Surfing Waves

I was gonna put surfing in a crowd, but as soon as there are maybe 4 or 5 other people surfing my wave count goes down, drastically, and thats not a crowd. I hate it.
Today for example, I was first in the water, and took wave after wave on my longboard. Then maybe 3 or 4 other guys got in, that was it. Every time I checked down the line before popping up, there was someone on the peak. I think I maybe got 2 more waves before getting out, and 1 of those was because a friend fell on the take off which left the wave for me.
It's not a break I know really well, and it doesn't happen so much on the other break I surf, but on that there is more than one take off point.
On a break where the positioning is crucial, I'm hopeless, and it's really p1ss1ng me off.
I have sat further out as I'm longboarding, but I've also just started with a 6'3" fish so I wanna be able to take waves further in. Try as I might my positioning never seems right.
Any tips please...............

I have surfed a peak that was extremely critical with around 20-30 other surfers hustling for this one peak in 6ft clean offshore

In situations like that you just have to surf agresively and ensure that you make you way to the right position giving you better chances.

My buddy just shouts "going right/left" as he paddles. It works but id feel like a numnut doing that

you need to get on the peak. If there are only. 4/5 out and the vibe is ok you will get your turn, but you must establish your right by getting on the peak. Nobody is going to let good wave go just because someone is hanging inside and looking sad. If its really crowded you just need to be more assertive but not to agressive.

getting the hang of it now, although some of the older guys seem to think they can have the wave where ever they take off on it, just because they have surfed there for 20 years, then they moan about people not following the rules................................

come to ireland

saying that, it can be less fun and no1 to share it with ...still better than overcowded

On a good day at my local break I dont even bother trying. The Sumner old fart longboarders form a little group on the peak and let no one else on it. You either have to come inside, go out further or find somewhere else

isaluteyou wrote:I have surfed a peak that was extremely critical with around 20-30 other surfers hustling for this one peak in 6ft clean offshore

In situations like that you just have to surf agresively and ensure that you make you way to the right position giving you better chances.

My buddy just shouts "going right/left" as he paddles. It works but id feel like a numnut doing that

Absolutely!

Let them know your there to surf, not therapy.
Localism can get fairly heavy here, I am fairly new to my local break and once getting some form back I put the pressure on anyone. I respected the inside rule, didn't drop in, but made sure anyone knew if it was my wave im not stopping.
After about just over a month now, Im in the boardriders club and in a local comp this weekend.
The only waves I dont get now are the ones I cant catch. If I get dropped in on, you better be fast!

A couple of times a year I venture to Snapper rocks, Burleigh, D'bah. Gets to around 800 people. A handful shouldn't be much of a problem. Just get a rotation going and if it doesn't work then paddle to the peak and take off on the ones you want.

Everytime someone catches a wave paddle into his old spot, if someone else takes it take that persons spot. On non crowded days this usually works fine. If they paddle back on the inside of you though just paddle on the inside of them and maybe they'll get the point.

If you're new to surfing though you'll just have to deal with stuff like this, there is certain people who won't let beginners get a wave at all.