Too many people in the water

[SandInMyPants]

Hi guys

I know it is a random question but I thought your experiences could help.

At my local city the crowds have exploded from June to November. There are more surf-school beginners than ever before, and many surf tourists, some who knows how to surf but does not care about dropping in on anyone else, and some who does not know what is going on at all.

We have never had any localism before, even though we often are only able to use one surf spot at a time. Otherwise we have to drive for 15 - 30 minutes to another spot which are also getting heavily crowded.

I guess my question is:

What do you do to keep a positive surfing-spirit where you are?

And how do you maintain some sort of mutual respect at your local spot?

[BaNZ]

Due to pandemic, nearly all my local beaches are overcrowded. Car park full before they even open at 6am. Many experienced surfers are complaining. Surf shops are happy because every beginner boards are sold and the stock is depleted.

Cops are called because karen's precious son is endangering other surfers by dropping and throwing their board directly at surfers riding the wave.

People fighting over parking and stealing spots.

On the weekend, there is no respect for anyone. Every man for themselves. Try and get there at first light to avoid the crowd.

Weekdays, it is still busy but not as bad. There is a little more respect but as soon as it gets busy, it becomes a zoo.

I just hope the situation improves once winter comes and the summer idiots are gone.

To keep myself positive. I don't take surfing so seriously on weekends. Weekday is when I really try to surf whereas weekends I'm just there to enjoy the water and the sun.

[oldmansurfer]

I surf one particular location which has several breaks or peaks. Most often I am the only one out because it's not very good conditions but when there are crowds I look for a peak that has less people or none and go out there. It might not have the best waves but I don't have time to wait my turn fishing. I look at the poor conditions as a challenge. How do I get a good wave out of that mess? Very often if it's bigger I manage to snag a good wave among all the junk or happen to do the right thing on a junk wave making it seem like a good wave. I work on my ability to pick and lineup the waves and then my ability to read the wave and do what needs to be done. When it's small and even the best wave turns out to be not much, I consider that I am getting exercise and I'm in the ocean rather than doing some more boring exercise and keeping my surfing skills up so that when there are better waves I am ready. I can keep doing that for a long time if needed because I know someday the waves will come to me and I will likely be ready for them.

[Naeco78]

The lifeguards at my local beach put up a Surfing Etiquette sign to try to bring awareness to it. But most people just walk right past it and then do stuff like dropping in on someone right in front of the Jetty. It even happened to one of the head guards here this summer. Crazy times.

People seemed to have more respect for the dangers/rules of surfing back when we learned on hard fiberglass boards. Your own board would usually bruise you up enough to realize the dangers, before they become good enough to surf closer to the peak. I'm not sure if that's at the heart of the issue, but it just doesn't seem like there's the same awareness/caution about surfing like there used to be.

[IB_Surfer]

I surf at the butt-crack of dawn and usually enjoy low crowds for at least an hour. Once crowded, I try to keep away from the crowds by finding a peak that is less busy.

Lastly, I tend to travel to spots not crowded. In San Diego, I don't go to La Jolla or Tourmoline to avoid the pack, and also look for steeper waves that are not as friendly to beginner longboarders, like PB Drive and Imperial Beach. Worth the time to travel around

[SandInMyPants]

Thank you

Great to read how you guys deal with the situation.

Things will get better, I guess it is about to endure the time right now, and look forward to better days.

[waikikikichan]

In most situations and from my past experiences, the way to not get dropped in on at your local break is for others to know you as a really good surfer and that for sure you're not going to miss the wave and can go really hard and fast ........................... OR that you're a super dangerous kook with a sketchy stance and will shoot the board out and run you over.

[IB_Surfer]

Thank you

Great to read how you guys deal with the situation.

Things will get better, I guess it is about to endure the time right now, and look forward to better days.

Part of it is the nice warm water and weather, I always look forward to the cold season since it thins out the casual surfer, weather should be turning soon...