Surfing Waves

I just hate those days when the water keeps moving me the other way, then I have to paddle like a dog until I get my orignal position. Is there anyway that you can stay at one spot? I just hate the rip current pulling me and getting me close to jetty. I m scared as hell being crashed to rocks Any informatio relating rip current is helpful!

a strong current could mean that you have to keep paddling to maintain position. difficult to advise you on this without knowing the spot and the direction of the current. talk to the locals at your spot if they're approachable. they could provide you with valuable advice on how to deal with the current at that particular spot.

depends on the strength of the rip, if its not too strong you can always just surf the green face, paddle out, then by the time you've been dragged back across surf another wave, if not keep paddling against the rip, but don't put too much energy into it, otherwise you'll be too tired to surf, but if its strong, try and find another spot for when there is a big rip

you can look from the beach and go in at the point on the break with least rip current, you know by how much debris (sand etc) is gettin lifted up by each wave.

the direction of the current is always moving left and it moves you really fast. After like 10 minute I have moved around 100 meters. I guess the only way you can fight the current is just by paddling softly, still it gives me no more stamina to paddle for a surf. btw this is socal newport beach.

If the current is pulling you down the beach ie South , just go and surf in the Northern corner of the beach

So how does everybody deal with rip current? Unless you're in a really long beach with sand.

At my home break the current tends to pull out and to the right which is compounded by the somes strong side-offshore winds. I usually paddle out at an angle veering left. If there's a strong current pulling me out I take my time paddling out or don't paddle out too far so I don't end up too deep or past the peak.

You sure you mean rip current?

Sounds like your talking about plain old ocean current. To the best of my knowledge, a rip will only pull you more or less straight out, where a side current due to wind will cause you to drift sideways.

A rip is just water flowing out the deepest point, so it will go sideways until it gets to the point where it can go out between sandbars or through a channel.

Generally, rips ultimately take you in a big circle.

it could also be cuased by longshore drift

Hang11 wrote:A rip is just water flowing out the deepest point, so it will go sideways until it gets to the point where it can go out between sandbars or through a channel.

Generally, rips ultimately take you in a big circle.

I guess they must be different around here. I got caught in one when I was a kid, I swam side shore to get out of it. I wish they did go in a big circle around here. It wood be a fun ride, if you got caught in one all you wood have to do is just float, and it wood circle back around and put you right near the beach. Found this on the web.....

A rip current is a narrow, powerful current of water running perpendicular to the beach, out into the ocean. These currents may extend 200 to 2,500 feet (61 to 762 m) lengthwise, but they are typically less than 30 feet (9 m) wide. Rip currents can move at a pretty good speed, often 5 miles per hour (8 kph) or faster.


This is a sign at one of our beaches I took a shot of last month.

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Oh yeah, I found out that my beach is a alongshore current. It only goes one way.

pkbum, where do you surf in Newport Beach? Sorry I don't have any advice. Just wanted to know where you're experiencing this. I usually longboard at Newport Beach Pier and sometimes at Orange and PCH. Good luck man!

Newport 56th street. Do you think the newport pier has a pretty weak current?

I've been surfing at Newport Pier at least twice a week for the last six months, and I haven't notice any strong rip current. I've seen them on several occasions but they weren't strong enough to do much. What I don't like is having to paddle against the strong tide, like the one this past Saturday.

By the way, did you went out last week? Man, they were big... double overhead at the pier.

Good luck man!