How to get better in crowds?

[holdmeup]

i did find this bit of writing about getting more in crowds and it's pretty good, tho i didn't find anything such as boggles the mind and teaches even J something new.

https://isurfnetwork.com/catching-waves ... main-peak/

In the diagram, if someone sets up deeper (zone 3) to try and snake my position, I use the kooks set up inside (zone2) to "block" that deep guy. I drive close down and shoot across their right shoulder sending them unconsciously straighter. That in turn runs them right into the path of the snaking deeper guy.

okay, now that's what i'm talking about -- actual actionable advice, clearly stated and incredibly helpful. love it. thanks much. got more of a similar nature?

meanwhile, here's something else i found that's good but not nearly as specifically good as ram's words:


If you’re still not catching anything, change strategies. My general rule is 15 minutes. If you haven’t caught anything in about 15 minutes, it’s time to change strategies. Maybe you should scoot towards the beach and bottom feed. Maybe paddle 100 yards to the north or south. Maybe paddle way out past everyone and wait for the bomb. Don’t get too obsessed with one position in the line up and allow your stubbornness to deflate your wave count.

[waikikikichan]

okay, now that's what i'm talking about -- actual actionable advice, clearly stated and incredibly helpful. got more of a similar nature?

It's not really "advice" in as much as a reason why things happen. If you're not really good with bottom turns, controlling your rail and being able to kick out on a dime, those crowd controlling techniques could end up hurting someone or getting you knocked out. ( especially if you're new to the spot )

If you’re still not catching anything, change strategies. My general rule is 15 minutes. If you haven’t caught anything in about 15 minutes, it’s time to change strategies. Maybe you should scoot towards the beach and bottom feed. Maybe paddle 100 yards to the north or south. Maybe paddle way out past everyone and wait for the bomb. Don’t get too obsessed with one position in the line up and allow your stubbornness to deflate your wave count.

Using that diagram as a reference again, Zone 1 is the peak. The spot were one should take off at a particular break. It is surrounded by people off to either side and front and back. If you move out of the prime spot, I call it "going around the clock". Say at Queen's break at Waikiki. Most tourist stop at the bottom right corner (say 4 o'clock) after a long paddle. They don't catch anything because the way the wave breaks from left to right. They make any effort to paddle further out ( 2 o'clock ) but again catch nothing. So they go more to the top left corner ( or drift that way with the current ). That sets them up to drop in on the shoulder if they can get on ( thus they get yelled at ). It's hard for them to get out as they don't know how to use the channel, so they end up in the bottom left corner ( 7 o'clock ) and end up at the mercy of the impact zone and incoming riders coming down the line. They get tried / frustrated and give up ( or get anxious and make a bad decision ). Best to have stayed in zone 1 ( in the middle of the clock ) and wait your turn right ? Nope, because you have to earn your right to be in the line up, spend the time, earn respect and pay your dues. ( hard to do on vacation, when time is money )