who here has been surfing this week?

I got to second bass on the mini. To me there is nothing more fun than riding a super small borte in smallish waves. I feel like I’m cheating sometimes. There are absolutely times when when a log is a necessity, but if it’s at least thigh hi I’m on mini, or even knee high with a line or enough push. Its got the option to be pumped similar to a sb and glide almost as well as a log. Even funky little cheater 5s are possible.

Got out yesterday afternoon in South Jerz on my mini in some semi-choppy high tide sarf to start. About thigh to waist hi with some larger sets. But, the lefts were lining up and I was getting some long rides with enough wall to do some carvey turns. As the evening progressed it completely glassed off. Logged about 4 hours in total.

Forecast for the foreseeable future ain’t looking to hawt. Ready to cop a ticket to the gulf.

 

Agree - the short wide boards are a blast in 2 foot waves, and usually allow you to generate more speed than a log finding those little energy pockets in the waves, and they pump for speed more effectively. I find it a lot more fun than a longboard getting those blasts of speed that let you do actual turns, floaters etc on thigh high waves.

There are definately small waves that have a certain long drawn out shape with no distinct peak that beg for the longboard just because if you arent in super early, the wave will just run away from you once it starts breaking on the inside.

For me longboarding ends up being about a once a month deal. This time of year, most times of year really, mini simmons/fishy quads are my go-to for about 3/4 of my surfs.

 

This exactly. Worded it much better than i could. But 100% spot on. Sometimes i feel the mini is actually a better optionin small waves. It fits the waves better. Two guys were out on LBs on the same peak as me. Not terrific surfers but not kooks either. They were just gliding along. Which is all good and fun. Not hating on that. But i felt i was able to generate more speed on my mini and actually get longer rides due to that ability.

Just to be clear. I'm not saying one is superior to the other. It's all taste and preference. My question to DP stemmed from curiosity. Judging off what i read on here i just felt like he could benefit from a mini or retro fish/ modern fish with retro influence. IF that was his preference in style. Hence the question

 

I have to agree with Joel Tudor, who says small waves are meant for longboards. I know Tudor's a polarizing figure, and says a lot of stuff many people disagree with... but he doesn't understand why people would want to ride a shortboard in small waves. He's puts it down, saying, "...boy... you really ripped the shit out of that two footer."

To eats its own... but I have to agree that a noseride beats a "real turn" on a two foot wave any day.

 

Exactly. It's preference. Let's be real, no one's throwing huge powerful hacks in small stuff. But for me, pulling a turn off that doesn't feel forced on a small wave gives me pleasure. It's not about ripping. It's about feeding whatever it is that gets you stoked. Do love a nose ride though. But know what's better? Being right in the pocket on a mini, throwing that cheata 5 out, being it back, then give the oncoming section a nice little love tap (not a whack). I'm just playing though. Sorta. My point was Joels ripping a 2 footer comment makes sense, if you actually think your ripping. In my opinion it's harder to pull off a some what solid turn in small stuff. You need to generate alot of speed and time things right. If you pull it off, it's quite satisfying.

 

I’m with you guys, I definitely want a mini or small wave SB to switch it up when I am bored of the LB on small weak surf days like today. I enjoy variety and adding another boart to the quiver is definitely in the cards in the near future.

Bassmon, the reason I ride the LB so much this time of year is the conditions dictate that I should. When that gets old and there’s enough wave to ride a SB then I will. If the surf was pumping non stop the LB wouldn’t get near the attention I give it but it would still get it’s place in the rotation. So in good surf I prefer my SB’s, but occasionally i’ll still take the LB out in good surf, where it really excels.

#ToEatsItsOwn

 

Speaking of the LB, I rode it again today in some small weak but glassy waves. I actually paddled out despite it being flat coming off high tide. I had decided to go for a flat water paddle for some exercise considering the sun was out for a change.

Yesterday and today were beautiful sun rises and great weather. More rain on the way though.

So yeah, I paddled up and down the beach for about 20 minutes when all of a sudden waves started to break in the knee - waist range. Close to shore so rides were short. But I had fun for about 45 minutes and then had to run off to work.

I’ve been getting this reef spot to myself lately. Might spend more time here than my other spot for a while.

 

Yup.

Like we talked about last week, if you really wanna surf frequently, you need an LB sometimes. Especially where we live on the East Coast. I do know people who prefer to only ride an LB, even when conditions are good.

Sounds pretty suite!

