need some Sydney advice

[Rico]

hey guys,

I'm going to Sydney in 2 months (spending 6months on the east coast, surfing and getting wasted and stuff) and can't wait to introduce my travelmate to the surfing world - but I'd like to do so in a less crowded lineup because I know she'll have a hard time and I don't want her to lose her enthusiasm that fast
so is there something like a beginners break for her?

the 2nd question is about surfboards - I'm selling my board to buy one down under (prices in Europe are higher and extra baggage would suck anyway) and would like to know where to buy it? Second hand is adequate because we will be travelling as backpackers. Shops at the beachfront may be too expensive, so is there an insiders tip?

3rd question, again, is about waves I've never been to Australia so first thing I need is a wave guide (book with surfspot information, not sure how you guys name it) for the entire east coast, at least from Sydney to Brisbane.

thats it for the moment, I am so stoked about the trip, you can't imagine

[drowningbitbybit]

Q1 - Loads of breaks in Sydney, but they'll all be crowded. You need to get out of town for some piece and quiet. Of the city breaks, Bondi and Manly are relatively safe for a newbie.
Be aware that the breaks are completely different to Northern Europe - far more powerful, and they also break much closer to the shore with very little white water available to learn on due to the lack of tidal range.

Q2 - You can get hold of a cheap surfboard almost anywhere. Maybe avoid Bondi beachfront, but other than that - shops, gumtree, garage sales, all over the place. No worries there.

Q3 - Loads of books and guides in any bookshop. Ive got one which is imaginatively named 'Surfing Australia' or something like that and it delivers the goods.


In two months, the water temp will be at its lowest (~18C maybe) and you'll need a 3mm wettie.

[dunno]

ebay mate-tons of cheap boards!!!

18C, lol that would be nice, its already 14.5 here

[Rico]

thanks.

dbbb: crowds are the problem, no matter if super local pros or washing-around-in-the-water-tourists and bondi and manly are too famous to offer some privacy and space. So we'll look for something north from sydney, I think thats the right direction.

Be aware that the breaks are completely different to Northern Europe - far more powerful

Hehe, sure it's not always epic in Europe, but you should know a break called "supertubes" in Portugal - if not, look at some google images. There's plenty of power involved and the wave smashes you right into waist-high water. Been there last summer and it was incredible, anyway, not a beginners place at all so I get your point there.

the cold water is a crucial thing since shes a girl but that should work. I'll study some water temp charts to get the best out of it.

dunno: theres that backpacking situation thingy that doesnt allow me to receive big packages with surfboards in them while travelling

[drowningbitbybit]

The Northern beaches are all a bit crowded (and some of them have nasty scary locals), but there are some learner friendly spots. Avalon can be a good spot.
You need to go quite a long way north before you'll get a wave to yourself.

Heading south, maroubra on a VERY small day can be good for the newbies (but stay out the way if its anything over waisthigh), and I'd recommend Cronulla - a much more mellow break (well, the beach break is anyway) and masses of room. Cronulla is about the only spot you could get to for a days surfing where you'll get loads of space, unless you drive out the city proper.

Drive for an hour and you can find a beach to yourself

[Rico]

I just dont know if I will take the risk of buying a car (or campervan)..it'll mess up my financial situation if it breaks down but running around with backpack and board isn't the sweetest thing to do so theres probably no way around it.

I'll follow your advice with the surfing australia guide, its just what I was looking for, thanks.

How will the 3mm wettie feel in Qld summer watertemps? warmest water I surfed was maldivian and I would have died in more than boardshorts and a rashguard (against the sun).

[drowningbitbybit]

How will the 3mm wettie feel in Qld summer watertemps?

Yup, you'll boil in a 3mm in summer!

In summer (december to march) the most you'll need in Sydney is a 2mm spring suit, and in QLD a pair of boardshorts.

But if you're planning on arriving in NSW in a couple of months, you'll definitely need a 3mm to start with. You could probably get away with a 2mm spring suit if you restrict yourself to the warmer afternoons.

And one more really useful bit of info.... East coast Oz is not like Europe. It will be offshore every morning, and then a howling onshore every afternoon.
The hot land mass that is australia makes the seabreezes thing (which you can see in Europe, but is much less of an issue) much more predictable. It has to be a really strong weather pattern to muck it up.

[Rico]

I'll deal with the appropriate wettie issue when I'm there. My route is so confusing that I'll have to buy and sell my stuff more than once - Landing in Syd, moving up to Brisbane after a few weeks, coming back to Syd for xmas and new year (meeting friends and family who will be travelling Oz at that time) and finally going north again until my flight leaves, again in Sydney, in march dang that sounds stupid, I have to rethink that. hmm but its not so bad after all since there's plenty of time for everything... whatever

I hope that most people will be busy working when I surf the clean faces in the fresh of the day.. have you been surfing in Europe? You seem to know a lot about the conditions "here". I've surfed France, Spain and Portugal and you can count on absolutely nothing there..no consistent pattern at all. Except afternoon crowds.

[drowningbitbybit]

have you been surfing in Europe? You seem to know a lot about the conditions "here".

Yeah, Im originally from the UK and moved to Oz about two years ago, and its been a steep learning curve since I got here
When I left the UK, I thought I was an okay surfer... then I saw the maroubra locals

[Rico]

so you're lucky. Im expecting some serious progress during my stay.. I only got the chance to surf a few weeks a year here in Europe since the ocean is about 1300km away. I just finished school and hope that the future will offer some more beachfront

how did it work for you? job offer?

[Supafly]

Hey DBB or anyone surfing in Sydney, i am also planing a trip to sydney for 3weeks over Dec-Jan i was just wondring how the surf was at that time because i am planing on going on this little surfari thing http://www.surfaris.com/ on i think around the 28th of dec. Was just wondering if the surf is quite consistent over there to get a good week of solid all day surfing in.

One more question also, what would be the best beginner (can stand and ride along the face, just xxxxx at bottom turns - getting there tho) friendly beach near Bankstown, Sydney?

Cheers Supa

[drowningbitbybit]

friendly beach near Bankstown, Sydney?

Er, you do know that Bankstown isnt on the coast...?

Best place to head for would probably be Cronulla. Stick to the beachies and its all perfectly friendly.
As for surf in december, there'll be something (probably), but the winds will get into it in the afternoon.

[Supafly]

Yea i know its not near the coast, its where i got family so free place to stay over the xmas period, but all in all its not tooo far to Cronulla So morning surfs are better in aus?