Surfing Waves

Posted: **Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:56 pm**

Hi

Just wondering what people's opinions are on the most reliable surf reports?

I generally look at magicseaweed, which I like...but never sure how reliable it is compared to any others (I also climb a lot and work in outdoor centre...BBC weather is reknowned for being about 3 days out...and everyone has their 'favourites'!).

Also, being new to surfing, I'm never entirely sure what kind of conditions I should be looking for in a report! I live in Llangollen in N. Wales - it's about an hour and a half drive to the beach, so my friend and I go as many weekends as possible, and will pretty much have a go in any conditions (as long as I don't look at it and think I'll die!).

Anyway thanks (in advance!) for your help!

Sal

Posted: **Wed Oct 04, 2006 4:00 pm**

I use magic seaweed for a rough guide, and then use teletext just to compare reports. But i only go by what stars are showing on magic.

Posted: **Wed Oct 04, 2006 4:19 pm**

S Boy wrote:But i only go by what stars are showing on magic.

....which is about the least reliable way of doing it

The best way is, without a doubt, to learn how to do it for youraelf and to get to know where you're surfing. MSW can help with that - but then make allowances for wind and swell direction etc.

Look at the magic seaweed guide to forcasting for a start... HERE but click on the links to the right

If you want a reliable forecast in the meantime, the best way is usually to find a local shop (or kind soul that does it out of the goodness of his/her heart) that has a local forecast and cam.

Get used to looking at this charts

And look at metcheck or windguru for the wind.

Posted: **Wed Oct 04, 2006 4:32 pm**

I don't know anything about predicting surf ! :cry:

Posted: **Wed Oct 04, 2006 4:43 pm**

S Boy wrote:I don't know anything about predicting surf !

Forecasting is fun! And easy to learn from the comfort of your own desk at work! (Okay, not as good as being at the beach but they rarely pay you to do that)

Posted: **Wed Oct 04, 2006 4:50 pm**

Anything to stop me from working !!!! :wink:

Posted: **Wed Oct 04, 2006 4:52 pm**

The amount of time I spend trawling around surf sites looking at charts.... well, lets just say that if my boss knew, then I'd be doing it from home wondering how I was going to pay for it :wink:

Posted: **Wed Oct 04, 2006 4:59 pm**

I know that feeling

Posted: **Wed Oct 04, 2006 7:02 pm**

magicseaweed is ok, but not that accurate.
the way i interpret msw forecasts is to look at their detailed long range forecast to find when they say the swell will arrive, then add a day to it and expect the size to be a fair bit smaller than they predict.

Nearer the time you can check the buoy report, learn how long it will take swells to travel from the buoy to your break and how they react as they move through the shallower water to the coast and youll be able to tell where is gonna be good the next day or sooner.

For a simple forecast i reckon you cant beat soulsurfer on a1surf, he's usually pretty much spot on, and even apologises when he isnt

dont trust the camp weather guy on bbc wales, his surf forecasts are rubbish.

Posted: **Wed Oct 04, 2006 11:09 pm**

For where I surf my own forecasts are more accurate (and longer range) than the online ones.

But I still look at the online ones, in particular coastalwatch and swellnet.

-doug

Posted: **Thu Oct 05, 2006 7:51 am**

Thanks everyone for your advice/suggestions/comments! Will continue with my frequent "the boss isn't around, what's the surf report saying?" sessions and try and get my head round them a bit!

Ta muchly! :lol:

Posted: **Thu Oct 05, 2006 11:18 am**

I used to do a private one for North Wales but then decided I would be selfish and keep the breaks and knowedge to myself or anyone who was willing to put some effort in rather than be spoonfed.

Posted: **Thu Oct 05, 2006 9:32 pm**

Yah PapaW,

That's about the size of it. I'll email or SMS people I surf with if I figure it's gonna be good. That's about it.

-doug

Posted: **Fri Oct 06, 2006 6:58 am**

Well, I've now spent two days looking at different surf reports and various guides to forecasting, and feel like I'm a bit better 'armed' now....but heck, I'm off to the beach tomorrow whatever it's doing, I don't really care!

Cheers guys n gals!