When did Winter surfing become crowded?

I guess winter surfing is now the MAINSTREAM thing to do. Has to be 50 guys+ out at matunuck today. Took a picture off the cam at 9:30am on a midweek. There's 3 main peaks at matunuck. It's 29 degrees out/cloudy with water temps in upper 40s so it's definitely winter and it's midweek and it's only waist to chest with shoulder high sets. Nothing special.

Even at gansett beach there was around 15 guys out in the tiny area that the cam shows.(less than a block) and the wave at narragansett town beach is absolute garbage close out or mushburgers 90% of the time including today with light onshore winds.

Matunuck pic (taken from the cam so bad quality)



I thought the whole point of winter surfing was solitude and empty peaks. Solo sessions....having to call people to surf with ect. Not anymore. Last week was the most crowded surfing conditions at manasquan I've ever seen, but it was 70 degrees out so it really wasn't winter surfing. At least in NJ there are other options(that day most places weren't working well, but usually).

Every single year it seems to get more crowded.

It's now at the point where it's packed in winter with air temps in the upper 20s. Maybe we need that kelly slater wave pool to thin out the crowds or will that make it worse by bringing more people into the sport. I don't know.

I honestly wish professional surfing/marketing didn't exist. Most people seem to want to surf to be cool, stroke their ego(winter surfing makes many feel elite, but almost everyone does it now so it's not elite) I boogie board for fun, not for some instagram/fb fame.

 

So matunuck will be empty next week? LMAO.... Stick to charleston where you don't even have winter surfing brah!

 

It wasn't warm. It was 29 degrees. It WAS a very warm fall, but not today. It was freezing.

 

It's where I ride now. The shredmachine and I are shredding it up all day long. We ride waves together. I enforce for the shredmachine. I boogie chop all the surfers in the lineup and get the lineup cleared out while the shredmachine does his bench warm up on the beach. Then we have it all to ourselves. Belmar.... Barrreled All day long.

 

You're not in the know....
http://www.matunuckbeachproperties.com/WebCam.php

You have to zoom it in to the break at the left.

YOU ARE WELCOME GRASSHOPPER...Let me know if I can drop any more knowledge!

 

That's me. I've never been in 80 degree in ocean water, but I'd definitely wear a wetsuit if I was. I get cold super easy. I wear at least a 4/3 all summer.(since I moved to nj I can get away with a shortie in late july/august on warm days when air temp is 80 and water temp is near 70) I like being comfy.
Absolutely....labor day to memorial day brah....summer pro here and proud lol