Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with surf

Let's go surfin' NOW!

silsurf — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:08:51 -0800

I recently started boogie boarding in LA Two weeks ago I started boogie boarding in Los Angeles and even though it has taken me 23 years to get started, I want to make the best of it.

I have been going at low tide to Santa Monica Beach and for the most part it has been fantastic. Yesterday I was the only person out there in my area and I could ride the waves all the way in. It was funny to watch the two closest surfers that barely got a wave while I was continually getting great rides, though I know I will someday want to graduate up to a big board, but for now this is perfect.

Questions:
1.
I have heard different things about high tide and low tide and even heard that it is location specific. Like, that Santa Monica Beach is better at high tide, but Sunset and PCH is better at low tide. As I stated above I am pretty happy with what I have been doing, but if I am missing out on something fundamental here I thought I should know.

2.
I sometimes go out with my seven year old boy. In these cases the low tide approach is a must, it is hard enough battling the currents on certain days and I want to make sure he can at least get a footing when he needs to. So, the question is, are there any amazing, hidden spots that I could take him to anywhere between LA and San Diego for an amazing, endless summer-like weekend? Bonus points if we can take the train and never bother with a car.

3. Any great boogie boarding websites I should know about?

4. Any hints on making the most out of my experience? I have been a lifelong body surfer and find the boogie board a wonderful adn easy extension of that type of surfing, but as you now know, I am a complete noob on the subject.

Thanks to all!

surfer-filter: First timer looking for noob advice and tips

brenton — Thu, 14 May 2009 16:38:10 -0800

surfer-filter: First timer looking for noob advice and tips. My complete surfing history: Two years ago, a friend took me surfing and on the first try I rode a wave until it ended. Then I got out of the water. Today I was given a 6' board, and I'm going into the water without an instructor or surfer friend. I feel fairly safe doing this since I live by the Carpinteria State Beach, just about the most mild and tranquil beach ever. Never big waves or currents, all sand, and it doesn't really have other surfers for me to get run over by (though I do see them sometimes). Also, I go swimming by myself here, and I see others swimming by themselves, I don't imagine it's much more dangerous to take a surfboard with you.

So I'm just wondering if anyone can give me some basic advice for my learning to surf. How should I approach this? What else do I need besides the board? Special stretches to do beforehand? Special foods to avoid? I'm looking for any and all tips.

I'm sure everyone is going to tell me I'm going to die and give me safety advice. Okay... I'll listen to, and appreciate, such advice. But I'd also like some non-safety advice, you know, just tips on how to get started, things to be aware of, basic stuff like that.

(By the way, I already know a bigger board would be better, but let's assume for the sake of this question that I'm going to keep the 6' board and that I'll be able to get up on it. If that turns out to be a false assumption, I'll deal with that later. :D )

Living near surf and snow

lilyflower — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:47:51 -0800

Where in the world can I live where I can go down the beach and surf one day, and head up into the mountains to ski/snowboard the next? I would really like to live somewhere that I could feasibly surf one day and then go skiing/snowboarding the next. If I cannot have that due to seasons, I would like suggestions of a place where in the winter I could go up into the snowy mountains, and go down the beach during the summer. I got the impression that this is possible in California, but even then California is a big place so more detailed options of areas would be greatly appreciated.

I am a moderately confident skier and hopefully will learn snowboarding and become proficient. I am currently a body boarder and would like to start surfing where it is sandy and there is a beach break, I do not want a reef or point break.

I would like to be able to live in a house with a garden where there is internet access. I have a means of supporting myself and would not necessarily require to earn a living in the local economy.

In summary I would like to know where in the world I could live where I could be within half an hour’s drive of a beach for good surf and 2 hours drive to mountains to ski/snowboard. (These travel times are flexible, they are here as preferred times)

Songs of Summer, Songs of Surf

LSK — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 21:12:35 -0800

Surf rock (another music recommendation thread for me) I've heard a little bit of surf rock lately. The original surf rock from 60s doesn't really cut it for me, but I like the later, heavier covers - particularly, Dick Dale's 80s-era cover of "Pipeline" and the Pixies' cover of "Cecilia Ann." Can anyone recommend instrumentals like those two?

Surf in SB?

nat — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:05:53 -0800

Where should I take a surf lesson in Santa Barbara, CA? I'd like to take a lesson with 4 or 5 friends this weekend. Some of us have been on a board once or twice before, some haven't.

There are prior questions about learning to surf--- but they're either farther south or farther north. Anyone have suggestions for something near Santa Barbara?

