Write your 'strongest' memory from the sea

[parrysurf]

^

[garbarrage]

couple of good ones but gonna go with my first surfing memory. first time ever surfing was about 3 years ago circumstances meant that i couldn't get into it properly till last year but anyway.

went down to dingle, kerry with a few mates, 2 of which were experienced surfers who prob should have known better. i was quite excited never having surfed before and was quite eager. we arrived at coumeenal (not sure of spelling) and it was big. figured it had to be big for surfing at the time so didn't think twice about going out in it. we got out back after a struggle and i tried for a few waves but missed them when one of the lads said i was too far back on the board. so i moved a good bit forward for the next wave. as i went for it the wave pitched me forward off the board then held me down for what felt like ages. couldn't tell up from down or what was happening. just as panic was setting in the wave let up and i was standing in knee deep water about 50 meters away from where i started. haven't had as bad a hold down since. did it put me off wanting to learn to surf.... hell no!

[gerk86]

your friends brought you out back on your first day??

ive been at it for nearly 4 months and sitting out back in very deep water still intimidates me a bit.

[garbarrage]

yup..they're not very good friends - btards! they've done a lot worse since... like encouraging me to try a a reef that looked smaller from the shore than it was actually. jumped in to a rip to get out when i realised how big the waves were from a long way away. this particular reef is deep but once you are in the water you're pretty much commited to dealing with the waves as the only way out would be back through the rip. was feckin terrified.... they thought it was hilarious. w***ers!

[The Fafanator]

couple of good ones but gonna go with my first surfing memory. first time ever surfing was about 3 years ago circumstances meant that i couldn't get into it properly till last year but anyway.

went down to dingle, kerry with a few mates, 2 of which were experienced surfers who prob should have known better. i was quite excited never having surfed before and was quite eager. we arrived at coumeenal (not sure of spelling) and it was big. figured it had to be big for surfing at the time so didn't think twice about going out in it. we got out back after a struggle and i tried for a few waves but missed them when one of the lads said i was too far back on the board. so i moved a good bit forward for the next wave. as i went for it the wave pitched me forward off the board then held me down for what felt like ages. couldn't tell up from down or what was happening. just as panic was setting in the wave let up and i was standing in knee deep water about 50 meters away from where i started. haven't had as bad a hold down since. did it put me off wanting to learn to surf.... hell no!

It probably wasn't as bad as it seemed, since you where just starting. But sounds quite bad for a first time.

[The Fafanator]

yup..they're not very good friends - btards! they've done a lot worse since... like encouraging me to try a a reef that looked smaller from the shore than it was actually. jumped in to a rip to get out when i realised how big the waves were from a long way away. this particular reef is deep but once you are in the water you're pretty much commited to dealing with the waves as the only way out would be back through the rip. was feckin terrified.... they thought it was hilarious. w***ers!

My friends did the same to me a few times, and if it wasn't for them I would still be sitting at a stupid beach break on a minimal.

[garbarrage]

in fairness to them I didn't take much encouraging.... was progressing nicely at the time and definitely needed to be taken down a peg or two! think my ambition far exceeded my ability. was probably just a little too wave hungry that day!
faf, what you got against beach breaks? some really good ones over here and i've seen vids of really nice ones in SA. also love my minimal. catch heaps more waves on it. always break it out if its a really clean day and i don't want to miss a thing.
gonna give that reef a go again in the summer if its a bit smaller.

[drowningbitbybit]

Here's my strongest memory... but mostly because it was this morning...

I got up before dawn, and drove to my local (4min drive, ha). The sky was just beginning to lighten as I walked to the water, and the sand was freezing! I got to the water and stepped in... and it was like climbing into a warm bath

Then I had a great session on small but perfectly clean waves as the sun came up. You cant beat a good dawnie.

[The Fafanator]

in fairness to them I didn't take much encouraging.... was progressing nicely at the time and definitely needed to be taken down a peg or two! think my ambition far exceeded my ability. was probably just a little too wave hungry that day!
faf, what you got against beach breaks? some really good ones over here and i've seen vids of really nice ones in SA. also love my minimal. catch heaps more waves on it. always break it out if its a really clean day and i don't want to miss a thing.
gonna give that reef a go again in the summer if its a bit smaller.

