USE
YOUR HEAD
- 11 common sense ways to make surfing
a better experience
1Know your limits
- Based on your skill level, select
a surf spot that's right for you.
If you are just learning to surf,
or consider yourself a novice, don't
go within a stones throw of another
soul. Until you have full control
of your board you are extremely
dangerous to not only yourself,
but all those around you. Assess
the conditions before you set foot
in the water.
2Don't
drop in on, back paddle or fade
your fellow surfer. The
surfer closest to the breaking part
of the wave always has position.
If the waves are peaky, popping
up in the shape of an A, (A-Frames),
you will need to communicate with
the other surfer, (if you are both
paddling for the same peak), ie,
"Going left Bro!" Say
it with authority, so there's no
miscommunication. It is always best
to split the peak.
3 When paddling
out at a point break or any spot
that has a defined, repetitive,
riding lane, always paddle
around that area, to get into the
takeoff spot. If you try
and paddle out in a straight shot
your chances of not only ruining
someone's wave, but being run over
will increase dramatically. At a
shifty beach break just do your
best to find a channel. If someone
is riding toward you, paddle towards
the white water behind them, don't
try and beat them up the
face of the wave. Simple geometry
says that your paths will intersect,
so do the math.
4 When paddling
out, never ditch your board
and dive under the wave,
also known as a "Chuck and
Duck". Aside from cracking
the skull of the person directly
behind you, it will put undue pressure
on the leash and increase the chance
of breaking it. Then, you will not
only be treading water, but your
board will be heading toward shore
like and unguided missile, taking
out every surfer in it's path. You
need to learn to duck dive, or at
the very least, turn turtle, (flipping
the board along with yourself, upside
down, and hang on to the rails with
everything you have.
5 Don't paddle out at a
spot that already has a thick crowd
on it. Find another part
of the beach, or just keep driving.
The "sheep" mentality
of the general surfer population
is what I consider to be the biggest
bummer about surfing in this day
and age. Spread out and be considerate.
6 Don't show up with your
5 bros and all paddle out
to the same peak, when there are
already a few people out there.
With an offshore wind, the stench
of kook will waft out into the line
up and expose you and your friends
for what you are, douche bags. Don't
be those guys, surfing is an individual
sport, so don't show up with more
than one other person. If you're
forced to, or choose to travel as
a group, try to divide and conquer
when you hit the surf.
7Don't
be a wave hog. If they're
coming too you all morning, let
a few slide on by. If you're riding
a bigger sized board, don't keep
paddling back to the outside position,
let someone else line up for the
next good one. You can also keep
moving up and down the beach or
point so you don't wear out your
welcome. Sharing is caring!
8Respect
the locals and interpret
the vibe in water. If you paddle
out into a group of surfers that
are all calling each other by name
and obviously local, your chances
of getting a wave are about as slim
as winning the lotto. Even public
beaches have locals, so don't think
that Palos Verdes is only place
you need to mind your P's and Q's.
Be respectful and only take inside
waves or move around until you find
a spot you're comfortable at. Even
if you have position for a wave,
it is sometimes a good idea to back
off and let the local have it. It
may be the start of you penetrating
the invisible circle.
9 If someone in the water
gets injured, or just needs
some assistance, do whatever you
can to help out. You never know
when that guy might be you, and
if you're surfing in the morning
or in a remote location, another
surfer is the only friend you have,
10 Have fun. Surfing
is, more than anything else, something
we do to have a good time. Smile,
laugh, hoot. Cheer your friends
on, call a stranger into a wave.
Make some new buddies and hang loose.
11 Keep it clean.
Be sure to recycle and if you see
some trash on the beach when your
walking into, or exiting the water
pick it up. Take those extra 10
steps to the closest trash can.
It starts with YOU!
We
at Swellmagnet.com take great pride in our site
and will do our best to keep all off the surf
reports and live surf cameras up and running around
the clock.
We now boast a daily, dawn patrol, Surf report
for Malibu as well as a live, streaming Malibu
surf camera, a daily, dawn patrol Surf report
for Topanga as well as a live, streaming Topanga
surf camera, a daily, dawn patrol Surf report
for Sunset as well as a live, streaming Sunset
surf camera, a daily, dawn patrol Surf report
for Venice Beach Breakwater as well as a live,
streaming Venice Beach Breakwater surf camera,
a daily, dawn patrol Surf report for Santa Monica
Beach as well as a, live, streaming Santa Monica
Beach surf camera, a daily, dawn patrol Surf report
for El Porto Beach as well as a live, streaming
El Porto Beach surf camera, dawn patrol Surf report
for Manhattan Beach as well as a live, streaming
Manhattan Beach surf camera, dawn patrol Surf
report for Torrance Beach as well as a live, streaming
Torrance Beach surf camera, dawn patrol Surf report
for Huntington Beach well as a live, streaming
Huntington Beach surf camera and a dawn patrol
Surf report for Huntington Beach well as a live,
streaming Huntington Beach surf camera. Lastly
we have free surf reports from both Manzanillo
Bay Inn in Troncones, Mexico and from Punta Roca,
El Savador courtesy of adventuresurftours.com.
If you know of any possible locations to put up
new surf cameras there is 150.00 finders fee for
you! Just hit us up with an
email.
