How to paddle out during a south or north rip current?

[ngreene]

Alright, I can make it outside now! However, earlier today I surfed in San Diego and the waves were probably 5 feet tops. I normally can paddle out quite well, as I can turtle roll very comfortably. However, I had a feeling of a loss of control when the current was taking me to the pier south. There's a current at the pier which I obviously don't want to go through since I"m a beginner surfer. How do you paddle out when the current is constantly taking you left or right? Thanks for the help!

BTW subscribe to my youtube channel! http://www.youtube.com/TheHelpfulTutor

[jaffa1949]

There used to be a poster on the forum called the maths teacher, but he is another equation now!
It becomes fairly clear that you are more of a novice than your quotient of snowboarding and skateboard is equal to.
The first law of rips is wherever they go do not apply force against the rip direction rather vector your effort across the rip in the direction you wish to go.
BTW if the current is running along the beach it is not a rip it is longshore drift ( a problem none the less) and it eventually feeds in to a rip .
We still don't know if you are a strong swimmer or not! If you are relying on your leash for safety (they can fail) you are being foolish!
You can use rips to get out beyond the break to where you can catch unbroken waves, or are you basing your assessment of skills on riding the white water?

I might seem to be fairly scathing in what I'm saying but almost every person shifting from land based board sports are in exactly the same boat as you and believe they are ahead of the learning curve.
Read this
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=22638&p=169023#p169023

[oldmansurfer]

I am not sure exactly what the problem is but if there are other surfers then you can copy them. Currents go in circles so near the beach they go one way and outside of that they go in the opposite direction. If you are getting caught in a cross current drawing you over to the pier then going further in or out should get you out of the current depending on the beach. It is good to study what the other surfers are doing there. watch how the current affects them and what they do about it.

[oldmansurfer]

I just read this article that related to this problem http://www.grindtv.com/lifestyle/pro-active/post/riptides/