Bonus points if the place is accessible by the public transit system, and of course less pricey is good. Personally I really need a somewhat structured experience.. the times I've tried before with friends who surf have been somewhat frustrating due to lack of structure.

cars that fit surfboards?

low affect — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:47:23 -0800

List small cars that I'd be able to fit a surfboard (short) into. My car died. I'm looking for something small, with a back seat that folds down, or no back seat. I had a mitsubishi galant for a while, and I would fold down the back seat, and boards would fit. They noses would peek between the two front seats and rest on the center storage thing.

I really want an old prelude or a crx or a civic hatchback, but I don't think they are long enough. Can anyone confirm?

How to surf discretely at work?

m2002 — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:55:41 -0800

How to surf discretely at work? Looking for a replacement for WorkFriendly and Ghostzilla... For the next few weeks I'll be working at a client's office. This client is a bit of a jerk about allowing us to use the Internet. I used to rely on WorkFriendly, but I see that's no longer online. Ghostzilla is no longer being supported, and GhostFox is filled with problems.

Any suggestions on how I can find a good browser that can visually hide my browsing would be awesome!

How to get started with surfing in the UK?

tomw — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:40:52 -0800

How to get started with surfing in the UK? I want to get into surfing. I did it once, about 15 years ago. Now I'm willing to spend some cash if needs be. I'm based in Oxford so I'm looking for suggestions on where to go, how to get started, is it worth going to a 'surf school' (I've heard it's not).

Thanks in advance for the beginners tips...

How to become a better surf hopper-upper?

shivohum — Sat, 31 May 2008 08:34:34 -0800

I went surfing for the first time recently, and had a hard time doing the "hop up" on the surfboard -- my feet always tended to be too close together, and I just lacked agility. What are some exercises I could do that would strengthen the relevant muscles and/or otherwise make me a hop-master? Thanks.

SHRED

allkindsoftime — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 05:36:49 -0800

Surf's-up-filter: I need the body of a surf god, for mainly functional purposes (although I'm sure the side benefits will be great, too). Recently picked up surfing again after about a decade off, for the most part, and I've realized I am completely not in shape - after getting out for 3 or 4 rides in rough surf I am toast for the day - and that's on a long board, sadly enough.

I run about 6 miles a day so I'm in great aerobic shape, but my upper body strength has completely dropped off - no lifting or anything in the last few years. I'll likely be back in NYC for the next year, where my window for surf is relatively small, but hoping to move back to California after that, doing grad school somewhere near enough to the ocean to surf every morning. I want to be in shape before I get there though.

So, for one year in the city, with limited time to devote to actual surfing, what are the best work-out tactics / diet-tricks to be in peak physical condition to start shredding when I move back west?

So far I plan to look for a lap pool and start replacing about half of my running with swimming, so suggestions for a cheap, decent pool in the city are welcome. Beyond that, dropping some of the perpetual junk food from the diet and getting more fiber / protein and fruits / veggies. What are your top tricks for getting ripped to ride?

Thanks wave-riders.

Oh my organic days

naju — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 22:13:01 -0800

What's the name/artist of the blissful reggae/surf/pop song in Funky Forest: The First Contact? This is one of the best movies I've ever seen. And now I'm obsessed with this particular song. It's a song from Takefumi's dream sequence, which features 8 yellow-suited dancers. I think it's sung in Chinese. It's featured in the second half of this trailer (0:56 on). Please :)

Surfing lessons in NY: Far Rockaway or Long Beach?

Malad — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 07:18:34 -0800

For a 15- or 20-person group of people with no experience in surfing: lessons (in New York) at Long Beach or Far Rockaway Beach? Also, which is more fun to be at and has more stuff to see around it? Finally, any recommendations for surf lesson companies?

Surfing Sydney

Black_Umbrella — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:58:12 -0800

Going to University of Sydney...need to surf....bondi? Ok, so i am going for a semester abroad at University of Sydney, in other words i will be living somewhere around it. Glebe, newtown, camperdown, etc. I don't exactly know yet as i have not found a place to rent for 5 months as of now.

Anyway, what i need to know is how can i get myself and my surfboard to the beach (which i assume bondi is what people surf). Do people ever take it on the bus like people hold snowboards on buses?

Are there any locker/storage places i could keep it at the beach? Also i am going to be around from 2/16 - 7/1. Will i need to wear my wet suit? what will the air/water temps be like?

Anyone know the name of that mid 1990s Cracker instrumental guitar rave up jam?

psmealey — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 08:15:45 -0800

Looking for an instrumental Cracker tune from about 10-12 years ago? It was on a promotional CD for Yahoo's music offering "Launch" that I got when I bought a Sony Vaio computer back in 1996 or so. I don't know if it was a cover of an old surf tune, but had a great guitar hook in it. Anyone know what I'm talking about?

