Surfing Waves

Hi,

I'm a newby, just got a minimal and I want to go surfing this weekend. I live in Essex and was thinking of driving to North Devon. The surf reports suggest that the waves are gonna be small and choppy. I've got Friday off work, can anybody suggest the best place to go, would north Cornwall be better? Good spots for a beginner to learn? I've heard Saunton is quite good. I'll probably be on my own so nowhere too challenging please, although I am a reasonable swimmer.

Also could I ask about blown-out conditions.. does this mean that regardless of the size of waves there are onshore winds, causing the wave to break along its whole length so that its difficult to surf? If so can you just ride the waves straight in direct to the beach? And why do some guides suggest that you can try spot B if spot A is blown out.. is it because spot B is shelter from the onshore winds at spot A..? Or am I just really confused??

thanks in advance

Duncan

any beach breaks are fine for surfing around north devon/cornwall saunton is good becuse its a slow fat wave personaly i think its the best longboard wave in the UK cornwall will allways get bigger waves becuse its more exposed

blown out basicly means its so big and messy that its completly unsurfable and would be dangerious to atempted to go in on those conditions

Phils got some good info there for areas in general - see http://www.eyeball-surfcheck.co.uk for the main N'devon spots and theres a specific forum there too.

Condition wise this weekend it is pretty dire, the further west you head the more swell but the winds are nasty as the mo so don't expect anthing you'd see in a surf mag!

putsborogh sands, the same bay as woolacomb. same waves but less crowded.

i wouldnt say puts is less croweded infact its normaly packed becuse its the only spot to escape those SW winds, i really dont rate puts at all its only good when every where else is unsurfable, it just cant hold any decent size swell with out closing out, plus geting through that shore dump on a big day is a right mission

To be honest the east coast looks better this W/E and its nearer. Check out Gorleston Fri evening and Sat, and go to Runton on Sun.
Magic Seaweed has it peaking at about 15ft and 11secs on Sat midday ! So even with the obligatory pinch of salt required for Magic Seaweed predictions its deffo gonna be worth getting wet for!

Shigsy wrote:putsborogh sands, the same bay as woolacomb. same waves but less crowded.

Not the same waves... Baggy point acts as a swell shadow. Only ever any good on a large swell and you need cover from the SW winds as phil says.

yeah sauntons a great longboard/beginner wave, or failing that putsborough which is sheltered from winds when everywhere else is pants. which is pretty much what everyone else has said.
anyone know what sauntons going to be like next weekend? im heading down on sat. and sun. for my 2nd ever surf competition!!!