Surfing Waves

What's a better teacher? Been hitting the beaches around El Porto and Santa Monica, but it's pretty much hit and miss. Should I be looking for consistent waves at breaks like Malibu?

Waves were pretty mushy and slow today. Tough to paddle into and not good for riding. What's the term for it when it's like that?

Lomax wrote:Waves were pretty mushy and slow today. Tough to paddle into and not good for riding. What's the term for it when it's like that?

'Mushy and slow'

And stick to the beach breaks until you know what you're doing.

IMO reef/point breaks are a lot better so long as you can safely handle them.

As a begginer that means typicaly not you. beaches are usualy a lot safer and wont damage you or your board as much.

Try find a beach thats a bit peaky and consistent at least on the day.

Doesn't matter so much what the setup is, just look for mellow, peeling waves, that are slow, and not too crowded.

And avoid, fast, ledgey, barrelling, nasty big spitting barrells. That's usually a reef/point, but not all, and could easily be a beach break too.

The nice thing about learning somewhere with a rock bottom is that the waves break pretty much the same each time, so you can get it dialled quicker, and that could make things easier. But don't try to learn somewhere that could hurt you.

Hang11 wrote:Doesn't matter so much what the setup is, just look for mellow, peeling waves, that are slow, and not too crowded.

And avoid, fast, ledgey, barrelling, nasty big spitting barrells. That's usually a reef/point, but not all, and could easily be a beach break too.

The nice thing about learning somewhere with a rock bottom is that the waves break pretty much the same each time, so you can get it dialled quicker, and that could make things easier. But don't try to learn somewhere that could hurt you.

Yeah I mean the long, peeling, mellow breaks. Not the barrelling ones with 6ft of spray.

The beaches are a good teacher of wave spotting. You don't just paddle to the same place and catch the same long, peeling right all day. But from my experience having surfed in both, a point is far better for sweet, long waves unless you catch the beach on a perfect day.

Downside is, it's so crowded every wave is contested. So the net result is often the same unless you drop in.

Hang11 wrote:The nice thing about learning somewhere with a rock bottom is that the waves break pretty much the same each time, so you can get it dialled quicker, and that could make things easier. But don't try to learn somewhere that could hurt you.

Yes, if there is a point or reef out there that is nice and mellow and the rocks are deep enough and not jagged then it will be fine, just stay away from shallow, barreling breaks. Also go to some place that is easy to get in and out (esp out.)

Hey Lowmax, I tried surfing El Porto when I was first starting and didnt get much luck. It was during the winter though, and El Porto actually can get some good size, so I had a some where I got myself out and then was freaking out on the drops.

I ended up coming down a bit more south from there and surfing Manhattan Pier for a while. Lot's of bodyboarders out there, but you'll be able to find many different peaks to play around on from Manhattan up through El Porto.

I prefer the beach breaks while learning, simply because many of the people are also still learning, and you have better chances of having a little less pressure as opposed to if you were at a nice reef or point break where everyone is trying to find those perfect rides and will probably get real pissed if you happen to drop in on them or disrupt them in the slightest way.

Idk, personal preference. If you plan on going to Manhattan or something, PM me, maybe I can meet up with you there.

beaches and reefs can be good in their own way. beaches can spread the crowds along the length of the beach whereas a reef or point there will usually be a relatively small takeoff area. id say its best to start off on a nice mellow beach to begin with but once you can bottom turn and ride the face confidently theres no reason not to try one of the more mellow reefs around.

if you are going to surf a reef then don't forget to check it out when there's no water to find any dangers etc.

Sillysausage wrote:if you are going to surf a reef then don't forget to check it out when there's no water to find any dangers etc.

yep otherwise your skegs wont thank you and neither will your body

you're fins will hate you!! (well i knew what i was surfing over but ah well)

Try Redondo breakwater, breaks a nice left on a beach but the breakwater gives it a nice reef effect. Ever head to San Diego, let me know, we'll hook up and I'll show you some of my fav breaks.