Surfing alone

[PandaJosh]

How many of you surf alone? I just started surfing so when the locals left me in the line up it start to hit me I really out here alone what do you guys do when your alone? You may not have to worry about sharks but on surfline the place I surf is a 7 pretty high considering I live in Florida. Oh Jaffa, don't know if your going to read this I took your advice and I loved it bro going out to the lineup best advice ever I love it out their not scary at all unless your alone. But When I was out their when other surfer were out there they helped me catch some waves not physically but they pointed out some pretty cool dudes they knew I was a begineer they were a little surprised t see a black guy out there but oh well but how do I surf alone without being kind of scared?

[jaffa1949]

To vaguely quote from the TV series "Kung Fu" , grasshopper I do see!! Lol, alone can be scary especially in isolated areas.
I sort of work this way. If I am too uncomfortable/ scared. I go in ASAP as I know I'm not going to surf well anyway and always be thinking and listening for the music!
Dun dun dnun dunda ( you know the one)

Australia is shark country 7 attacks in Western Australia last year but I've been surfing for 55 years and haven't been bitten yet
More deadly than your beach is the drive home!

If it is just a matter of being a little uncomfortable about whether I'm up to the ability to push one of my surfing boundaries, I check and go.
I have a little sports psychology button I use as a performance enhancer /come skill check!

[PandaJosh]

Haha thanks bro I think I understand what your saying go you want me to try it out?

[IB_Surfer]

Dude, I rather surf alone, I wake up at 5:30 am to avoid crowds, the less people the more waves I get. I've gotten used to getting a dozen or more waves per go out, compared to crowded spots where I only get 4 to 6 waves.

I used to hate to surf after work due to windy conditions and sharing with everyone that also just got off work, but I moved half a block away at a beach break, I always walk away from crowds and try to find my own peak, or one less used. I only join the crowd if the best peak is going off and the others are not, and then paddlewars are on!

[PandaJosh]

Ill try surf alone. Try to get the thought of Florida sharks out my head.

[jaffa1949]

Haha thanks bro I think I understand what your saying go you want me to try it out?

If you are not comfortable .....Don't, surfing is about enjoyment so if you are not enjoying it....... Don't.
Surfing with friends is great as you urge each other on.
There is also the risk of being injured by your own board and other stuff.
Handling rips too is important, I think while you are learning and getting skills and surf fitness , truly alone is not really a good idea
You can get semi alone, at the next break down that long sandy beach they call Florida and that might just work for you>

[Dantastic1985]

I surf alone 90% of the time. Its great to have someone else with you for a laugh, security. see you do your first cut backs or bottom turns etc etc. However in reality If I don't go alone then I surf very very rarely so take the choice of going away for the weekend on my own with a good book and a bottle of red for the night time. I do also quite like the eerie feeling of being the only one in the water at dusk when 1-2ft mush turns into 3ft glass and your havng all to yourself.

RE sharks, I only surf in the UK and here we get seals. Scary stuff. Although when out on my own I had a minimal wipeout but the board and fin whacked me on the head, 10 stitches later I was on my way home. That could of ended up a lot worse but if you want to have 0 chance of injury or death your best to give up surfing and get into sitting at home in cotton wool!

Pro's and cons of both. Stay stoked, surf solo and enjoy it!

[PandaJosh]

Yeah I got a friend to come with me every time I want to go surfing we are both same skill level.

[billie_morini]

PandaJosh,
I usually surf alone. This was especially true when I lived in NorCAL. At some of the more wild breaks, there were not even other surfers. So, I was truly alone. I like it that way and am confident in my abilities. And, as when I raced motorcycles, my wife knows if I die doing it, it's the best way for me.

Here's a learning tip similar to what you reported to Jaffa above: sometimes when surf was good, I'd go out back by the line up an simply watch the other surfers. I did this about once per month when learning. I'd just watch and learn. The surfers didn't think it was weird. It helped me learn to see what they saw when swells were coming. It helped me know when and how to paddle. It helped me see popping up at close range. And, more. Maybe you'd like to do this, too.

[greg2935]

Ive always surfed alone; then again thats because no one else gets up in the dark to get to the best spots with no one there..very sweet

[oldmansurfer]

I surf alone but half the time my wife is on the beach so she can all the rescue guys to collect my body from the ocean if I die

[petersumpters]

I love to surf alone specially when waves were so huge and oftentimes friends were with me at some time.