Bathers, Waders, Floaters & on generally being in the way...

[Big H]

Small waves today....and it was Saturday.....spells the usual recipe when I go to the beach. Tons of beginners lined up in the pits, waiting for waves to break so they can ride the whitewater....standing next to their boards and flinging themselves on at the last second (with nary a look over their shoulder).....then the bathers....large groups, small groups, individuals....none want to be too close to each other but consider little the surfers who are plowing in from the outside................and they all want to play in the waves. Day like today, the "waves" were a pretty well focused area so swimmers, waders (being low tide and large section of flats not terribly deep), surf schools, independents on foamies, and a handful of regulars including three local grommies sponsored by Luke Studer who were shredding on their colourful and well stickered up Studer boards.

It was hard to ride a wave......getting one was no problem.....but had to thread your way and kick out before slamming into the beginner pylons waiting to jump on their boards, not looking at all in your direction.

So I did and had fun.


But I witnessed three surfer/swimmer collisions, one surfer/learner foamie jumper collision and had a tourist run over the nose of my longboard as I was going down the line (no damage either board....love ya tuflite) who blatantly dropped in on me but proceeded to tell me he was up first (I'm on the wave, going down the line, been up for 30m, on a 9'6" and he's on a sub 6' fish in the process of standing when he met me.....).

>Big Sigh< No you weren't...my disgusted answer.

He proceeded to move 200m down immediately thereafter, leaving me with the bathers, waders and human pylons. All the same I must have caught 30 waves in an hour and a half.....so many that I had to take breaks because I was winded from catching, riding, paddle back out - here comes another.........actually had a really good time on the tiny waves using my big board and managed some moves on the waves in spite of their size......had a few cross steps as well.....Wchans blog has been my guiding light in that respect; getting better at it....all in turning that front foot out to 11 o'clock (goofy)........

Another day at the zoo.

Tomorrow is 5 star rated....5-7ft dawn patrol with almost no wind........I can't sleep I'm so stoked! Loading the car right now (longboard and a thruster....can't decide since I had so much fun on the longboard today).

[Surf Hound]

Argghhh. Island problems. NORCAL = big stormy conditions, victory at sea, 54 degree water, raining, 58 degree air, 2 weeks without being in the water. Next decent conditions is due for this Wednesday so just think BIg H - it gets worse.

[BoMan]

Day like today, the "waves" were a pretty well focused area so swimmers, waders (being low tide and large section of flats not terribly deep), surf schools, independents on foamies, and a handful of regulars including three local grommies sponsored by Luke Studer who were shredding on their colourful and well stickered up Studer boards.

It sounds like this beach could use flags to sort out the traffic.

Had a few cross steps as well.....Wchans blog has been my guiding light in that respect; getting better at it....all in turning that front foot out to 11 o'clock (goofy)

Me too, brother!
I can only walk off the front at the end of my rides.

[jaffa1949]

Signs work really well in Bali, considering the newbie surfing crew come from almost every European country, Russia Japan and some have never seen the sea! Sadly much of what happens is they choose to ignore the signs.
Some groups think flags denote private surfing areas and go elsewhere , some do no care they see no difference in the body of water in front of them.
Some get very pissed off if you try to point out the danger to them or their children.

Happen in Australia , concerned lifeguards and caring surfers are told to mind their own business.

Rips look like safe places to learn and swim because they have fewer waves.

Many flights into Australia show a surf safety video.

I think only the shark sign works on tourists