I just started surfing this summer can stand on small waves/whitewash and I can't duck dive. I want to go surfing really badly but I dont know if I should, swellinfo says 3-4+ surfline says 1-3(belmar/spring lake) should I even attempt to go? i live like an hour away so I don't want to take the trip if its gonna be to rough any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated thank you
an hour to drive is nothing for surf. i drive 6 hrs. its definitely worth it even if you cant make it out. if its too scarry turn around and ride in on the white water. you need the experience. if you need more confidence hire an instructor or go to another beach where the waves arent as big. have fun and be safe.
Good clean waves, of course GO. warm water and sand bottom, nice conditions. Just stay away from the main breaks so you don't get in the way of better surfers; that would not be fun for anyone and would just stress you and everyone else out. Try the smaller less crowded breaks, perhaps in Avon-by-the-Sea or perhaps Bradley Beach but not the main break on 4th ave, once again, don't be a kook getting in other guys way. For these breaks, go near low tide. Have fun but don't cause stress by dropping in and getting in other guys way.
When in doubt don't go out. But you can always ride the smaller ones that pop up in the break zone. Or you can practice duck dives.
one more note, if nothing else, learn to duck dive, practice, perhaps find something on u-tube. You need to learn how to duck dive.
Sunday will be waist to chest with perhaps a 5 ft wave on occasion in NJ. Just don't get run over by my 14' foam top... stitches for b*****. Get in that water, son.
If you decide to go and you can not duck dive just make sure you go somewhere that you will not be in any ones way and u will not be hitting other surfers with your board that will be flailing around as your getting pumbled trying to get past the breakers!!! This is no longer summer time people in that area arent going to be as nice to you as they were in the summer time if you do this. Go somewhere and learn to duck dive!! stay away from any main lineups!
If u dont have wife kids etc that make free time a very scarce commodity, I say go. Swell angle looks kind of bad, so on top of potentially being too big for you, it may also be littere with closeouts. Howeer if your starting out, just go and check a ton of spots. Drive the coast. You might find chest to shoulder at a main peak might only be waist high at another spot. You might just find a nice spot to mess around. Even if you dont, you can check different spots ad see how they break on a decent swell, for future reference. I have a wife and 3 kids and a ton of commitments which make it hard to get out these days. I wouldnt trade any o it, but i miss the days when I could go even if i wasnt sure how it was gonna pan out because i had the time. All that said...i'm going surfing tomorrow....but i can duckdive like a submarine ;-)
go to church!!and tell god to give u the kelly slater powers!!!when the forecast says 3 ft,that means the swell thats hitting the buoy is 3ft.now when it comes in to shore,depending on the sea floor,it will either jack up to a 5-6ft face,or a mushy 4footer,or roll into the flats and close out.if u cant duckdive,then dive under the wave and throw your board,but dont hit others!!the worst thing u can do is not dive for the bottom.thats how kooks get killed!!dont worry about rip currents,any time theres waves theres goin to be a rip.waves come in,water goes out.thats all u need to know
i seen the endless summer,and guys on logs just get up and stand when the wave comes,when paddling out.it looks pretty cool..ever see big wednesday??that drunken dude that rips and causes accidents is me.so if your at my beach,better watch out!
