Do you "spot check" or just pick a spot and go? Also, any sand reconne?

You're on the right track. Don't give up!

 

just walk to the end of my street and jump in. either left or right .

 

Basically, you plotte the gullies and scholls but it means nothing if your sand trajectories are impropre.

 

The cams in my area do a piss poor job of showing conditions at the few breaks I frequent. SI is only somewhat helpful. The best option is to check the buoys and wind, then pick a spot. I don't usually scope out multiple spots, but I have been know to hike a mile down the beach to a spot that is breaking better.

 

Definitely spot check unless it's a no brainer (land on sand and your immediate reaction is "we are on it"). Sandbars will be different especially after this run of NE onshore swell. Would need a good dose of sand recon to make the call. Also, timing of tide/ session is huge. I typically have a low tidish and a high tidish bar to explore.

The worst thing is paralysis analysis... Don't deliberate so much you waste the day away!

 

Exactly what i do. NOAA Wind & wave analysis usually tips one off to the better spot. Nothing beats visual at the beach. Our cams are not bad, but if there is a storm, cams are worthless.

 

I never check anything. I pack up my round pin, Gath helmet, speedo, and wax. The waves are always best wherever I surf, and you always miss it.

 

Definitely the speedo and wax!

 

I used to live about a half hour from the beach so I usually went with the just get in at the same spot everytime approach. However, I now live a block and a half from my local beach. I find it relaxing in the morning to check a few jetties on my bike, eat some breakfast and smoke a bowl or two before hitting the waves. I figure the half hour I spend dilly dallying in the morning would have been spent driving in the car so its win win for me... Unless the surf is killer, then I have more of a sleep in the board shorts and get the **** out of the house in the morning approach.

 

I usually have two maybe three spots in mind. If spot one looks good and not too crowded I paddle out. If it's not convincing enough or if it's already packed, I check spot two and then maybe a 3rd if it's no good. If none of them looks very good I go with the least crowded and accept the sh*t conditions. When conditions are good I just want to get in the water and am less picky then.

 

I have 3 spots I check.i don't have that fancy surf cam app on my phone,nor surfing buddies to ask,not like I want to paddle out to a crowd.usually my first spot is the best.i made a bad decision on one of those late june swells,it was semi pumping but crowded,so I decided to drive around,and got stuck in traffic for 2 hours before I finally made it back to the first spot.thank allah summer is over..god willing lol

 

But do you sand reconne even if i dont know wtf it is !

 

It's our buddy Frost's secret to not drowning when going in the ocean and not knowing how to swim. You gotta know what the sand is doing on low tide. Stay safe Antoine, always sand reconne!

 

Sounds like you're living out ya dreame, Stevie Boy! Just don't spend too much time dilly-dallying in the morning and GTF out there.

 

If it looks rideable from the cam, I go and have a look...live 2 minutes from surf...if it's a go after a quick look, even tiny...I drive on the sand until I find a spot...simple as that

 

i go out at low ride and place a 30foot pool so when high tide comes i can see the spot on going to surf at # ultimate sandreccon.

 

And, importantly, what is ON THE SAND.
Example--bikinis!!!
Please do not forget that, or I will get very suspicious of your preferred gender!!

 

o barry

No need for a reconne to know where your sand is.

 

why doesn't anyone talk about rock recon? It's at least as important to know where the underwater rockes are as the sand.

 

After surfing the same beach for years I can usually tell if there is gonna be something. Problem is what time.Gotta get kids to school 7:30ish so I can't do DP. Only 15 minutes or so from a beach so it's worth the gamble. Work by 10ish.Suprising how many times I've caught a few fun waves when no one else bothered. Almost always get in if I go regardless. Sand and rock reconne is performed any time the tide is out and will be needed after the erosion from these super high tides. Got a few buds that will call each other and give me a report after a sesh.