reefs are good... aside from sea urchins

[Jimi]

Went out twice this weekend, for a sesh, but discovered the beaches were either packed, or really big or closing out... there was no middle ground.

So, naturally me and my surfer buddies thought the totally empty reef break around the point looked like a plan (Shelley Beach to the Cronulla locals which are usually on longboards).

Had 2 awesome sessions, and I do love the feeling of gliding over the reef a foot below the water surface.

Only downer is now a few sea urchin spines in my right foot.. Next time I think boots are the answer. Anyone else surf in boots in Au? is it worth the effort of should I just be more careful about where I put my feet?

[CHarvey]

I would be wearing booties.

[crepuscular]

I've seen people surfing in those boots @ my local beach (Bondi), it made me wonder would it make the deck harder to stand on?

[CHarvey]

Doesn't make it harder to stand on. If nothing else you get better grip. The reason I porefer not to wear them if I have a choice is because I can't feel my board as well.

[Aloha]

When I surf reef, I put a reef bootie on my back foot. You can't really tell it's on as it feels just like the tail pad.

I don't like a boot on my front foot as that definitely messes up your feel for the board.

With one boot you can push off whenever you need to, without getting cut.

This works quite well, however, I have been stranded on dry reef, after riding to far inside, and had to walk back out. Luckily, that time, I had the other boot in the pocket of my boardies.

The other option is to 'starfish' whenever you fall off, and don't touch the ground. Getting caught inside in the shallows is pretty nasty on a reef if you aren't wearing boots as you need to push off to stop you from getting swept onto the rocks.

[Rico]

not wearing boots protects the reef, but definately not your feet.

I hit one once, hurts

[isaluteyou]

cant stand booties but i can see why some wear em on reefs particulaly if its sharp corral. Cut my foot a few times as often you have to walk out a ways in reef until its deep enough to launch. Also bounced off a reef a few times during a wipeout

Trick is when going out tread very carefully and when coming back in likewise

[Beachbum]

awww man I hate sea urchins especially when it's your foot. Bugs the crap out of me the rest of the session. I remember having a piece in my foot for like a couple of weeks and finally one day it came out fully intact .

[Jimi]

well, the urchin spine came out yesterday, so it's not too bad. I think I'll just stick to "starfish" style when I come off, and go without the booties, not least coz I don't enjoy looking too much like a kook.