Flat as a pancake here today. At least I cut the grass, it was turning into crops after all that frickin rain and almost 3 weeks without being cut.

 

Hell yeah. Maybe I'm broken. But I'd prefer a LB in bigger stuff (not compared to a SB) then smaller. Like DP said, that's when those things come alive.

As far as being an LB. I agree. But it's because of the variety and diffrent style. Not because of waves. If your saying that, you havnt ridden a board or don't have the paddle strength or somthing. Maybe it's because i only weigh 140. But i can ride a mini in the smallest waves we get and more than keep up with the LBs.

And don't confuse my words eats. That's not a jab at you. Just saying. I thought that same way for a long time. Tried plenty "small wave" boards. Thought they were BS. Until i found the mini. So i completely disagree with that statement. LB is all about switching up styles. Nothing else.

 

Dude the rain has been relentless, I cut the grass in the rain this past weekend because I didn’t want to let it go another day . Three days later it’s ready to be cut again.

 

I do mine every two weeks, this time I let it go three! I'm too lazy to cut it every week or god forbid less than that.

And when I go back to work in September and the grass still needs to be cut until October, I have to pay my nephews to do it, but they don't even come down every weekend. And since they work full time now and are 20, I have to pay them more than the $30 bucks I'd give them when they were kids and didn't have jobs yet.

I have neighbors that cut their grass like 2-3 times a week and they annoy me. Usually because they start before I get up in the morning and that's what wakes me up.

 

I really don't like using one in bigger waves, I really don't. I mostly just use it for when it's barely ''Rideable''.

I will sometimes go for what I call a ''Conditioning surf'' or ''Bag surf'', which I've adopted from the hockey terms ''Bag skate'' and ''Conditioning skate''. Like DP said he does. He'll paddle out for exercise. I do that sometimes when it's flat-ish if I haven't surfed in a while, to get myself back in game shape.

I will concede this much, I'd rather ride an LB in bigger waves than ride nothing at all, but I always prefer a smaller board, when possible.

 

Oh no me too. I might of worded that weird. I prefer a SB over a LB in big stuff. But if i was handed a LB and told i could only ride that.... I'd prefer to ride it in somthing bigger. Because like DP, i feel like that's when a LB really comes alive

 

Yes Barry, I went surfing today in preparation for the rainstorm from TS Alberto tomorrow. The forecasted wave condition looked junky as did the webcam. But, you gotta go before you really know. So , go we did.
As promised, the waves were small, about knee to thigh high, very short 5 second interval, choppy. It was cold for May in Florida.

Due to the junky waves, there were only about ten in the water and half were women: it’s always fun to have lots of women in the water, and we usually all know or recognize each other. There is a sisterhood out there.
We traded some funny surfing stories about guys, making the sisterhood bond even stronger.

One of them spotted a shark today, hard to see due to the murkiness. But it was a small shark, so she didn't bother to move over.

It was glorious to be in the salt water, and I feel so lucky to have surf friends who make it happen.

I got several meh waves. But Then I got my ride for the day, paddled hard for it, scrambled to my feet and rode it backside until it died, about 8 seconds later. Some old salts on the beach, waved their arms and cheered me. So sweet!

 

I am happy for you Betty!! By the sounds of it all, you would make anybody a great friend.
It is flat here in Cow Hampsha, but....but.... we is supposed to get waves within the next day or so, for three days, forecasted. Hope so.
Happy Memorial Day.

 

Flat, kind of lame, but it still didn't stop about 30-40 idiots from floating around on their borts. Such is the case every weekend from now until late September and probably every day from late June to Labor Day. Only 3 more weeks to go before that.

Sunday doesn't seem much better as far as surfing goes. Was supposed to go out on a buddy's boat, but weather looks like it might wash that out. Might take a day trip down to Cape May to visit some people. Looks like it will be a (mostly) washout.

 

I'll occasionally take one for a spin when it's bigger.

 

Got a couple shin to knee hi waves yesterday am. Maybe an occasional thigh set. Short period gutless south swell, but light cross-off wind, the sun was out and great water clarity. Felt like I was surfing on glass. Nothing the foamie couldn’t handle.

Lady grabbed a few shots.

 

I'm ready to get back to NJ. PA is wearing thin. Allergies in full effect. I may have to take off on Tuesday and paddle out in whatever is on offer.

 

What a disgusting, complete washout of a day.

I might be able to surf from the back of a truck, it's flooded ASF.