Surfing Waves

Ok I can now believe why a lot of surfers say this is one of the hardest paddle outs around! Swell was only 3.5ft @ 7 secs today.....took me 5 mins or so to initially get outback. Caught a lovely first wave and rode it for way too long, ended up way inside. Then took me 30 mins to paddle back out....just seemed like a long way and lots of waves breaking in front of me that I had to turtle roll....after eventually getting back outside used up too much energy, resulting in only another 3 waves caught. Still I was still happy that I didn't let the bugger defeat me completely!

The other long paddle out I know of around is perhaps saunton......I guess there are loads more though?

You need your own personal jetski.

Lol...funny but there are often jetskis at Llangennith....you have to stay well clear of them, the speed they move over the waves no way they would see you if they didn't know you were there....

Seriously though I need to get my paddle fitness back...I didn't get out as much as would have liked over winter and now I'm paying for it......still kept up the fitness regime at home but it's never the same as being in the water.

Oh yeah, I remember Llangennith... horrible paddle out, and never seems to be a decent rip to help out.

Big surf there yields a big rip - be careful if 'paddling out a bit for a look', you might end up way out back and having to catch monsters to get back in. Not fun.

Llangennith paddle is bad but not 30 mins bad, at least on a 3.5ft day.

If it is clean, try going to peaks; it is more peaky there so you can sometimes avoid a few of the waves on your way out.

I made the mistake of taking my longboard to 'gennith on a 5.5ft 13s day. Continuous walls of white water D:! If it is big Rhossili end is good because the waves are so mellow they barely break, so the paddle out is generally more forgiving.

Llangennith paddle out can be over 45 minutes for a fit surfer on a big day never mind the rips . . .

fyi: Rhossili tubes on the inside on huge gnarly days - black walls and big balls (have fun).

esonscar wrote:Llangennith paddle out can be over 45 minutes for a fit surfer on a big day never mind the rips . . .

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California wimps...I would not be having fun with 45 minute paddle out!! That is crazy!!
I can handle a 5-10 minute paddle back up the point, or a 20 minute on on a huge day at a long point...but a lot of times if I am surfing a long point I will walk up after an really long wave. Take a shower...talk a bit and paddle back out at the top by the river mouth and it takes you right to the top of the ride.

parrysurf wrote:

esonscar wrote:Llangennith paddle out can be over 45 minutes for a fit surfer on a big day never mind the rips . . .

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California wimps...I would not be having fun with 45 minute paddle out!! That is crazy!!
I can handle a 5-10 minute paddle back up the point, or a 20 minute on on a huge day at a long point...but a lot of times if I am surfing a long point I will walk up after an really long wave. Take a shower...talk a bit and paddle back out at the top by the river mouth and it takes you right to the top of the ride.

Yup . . It was written in 'The Stormrider Guide: Europe' by none other than PJ (Pete Jones) himself [PJ is a former Welsh, British and European surf champion, and is recognised for doing much over the years to promote and popularise the sport in Gower] that it is the hardest paddle out in Europe - though I reckon some French coves are harder, along Cap Breton for example . . . errrm, didn't get out at al!

45 minutes.. eek! I have no idea how big it would have to be for that to be the case but the longest I have ever had to paddle out is about 15. It is a bit gruelling so I think there can sometimes be a bit of "surflation" (as with length of ride too), where people think stuff takes longer than it does. I know that I die after about 10 minutes of continuous paddling so when gennith is over 6ft swell I have trouble making it outback (depending on period, when it is onshore mush I find that a much easier paddle).


I have never seen it barrel at Rhossili though, was the swell really westerly?

Hi all, to just give a bit more of my experience, I and other surfers (present but unknown to me) have at times had to walk down to the white cottage, paddle out and then once outside paddle traverse the bay back up to Llangennith to the [empty] lineup because the impact zones were too much to even consider paddling through. This takes approx. 1.5 hours to complete. On a max out swell. Llangennith is a complete surfing experience no matter what your level, including pros! Heck just ask PJ [ Oh yeah, PJ I have the only pic of you getting tubed at Langland on your last wave coming in a while back – you made eye contact with me, hell you know me, . . . you can have the pic gratis if you wish - - - Hwyl I’chi (cheers to you and your loved ones)].

Many props to those who fight that battle!!
....I would be saving for a jet ski and a driver!

parrysurf wrote:Many props to those who fight that battle!!
....I would be saving for a jet ski and a driver!

^ Nope! - too far and vehicle remote for fuel tanks to repeatedly get outside - see here . . . (humoungous link . . sorry mod - It's al I could find!]

Edit al changed to all.

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=rhossi ... :372,i:282

Hey . . lets all get real here though . . . Llangennith is such a versatile beach break you can surf long perfect one foot high barrels getting your ankles tubed until the fin hits the sand (and you never even have to get your hair wet nor paddle out at all), or you can night surf by a full moon in 4ft and glassy walls for the most amazing surf experience (without having to even duck dive to get outside), or you can surf the tight inside mini close-outs in the burning sun for mega reaction practice and a cool sunburn sand blasting, or you can surf sand sucking down the line madness on a solid 12ft face, or you can go for the gnarly days with impact zone after impact zone, or you can . . . . heck - every day is a good day at Llangennith!
(anyone reckon they might want a 365 daily 10 years' Llangenith vet as a £guide with £King size room(s) lodgings in my home -- or you can £pitch a tent or two in my private back garden if you so wish -- ) - FYI: that's me in my avatar - e-mail esonscar@eson.biz to discuss [fully police cleared to trade - they even came to inspect my house and lifestyle unannounced just now in July 2012 - Passed no Worries ]. I can also make you a real F1 carbon (absolutely not china) cloth custom carbon fibre surfboard for your worship and immediate use after curing (all done in just a few days, as you surf I'll build - unless I'm guiding you of course).
For more of me GOTO eson@eson.biz [ Sorry mod, I'm whoring myself tonight, I do apologise! ]

EDIT: oh yeah, you can also catch a wave, do some moves, turn off the back and paddle back out without the wave even having started to break - now that is awesome!

drowningbitbybit wrote:never seems to be a decent rip to help out.

I think there is one right at the end of Rhossili but don't do it on a north west or you'll get shredded by the walls.