Anyone notice that there has been a huge increase in numbers of people in the water this summer? Annoying... In addition, there has been a huge increase in people driving around with boards mounted nose first on the roofs of their cars in and around OC, MD? Funny...
Last summer you could surf almost to the 60's, even as far as the holiday Inn. This summer it seems that we lost at least 15 blocks of surfable beaches. Everyone's surfing from the mid 40's and south, so hell yeah it's crowded.
i think its about the same as the last 2-3 summers...july hits, the sand piles up on the beach at the inlet and uptown, and everybody packs in on the few blocks that still have a sand bar. Same as it ever was...i honestly think the biggest difference between this summer and last summer is assateague is so weak this year that lot of us who were hitting that place up like crazy this time last year cant.
We really need a several day swell of note to thin the crowd and shift the sand. Like the first two days of the Bill swell last year. Probably only 10 people in the water on the Saturday peak of Bill from 20th to 15th streets. Of course the next day was a zoo.
I had it all to myself that saturday afternoon! As soon as it gets overhead in OC it thins out the crowds significantly though. Whenever this website forecasts any green with waist to head high its a zoo out there.
Not sure about the growth in crowds, but Jersey is packed. I am rooting for Labor Day too, and I actually day dreamed about winter surf the other day like "wow, the good days" I did have a blast watching a girl catch her first wave the other day. She was so stoked... I figured why fight it... at least that is what I am saying now. http://seasandsurf.com
it may have been a zoo, but, damn, I remember that Sunday and how smooth and clean the waves were...which was wild considering all the ragdolling the night before during the peak...I remember just getting shaken around underwater...lol...I can't wait for a storm, definitely need one to shift the sand, it's in bad shape right now...something's gotta kick up here soon...damn, I want a solid overhead day more than anything in the world right now!!!!
There's been a larger number of summer locals this summer. Then again, like Mitch said, it could be just because NOWHERE is working except for the few select "it" spots, and these are the only spots they know. Nothing worse than an entitled pack of groms who live ocean front for 2 months a year.
I took a few beatings that Saturday too. Ragdolling for like 50 yards or more. The speed on waves that big is what really throws me off. Remembering to draw out turns to maintain speed. The hardest thing that day was coming in through the shore break. I was sure I was going to snap my board. Sunday and Monday of Bill were pretty awesome as well, but not as intense as Saturday.
But what about the boards mounted tail first? TONS! Also, Ive seen more wacky board mounts this year then I think ever before- 8 foot or so BIC board sticking out of Camaro passenger window, boards tied wax down onto car roof, no rack or pads at all, 90+ degree heat (tail first too, ha!), board at nearly 90 degree angle atop a speeding lowrider. Oh yeah and PA tags with about 50 billion surf stickers on the bumper, etc. very common.