Surfing Waves

Hey guys, well im a BBer and ive been doing it on and off for the last 10+ years ever since i was a young kid with my dad taking me in the summer time and its only recently (last month) my brother is 18 and so we go to the beach alot no matter what time of the year and im getting pretty good at it like the biggest ive been on is probs 6ft and i can do cutbacks and stuff aswell as airs but ive never bodyboarded a reef break and am looking to go down to winkipop or bells sometime (australia) but am really hesitant due to its a reef

so do you guys have any tips such as whether to duckdive what to do when i fall or if any of you have ever surfed there could you tell me what its like? and just any basic tips bout a reef?

thanks in advance

Hey there and Welcome to SW!

I've moved your post to the right section...

The Sponge was made for reefs! You have nothing to worry about if your as solid as you say and you should be able to read waves by now. Reefs are a piece of piss when it comes to reading them once you know the sections. Obviously different swell conditions and direction are going to change this but not a great deal. With Reefs they will generally peek and break much the same each time and so this leaves it wide open to technically rip each section to pieces as you know its coming.

You won't need to do much duck diving as there will be some sort of channel. and thus when wiping out just head for that channel. when on a reef (generally) trying to get back out along the reef break will only result in a pummeling just head to the relevant side and round the break. you'll steer clear of everyone else then too.

I love reefs to bits your riding will improve 10fold if you hit em up regularly.



edit: spelling and shocking typing

to add to what papaw said, try not to be too intimidated by the fact that you are surfing over a reef. yes its made of rock and might hurt you but you will find that most times you mess up or end up on the inside of a set it will be fine. yes you will get the odd beating but that comes with the territory. start on mellower ones first then you can head for the gnarly shallow ones.

and cover your head when you wipe out (should do on beaches too but more so on reefs)

watch your head on a negative tide

ya reefs are a place where you can dramatically improve yor skills. just be causious of other surfers as reefs are often crowded with locals so take some time to work out how the break works and the order of the pack:wink:

Bells isn't the kind of wave where I'd worry about hitting the reef. I've not surfed it but I've been past when It was semi working and the wave looks like it's breaking in deep water, and I've never heard anyone talking about how gnarly the reef is. Also Bells is not a good bodyboard wave, it's too fat for that.

It's not like an Indo coral reef. First time I surfed over coral I was nervous but found that It took some effort to hit the reef and when I did I made sure I touched down with my booties.

Don't ride a wave too far if you are worried about the shallow inside section, and stretch your arms and legs out and float like a starfish if you come off in the shallows, then again you are on a BB so you won't fall so you don't have to worry half as much.

The real shallow reefs I have surfed were rock shelfs so hitting that didn't shred me. The places where you are likely to hit reef are where the waves are hollow (breaking from top to bottom) otherwise wipe outs are more like a beach break, and how often do you hit the sand hard on beach breaks? Probably not very often.....

Oh and often the bigger the waves, the deeper the water so big can sometimes be better if you are scared

I've surfed many reefs, the only hazard is when you first get out, in the shallow waters, aftewards there is usually enough water between you and the reef to keep you safe. So, some tips:

1) Better to surf the reef with or around someone that knows it.
2) If you don't own some surf socks buy some, in case you have to walk on the reef, your heels will really appreciate it
3) Watch the inside, sometimes it can jack up and slam you when you get close to the shelf.

Have fun