just discovered big foot.maybe that's how it is up north in nj,cant say much about south nj.I never liked summer,not because of the crowds but because of the heat and lack of freedom.u can roll up to the beach in January,and do as u please.drink,smoke,get laid,etc.ocean ave is a desolute wasteland in the winter and that's how I like it.im not a people person.this summer il probably go to the beach 3 times depending on swell which we never get.cant wait til winter