You are probably talking about New Pier, that place is great. I have no problem with beachbreaks, I only have a problem with my beachbreak. The problem is that it is really fickle, and you can't surf the face for xxxxx, it useually just closes out. I just don't want another factor for good surf, it is bad enough I need the right swell, wind and period, now I have to rely on a bloody sandbank too, why limit yourself to that? Plus I like to be able to get back out, instead of paddling for half an hour to get out back. (Since it closes out.) And the worst part is, I get sand rashes like hell.

[O_Danny_Boy]

in fairness to them I didn't take much encouraging.... was progressing nicely at the time and definitely needed to be taken down a peg or two! think my ambition far exceeded my ability. was probably just a little too wave hungry that day!
faf, what you got against beach breaks? some really good ones over here and i've seen vids of really nice ones in SA. also love my minimal. catch heaps more waves on it. always break it out if its a really clean day and i don't want to miss a thing.
gonna give that reef a go again in the summer if its a bit smaller.

doesnt listen to faf for a second mate, nothing but a net troll. stick to the beach until your confident of the basics. no use in paddling out at a reef when your not up to it. i surf beach breaks mainly due to the fact that the nearest quality reef or point is 2 hours away

[garbarrage]

i've come on loads since then so feelin confident and humble at the same time. not gonna try it if i don't think i can handle it but definitely have a much clearer idea of what i can handle because of the experience. my favourite beach has nasty pointy rocks scattered around the place so pretty good at avoiding obstacles.
my point was more that i don't think i'll ever stop surfing beaches. anywhere i can see a nice wave i'll have a go. by nice i mean anything up to head height. not about to go out on a shallow razor sharp reef and think its ok!

[waverat]

Plenty to write about. 1 memory was surfiing near Coffs Harbour NSW and there were pods of dolphins about and my mate said he was going in. We heard a splash nearby just as he turned and paddled for a wave. I saw something large go under me, it was wider than me sitting on my board! Mate was waving from the beach, so I went in. He was shaking and asked if I saw the huge shark near me? Nup , but I do know what went under me now! Jeez, it was bloody big too!

[hawaiiSUCKSexceptsurf]

OK you asked its not a good one though.

About this time last year i had to pull a close friend, work collegue and kitesurfing buddy out of the sea after he'd drowned whilst trying to reach the beach after losing his kite in the surf.
This is my strongest memory of the sea as there isn't a day goes by where i don't think about it.

KS

ate you serious? he was dead and you dragged his body out? thats messed up man. sorry to hear it.

as for me, i dont have one. ive lived here my whole life and have become jaded by the ocean/have to many experiences with it that none stand out. unless somethig happend to me like kitesurf or decs experiences

[Jc]

Well I crowdsurfed a wombats gig on sunday, ok no water really, but pretty awesome, and still a type of surfing

[kitesurfer]

OK you asked its not a good one though.

About this time last year i had to pull a close friend, work collegue and kitesurfing buddy out of the sea after he'd drowned whilst trying to reach the beach after losing his kite in the surf.
This is my strongest memory of the sea as there isn't a day goes by where i don't think about it.

KS

ate you serious? he was dead and you dragged his body out? thats messed up man. sorry to hear it.

as for me, i dont have one. ive lived here my whole life and have become jaded by the ocean/have to many experiences with it that none stand out. unless somethig happend to me like kitesurf or decs experiences

Yeah it wasn't a good day.

However on the plus side my favourite memory of the sea has to standing on the bow of a small speed boat Oooo about a year ago watching the famous witches rock getting closer and closer as we boated in and anticipating what was going to be the best days surfing i'd ever had!



KS

[Rico]

first time sunset surfing and diving an outer reef of the maldives

[Jimi]

Strongest surfing memory would be a 2-3ft day at sunset with warm water, surfing and watching the sun setting.

Strongest water memory (still kinda surfing) was surfing at 25kts down 6m swell in a 40ft ocean racer for 15miles in a race... then turning around and nearly not making it back home.

[parrysurf]

Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting"....holy xxxxx.... what a ride!"