Looking for Tips and Advise on "Locals Only" breaks

[K10Bay]

Where are you surfing? From what i've heard localism is alot less than it used to be around the world. Where i'm from you don't really get much localism.

But to be honest as a begginer if you know about a spot it's probably not a locals only spot. Unless it was so bad that you would know about it anyway.

[waikikikichan]

From what i've heard localism is alot less than it used to be around the world. Where i'm from you don't really get much localism.

Around the world ? So I guess you've never surfed in Japan. Localism is very alive and well. Especially if you're a good surfer, which seems strange to me.

[RinkyDink]

My advice is to find a beach break or learner's beach to surf. Stay away from the main lineup of whatever break you go to and find a peak down the beach you can surf on your own. You know what happens when you find your own peak and start surfing it? Other beginners show up and start surfing it with you. That's how you start to get to know people at your break. The beginners who are serious will surf regularly and you will start to recognize them and they you. Pretty soon all the "locals" will recognize you as that beginner who is there every weekend and sometimes during the week. They'll know you put time in the water. When you eventually creep closer to the better waves, you won't be some first time kook invading the lineup. You'll be someone the locals know as a kind of local, a bumbling beginner still, but someone they know to have put some time in. Talk to people in the parking lot. Get to know the old timers. Compliment people's boards. Once you reach that point, simply be respectful and you shouldn't have a problem.

[K10Bay]

From what i've heard localism is alot less than it used to be around the world. Where i'm from you don't really get much localism.

Around the world ? So I guess you've never surfed in Japan. Localism is very alive and well. Especially if you're a good surfer, which seems strange to me.

Never, would love to though, I'm British, so probably not the best experience of this but the crowds are getting worse, but generally people are pretty chilled.