Surf spot selection

[sflogging]

Which is better?

1. High quality waves and surf but extremely crowded, aggro, localized spot, making overall wave count low, and cause frustrating experience most of the time. But the few waves you do catch are amazing.

Versus

2. Subpar short waves, but can catch a ton of waves without worrying about crowds.

[Millsy82]

Throughout the winter I opted for leaving the best peaks to those that are good. I would generally find a less crowded area catch as many waves as I could and didn't matter if I messed up a turn, turtle roll or something like that.

Now I'm a bit better I'm all for the better waves I know I can make turns and I love having a great wave today I had probably my best wave with some cracking carving turns on it. I wouldn't of been able to have that at where I used to go throughout the winter.

[oldmansurfer]

Depends on what you want to do. If you want to learn to surf then unless you are really good and need a good wave to practice whatever you want to learn then the more chances to do whatever you want to learn the quicker you will learn. If you are a very good surfer and need a specific wave that isn't available at the less crowded area then you need to endure the crowd to learn. If you don't want to learn then whatever makes you happy

[BoMan]

I'm all in for option 2.

It's a good day when I have a big wave count and ride every piece of junk I can catch. I rework my schedule to go on weekdays and get up early to ride when most people are at work. Did I mention that retirement is AWESOME? When there's a big lineup, I refuse to sit and wait my turn. It's more fun to paddle in, out, left or right to find a clear takeoff spot. And when it's knee high I bring a 100 litre log to work on sliding all the way to shore.

[oldmansurfer]

Then there is option three with perfect uncrowded waves. Ahhhh to have that once again would be great maybe when I retire

[waikikikichan]

Don't forget the 4th option, crowded and not so good waves. Sharing isn't caring, it's mandatory.

photo from Sakai Ichiroh

[Big H]

Sometimes one sometimes two.....rare occasions I'm smiled down on and it's a beautiful 3.

[dtc]

Option 5: good waves and no one else out and you um and ahh because surfing an isolated beach completely alone is a bit sketchy...(sorry wkk!)

[waikikikichan]

I actually like surfing in crowds. Especially if they're on shortboards, I look less tempting to sharks. Plus if you're all alone, get this incredible barrel, land a air-reverse and claim it.................... is it still a "claim" if no one is there to witness it ?

[oldmansurfer]

Isn't it enough that the sharks witness it?

[sflogging]

Surfing completely alone sketches me out. I prefer others around, but spread out enough that there are plenty of waves for everyone, especially in the sharky red triangle of northern california.

I decided to try option #1 today on my rare day off, and went to Santa Cruz. Nothing more frustrating than to see an amazing wave right in front of you when you are in position at the peak, and then realize that you are intimately surrounded on all sides by surfers (who all probably think they are in position too), and are paddling for and also catch the wave. That then results in a "party wave", except everyone on the wave is shouting at each other, so it's not fun like a party. I'm not sure how people enjoy that. Also makes me wonder how people in crowded dangerous places like pipeline are able to catch waves without being killed by other surfers. Anyway, I should have done option #2 today instead. haha.