Surfing Alone...

I always surf alone just because there's never anybody out up here - especially at this time of year. But I seem to surf better when there are people on the beach. Much as I hate to admit it, I think it's an ego thing. Not that people walking their dogs are actually paying attention, but I imagine they are and it makes me try harder and perform better. Also provides a small amount of comfort knowing if something does go terribly wrong there was a witness before I disappeared. This video posted here is on topic and pretty cool, too.

http://www.swellinfo.com/video/surfing-in-the-end-of-the-world

If you do a youtube search for kepa acero you'll find a bunch of his stuff about surfing solo in remote places (helps if you understand Spanish...)

 

surfing with one other person decreases your chances of a shark attack by 50%. the current chances are 1 in a million, I'm okay not cutting that in half. if your referring to getting hurt in the lineup those chances in jersey are probably also 1 in a million

 

I just watched a few of his videos the other day. Pretty amazing the length the guy goes to get to some of those places but maybe thats half the fun though.

As for solo surfing for me, I usually go by myself 99.9%. Thing is, when I get to the spot Im never alone out in the water. Almost always I can find a familiar face out in the line up. I kind of enjoy it honestly. I can get out and go whenever without having to wait on somebody else and I can try different things without the "competition" factor of surfing with a buddy that tends to follow. I think I also surf better when Im alone.

 

sharks? for real? when's the last shark attack on a surfer that happened on the east coast? being concerned about getting hit in the head or cut by your skeg is a legit concern when surfing alone but the shark thing is all in your head unless you're in north cal or south africa or something.. long island and new jersey, not so much.

i love surfing alone and do it all the time. just don't be too aggro with big shallow closeouts or late drops and you'll be fine. plus, if you do paddle out alone on people already surfing you won't piss them off as bad because it's just you. if you and your three friends paddle out together you aren't being safe, you're being a jerks to the people you're crowding.

 

I prefer to surf with friends, but also enjoy a solo session occasionally. When I get sketched out is a solo session on an overcast day when there's not a soul on the beach, especially this time of year. As you get older, you start to appreciate the buddy system a little bit more. And when you have buddies your age, who have had heart attacks, it kind of works it's way into your head when you're out alone. But hey, if the waves are good what ya gonna do? Better to go doing what you love...

 

man up...no one wants to surf in a group. Some of the best sessions I've experienced have been solo out in the middle of no-where.

 

You are born alone, you die alone.....Happy new year everyone!

 

I love it when it's big, and cold, and you're alone - very sketchy feeling, creepy, but soooooo cool! You're not showing off for anybody, just out there by and with yourself!

 

Actually now even in the summer i always paddle out alone. None of my friends surf anymore or got pulled away by drugs, well two close friends still surf but not frothing at all. Living in a small town I always know someone out there no matter what. I miss the days when I was like 15 years old and paddling out with my 6 of my boys and it would be so competitive and I'd learn so much. Now I'm competitive with myself, people better than me in the water, and I watch way too many surf videos

 

I enjoy surfing with a small group out and enjoy surfing alone. through the winter its pretty much solitary anyway. YOu have to decide not to die or get hurt! And choose waves that are reasonable. As Bear puts it...you're alone anyway as a surfer...you have to rely on yourself..

 

you guys need to suck it up thats go time! Try your new tricks and get everything you can. Those are my favorite sesh

 

I get weird feelings surfing alone too. Technically I always surf alone, because all my friends that surfed either quit or moved away, but as for being out in the lineup solo I try not to do that, especially when the sandbar is super far out.

Some spots I will surf alone (Buxton lighthouse or anywhere in DELMARVA), but other spots, no way in hell (like Frisco, Pea Island or Cape Point). I typically try to find a spot with at least one to two other strangers out, just in case.

 

Two is company, Three a crowd

I always surf by myself but I prefer to find a spot that has at least one other person out, for safety reasons. If there are more than 2 people on a jetty I start to feel like it's too crowded, unless it is an epic day like on the 28th when there were enough waves for about 5 people to share a jetty.

 

That happens to me EVERY winter session. Theres something different about the ocean in winter, its just more cold and intimidating, for some reason i always think im gonna die or something its a creeped out feeling. a few weeks ago i got that feeling SSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOO bad it was killing me and then i saw a HUGE shark and just freaked out....sometimes you cant ignore what your body's feeling, it may be trying to tell you something.

 

where do you surf? not specifically, but what state are you in?
I know shark attacks are very unlikely on the east coast but Ive been seeing more and more seals off long island than I ever have.... and you just dont know what the changes in the environment are going to bring us....
From what I understand... there is now a shark problem in New England/Mass. with the explosion of the seal population in those waters..

 

I surf alone a lot. Far out and stormy conditions, remote places like frisco in winter. I've also seen and been knocked around by sizable sharks. Its ok to do so but you have to able to count on your abilities and be able to trust your instincts. You dont go wandering into the forest alone without preparation and knowledge, same with the ocean. I leave a note with the time, date and place Im at in case something happens. When you get that strange feeling you just cant stiffle, I get out take a break and watch the ocean for a while, its surprising what you see sometimes. I also paddle and move around as smoothy as possible with a minimum of splashing and thrashing and sit quietly waiting. I never pee in my suit when Im by myself, its like a scent trail straight to you. I learned that one the scary way. Its all cool until something happens and you realize all the stuff you skipped over before and while in the water means a lot.

 

I think surfing alone is very cool. I have much adrenaline when I surf alone.

 

I prefer to surf with a few close friends, though most of my hardcore surf buddies live elsewhere, so I'm alone 90% of the time. It's nice to paddle out and meet new people, but I often need that soul surfing experience that only happens when both the ocean and beach are empty. I also surf far better when there's no one watching. I'm not a great surfer or anything, but I definitely try to "look cool" when people are watching me ride...which means I actually end up surfing worse and feel stressed out instead of having fun. As for the shark bit, if your number gets picked, then so be it. You stand a much bigger chance of getting in a fatal car wreck.

One thing I really do enjoy is surfing a point break with a dozen or so people. Once the conveyer belt starts moving, you get to ride past your buddies as they paddle back out.

 

I generally like a couple people in the water when I surf, but not more than 2 or 3 near me. at that point I feel kinda crowded. but during summer it's way more than that. I like paddling out with a friend, but at the same time, surfing solo feels the best, because you don't have to worry about messing up and looking like an idiot. It's all fun, you have nothing to prove to anyone.

 

Almost always go surfing alone, but do not like surfing empty spots solo. I know it is irrational, but my mind almost always gets the better of me if I am the only one out. Jaws wrecked me, and I actually think I have gotten worse as I have gotten older. I have forced myself to stay out there a few times and try to talk myself into sane thinking, but doesn't always work.