Booties in San-O a must?

[Katsura]

Hey, thinking about a weekend trip to San-O this week. I read San-O has some pretty rocky spots, are Booties must? I haven't got a pair and not got much time to go and buy them.

I guess the rocks will encourage me not to pearl and avoid wipesouts extra hard . Is it still suitable as a beginner spot?

Thanks in advance.

[scsurf]

When the water temp. drops you may want booties, But I'd say It's a small minority that wears them for foot protection at San-O. Just don't rush into the water. take your time and watch out for stingrays.

[isaluteyou]

i never wear booties even in rocky/ jaggered reef. No big deal just walk slow and then paddle when you can

[parrysurf]

^ agree only wear the boots when the water gets cold.... I do the tender foot dance to the water then I try to not touch bottom till I do the dance out. Even in urchin areas, I just try not to touch. I have dug a few urchins from my feet, but it is worth it to feel the board.

[the.ronin]

The waves break far from the rocks. It's just getting out and getting back in where you have to do the drunk dance.

Regarding stingrays, I've heard good arguments against wearing booties. For starters, with booties on you won't feel them and likely step all over them triggering their self defense instincts to sting the crap out of you. Not only does their sting extend above what a booty normally covers, it will sting right through the booty. If you do get stung with a booty on, lifeguards will have to cut open the booty else removing it would aggravate the stinger.

Good times.

[oldgrom]

Hear hear I agree cold water only if it's a must outherwise WALK THE ROCK it's short lived in distance anyways so just grin and bear it evrybody will know you got an ouchie when your face goes and youl walk like a tard but great fun follows great pain....

[billie_morini]

I love surfing at San O. Although I wear booties just about every where, the majority of surfers at San O do not use them.

[the.ronin]

In booty's defense, those things are like super glue. Last time I remember wearing them, I felt stuck to the board. Almost too stuck. But that was a long time ago.

[tono@trestles]

two things come into play on this one. 1st- how tough are your feet. If you're like me, I rarely go bare footed anywhere and so, my feet feel every little thing I step on when I do go bare footed. Where as some people always go bare footed and so they have this nice thick tough layer of protection on bottom of their feet. I saw this one Philipino guy once hit the San Onofre Rocks running at low tide. RUNNING ! I'm not kidding. I've never seen anything like it since either. The 2nd thing is whether you're willing to surf enough times in booties to where you're so used to the way they react on your board, that if feels totally natural to you and the way you surf. As for me..... I wear them every time I go out. Rocks or no rocks. I'm totally used to them and they don't hinder me or my surfing a bit. Yes! it can be done!