Problem with position when it is crowded

[BaNZ]

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When there are more shorboards than longboards on a break. I'm scared of sitting further out than the shortboards. When it is overhead and there's only 1-2 other longboards. After take off, I have to be very careful of not running over the shortboards as they all sit very closely together and there is very little space between them. Therefore I move further down the shoulder which makes it harder to catch the wave and I have to wait for the bigger sets to come in.

The other longboards that sit at the peak are really good surfers and they seem to be the regular and knows everyone around the break.

What should I do in this situation? Take the risk and go sit further out with the longboards? Or move to a different break?

I also have another problem where when it is overhead and the wave is gnarly. If I paddle for the wave, I can't back out if another person manage to take off in the deeper section. As it is way too steep, I'll have to drop in on them and do a bottom turn and go over the wave. Most people here seems okay and they say it's not a problem that I did not block them. However I kinda feel like this is probably wrong? On smaller 3-4ft waves I have no problem of checking to see if they have made the drop and can always back out the wave.

[BoMan]

What should I do in this situation? Take the risk and go sit further out with the longboards? Or move to a different break?

Is this a point break or a beachie? If it's the latter you can move to an alternate peak. In general, I sit outside as a good citizen. After taking a wave I let a set go through and this usually clears a lane for my next one. To be honest I can also use the rest after paddling out.

[ConcreteVitamin]

On a crowded day I had a similar situation - I was sitting further out, and many shortborders were sitting inside with not much space between them, blocking the glide in path. The situation cost me two waves or so but was resolved automatically as sets moved in.

[BaNZ]

What should I do in this situation? Take the risk and go sit further out with the longboards? Or move to a different break?

Is this a point break or a beachie? If it's the latter you can move to an alternate peak. In general, I sit outside as a good citizen. After taking a wave I let a set go through and this usually clears a lane for my next one. To be honest I can also use the rest after paddling out.

It's a point break. On weekdays it is fine, I'll usually let some waves through which will empty the shortboard lineup. Weekends is too busy and if I let the waves through, I won't be catching anything good. The break here is rarely for shortboards, but because of how busy shortboard breaks are. They come and take all the longboard breaks.

[BaNZ]

On a crowded day I had a similar situation - I was sitting further out, and many shortborders were sitting inside with not much space between them, blocking the glide in path. The situation cost me two waves or so but was resolved automatically as sets moved in.

They definitely move out the way when I catch it. But it spooks the hell out of me. Some would also try and drop behind me. It's really risky because the longboarders are good and they don't mind the crowded lineup. They expect you to do a cutback so you won't hit them but sometimes my turns doesn't always work as I'm so focused on not hitting them.

Now that I think about it. I would go and sit further out when I'm not the kookiest longboard. When I know I'm the kook, then I would just sit at the shoulder and pickup the leftover.

[oldmansurfer]

I haven't surfed a crowded day in a while. At one point I was lined up outside of the longboarders but inside of the SUPers, and the shortboarders were inside of everyone. I think the last really crowded day I went to the inside of the shortboarders to poach a wide breaking wave off them

[waikikikichan]

Your posted example is quite clear. You are sitting more inside and farther away from the peak. You have to give up priority to those deeper and closer to the curl.
That said, move you circle vertical straight up to where the word “wave” begins. Then the priority becomes less defined if you can get in early and perform a maneuver before reaching where the circle dot is currently at, then it may be you that has priority.
I’m curious about that little bend in the line. Does the break separate at that corner ? If it dumps there, do the shortboarders sometimes get caught behind the comet ?

[waikikikichan]

Your posted example is quite clear. You are sitting more inside and farther away from the peak. You have to give up priority to those deeper and closer to the curl.
That said, move you circle vertical straight up to where the word “wave” begins. Then the priority becomes less defined if you can get in early and perform a maneuver before reaching where the circle dot is currently at, then it may be you that has priority.
I’m curious about that little bend in the line. Does the break separate at that corner ? If it dumps there, do the shortboarders sometimes get caught behind the comet ?

[BaNZ]

Your posted example is quite clear. You are sitting more inside and farther away from the peak. You have to give up priority to those deeper and closer to the curl.
That said, move you circle vertical straight up to where the word “wave” begins. Then the priority becomes less defined if you can get in early and perform a maneuver before reaching where the circle dot is currently at, then it may be you that has priority.
I’m curious about that little bend in the line. Does the break separate at that corner ? If it dumps there, do the shortboarders sometimes get caught behind the comet ?

Amazing you noticed that bend in the line. Yes it does separate. That's usually where the shortboard will stop because the wave mellows out and only if you're on a longboard you can continue the ride. When bigger sets comes in then they will surf all the way to the shore. I wait in that area because there's a good chance that they will hop off the wave. However the ride sucks because it isn't long enough. You get to the end and it closes out on you fast.

I torn my muscles because I sat further out than the shortboard. I was deeper than them but two guys dropped in on me. A shortboard and a longboard which caused me to either land on the reef or hit my own board as I attempted to kickout.

I'm thinking if I surf another year or two, maybe I'll be more confident to sit further out. I have no problems when it's all longboarders, but as soon as I have a mass gathering of shortboards behind me, I'm suddenly really conscious of running them over.