Oooh, ooh, you look just like Mumy Holly.

sourwookie — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 07:41:33 -0800

I need help coming up with stage names for a horror/surf-themed band I'm in. So I've got this just-for-fun band, The Boogeymen.

Our shtick is we do surf/spaghetti western type instrumentals with a nod to horror movies or fiction.

Our first show is in a couple of weeks, and we will be performing in costume. We all are to have stage personas, something that mashes up horror characters with classic rock themes. For example, I'm Mummy Holly. I'll be wearing the appropriate costume. Our rhythm guitarist has adopted the moniker Johnny B. Ghoul. You get the gist.

We need two more. Any suggestions?

You can check out a track here (Metafilter link) to get a better idea.

Looking for an "autosurf" type script I can install on my site.

ilikebike — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:09:45 -0800

Looking for an "autosurf" type script I can install on my site. I am a PC technician, and we frequently get customers in saying that they have problems with their computers when surfing the internet, or their systems become disconnected, etc. I would like to install a script onto my site so that I can point to something like mydomain.com/surf, and it will automatically surf specific URLs that I can set up. It would probably be setup in a frame to do something like go to google.com, after 30 seconds go to yahoo.com, after 30 seconds go to cnn.com, and so forth.

I know of the "free traffic exchange" and "autohits" sites, but since I cannot control which sites these links take me to, I would like to setup something on my own site and that does not require a login or anything like that.

Thanks!

31 years in CA and I still don't surf?

aspo — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 19:59:34 -0800

I'm in the bay area and I want to learn how to surf. I've been taught the very basics and don't know what to do from here. Where do I go, how do I keep out of the way, where is a good place to buy gear, etc etc. I've gotten bitten by the surf bug and want to keep at it. Where's a good place for a beginner to learn how to surf in the Bay Area? What about a place to buy gear? How should I go about learning from here? And just as important are there any things I should know to avoid?

What's it called?

Fupped Duck — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 10:22:06 -0800

I've seen this type of personal (unpowered) watercraft, used close to shore, in the surf. I don't know what its called. Please help me identify this distinctive board/boat/flat kayak as google is not being my friend on this matter. Description within: Its about the same dimesions as a longboard surfboard, but its wider. Flat on top with with a shallow keel such that its stable enough that one stands on top of it and paddles with a longer version of a kayak paddle from this standing position. The top surface one stands upon is not much higher than the waterline, and like a surfboard, there's no raised edges.
I've seen lifeguards use it in various places.
Someone, anyone?

It's all for charidy, mate.

asok — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 04:49:27 -0800

Goodtree. What is this? Is it as dodgy as it looks?

My web browser stops working after a while until reboot but internet connection is still alive

curiousleo — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 15:54:52 -0800

I have Windows XP Pro with BrightHouse Cable connected to Belkins Pre-n router. I always have my computer on 24hours a day. I constantly download files from p2p type website. The problem is after I get home, my Internet Explorer seems to Not find or disconnect until I reboot. I remember seeing some sort of remedy for this but could not find it.

The funny thing is my download still works fine. I can actually see my downloading files getting larger. No other problems except my web browser will not work.

This seems to happen when I am inactive with web browser for long time. I do have zonealarm but it says i am connected. My LAN status says I am connected. but I can not surf the web until i reboot.

my cable company says it is probably the spliter from cable out put... but as i said before, other downloading program works with out a hitch.

Also my new Dell desktop, a fresh xp install no tweaks.. which is connected to the same router works find even after running a week. I can surf the net without problem. I am thinking it must be some kind of setting that i caused in my xp... can anyone help. I hate to keep rebooting my computer after i get home. I usually loose my download lists and other things.

vacation filter - sun and warmth

specialk420 — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 15:12:18 -0800

vacation filter: recommendations for vacation spots in the next couple weeks? - off the beaten path, sun, surf, adventure, tranquility. we are thinking souther costa rica (osa peninsula) but are open to other recommendations (nicaragua, panama, brazil, hawaii)... suggestions? thanks in advance.

Learning to surf; book and video suggestions?

specialk420 — Sun, 29 Feb 2004 22:41:46 -0800

anyone have any suggestions for books or vids/dvds on learning to surf? (more inside) i've been snowboarding for about 20 years, and waterskiing/wakeboarding for 10+ ... our recent adventure to costa rica ended up being more of a surf trip than anything else, in the process i added a new item to my list of very favorite things to do... my girlfriend and i would like to learn more before our next trip.

thanks in advance.