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TMW - 4-12-2010 at 12:18 PM

There are maps showing the surfing spots along the pacific coast. I've known of the locations for years but I've never seen anyone surfing there. I'm not a surfer. Are there certain times of the year or moon phases etc that surfers use to decide when to go?

BajaGeoff - 4-12-2010 at 01:43 PM

Hello TW,

It generally depends on the season and where the swells are coming from. In the summer months, most of the swells come from the southern hemisphere, so beaches in Baja that face south/southwest can get good. In the winter, they come out of the northern hemisphere, so beaches facing north/northwest can get good.

Right now we are in the transition period between winter and summer, so we are getting combo swells from both hemispheres, making a lot of spots good all at once!

tiotomasbcs - 4-12-2010 at 06:13 PM

Dummy, I guess you don't sail or watch the moon & tides either. Get a Baja travel book or just go to the beach! No wonder surfers hate this site! Take me by the hand and show me...

dtbushpilot - 4-12-2010 at 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tiotomasbcs
Dummy, I guess you don't sail or watch the moon & tides either. Get a Baja travel book or just go to the beach! No wonder surfers hate this site! Take me by the hand and show me...

No wonder people are reluctant to ask a legitamate question when there always seems to be some jerk lurking in the shadows with a smart a$$ reply.....dt

torch - 4-12-2010 at 07:30 PM

wow Tio that was as about as aholeish as is gets .

Sallysouth - 4-12-2010 at 08:22 PM

Yup, Wrong site for you Mr.Knowitall. Chill dude. :fire:

BornFisher - 4-12-2010 at 10:16 PM

I`d have to say that Uncle Tomas is just trolling here.

DianaT - 4-12-2010 at 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaGeoff
Hello TW,

It generally depends on the season and where the swells are coming from. In the summer months, most of the swells come from the southern hemisphere, so beaches in Baja that face south/southwest can get good. In the winter, they come out of the northern hemisphere, so beaches facing north/northwest can get good.

Right now we are in the transition period between winter and summer, so we are getting combo swells from both hemispheres, making a lot of spots good all at once!

Thank you for the explanation ----from another person who does not surf.

Sallysouth - 4-12-2010 at 11:04 PM

Do you surf ? Diana, whats up? Geoff is telling it like it is and it is spot on. :?:

DianaT - 4-12-2010 at 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sallysouth
Do you surf ? Diana, whats up? Geoff is telling it like it is and it is spot on. :?:

Opps, when I said I don't surf either, I was referring to TWs original post where he said he was not a surfer.

My thanks to Geoff was a sincere thanks for explaining it. Even though I do not surf, I was curious and glad TW asked the question. In BA often a friend will say there is going to be good surf and I always wonder how they know.

Thanks---I should have been more precise
Diane

[Edited on 4-13-2010 by DianaT]

landyacht318 - 4-12-2010 at 11:10 PM

Many factors contribute to whether a particular surf spot will have many people out, or none. In addition to what BajaGeoff said about swell directions, the tide can have huge effects on some locations. A new moon or full moon is about when the tidal swing is the largest(usually a day after).

Some locations will love a real low tide, some work better on a high tide, some can work through any tide. Some spots are better on an outgoing tide, most are better on an upcoming.

Shifting sands can also make or break a certain location.

After the presence or lack of ground/wind swell, what might be the biggest factor in whether you see surfers out or not, is the wind. Wind blowing from land to sea, is good. It make the waves clean and break in a barrelling/ tubular fashion, if the bottom contours allow.

No wind is also good.

Strong NW winds, or any onshore direction, will make many surfbreaks choppy, with whitecaps depending on the strength. It makes riding waves much less pleasurable. Early in the morning is usually when the wind is lightest, and can, but not always provide the best conditions for surfing.

Many non surfers believe that strong local winds make for good surfing. It is strong winds a great distance (500 to 10,000 miles)away from land which create long period ground swells and provide the groomed, well traveled energy which makes the best waves for surfing.

What makes surfing the most pleasurable is trading/ sharing waves with your friends. What makes surfing the least pleasurable are crowds of greedy narcissists. Surfing in crowded conditions would nearly be akin to getting ready to take a swing at a golf ball, and some yahoo comes running up and smacks it on your back swing. Or when fishing having another boat dropping anchor right next to you. Or having a lover defiled in front of you.

Imagine anything , relatively solitary, that you enjoy to do, and have it ruined by the presence of others. Perhaps they are a good and respectful people, but would it not be better if they were good and respectful somewhere else? If the others have no respect or any otherwise desirable character attributes, then it is difficult to not be overwhelmingly angry at their presence. We surfers realize we are our own worst enemies.

Crowds in Surfing are incredibly frustrating, and why emotions can get so high when one cannot escape them, especially when going to great lengths to do so, then finding that many others have the same Idea/location in mind, and bring their 'at home' attitude with them.

When a surfer has had all the conditions come together- swell, wind, tide, time, remote location, and friends to share it with, it is simply magical experience, and that location forever becomes etched in that person's conscious.
When one hopes to repeat this experience, and finds all the conditions come together, except there are 150 others there, and then seeing it advertised online, well it is enough to cause some surfers to verbally attack DavidK, rationally or not.

[Edited on 4-13-2010 by landyacht318]

One surfer who's OK with Nomads

Lee - 4-12-2010 at 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TW
There are maps showing the surfing spots along the pacific coast. I've known of the locations for years but I've never seen anyone surfing there.

What spots have you seen no one surfing at?

San Pedrito broke OK this year. When it did, lots of surfers were out. When it breaks big, LOTS of surfers are out. Cerritos is a good place for beginners -- rent a surfboard there and give it a try. Pedrito is not for beginners and further up the coast at Pastora, beginners will get hurt or run over or both.

The Cape is a great place when the Southern swells come in.

TioTomas might have been having a brain fart. He's not a bad guy though his post was over the top.

Since you know where the breaks are, seriously, get in the water!

DianaT - 4-12-2010 at 11:30 PM

Landyacht318, I appreciate your explanation as it is very well stated about lots of the elements of surfing and what it means to many.

As I said, I am not a surfer, but from what I have been told by ones who do surf is that it is only polite for one person to take a wave.

Thus I was surprised when I was taking pictures of some surfers in front of our house in Baja.

These guys are members of our local surf club and one of them is a very good friend of ours. When I gave the cd of photos, I asked him about sharing that wave ---at first there were three of them on the same wave. He said that for them, it was a part of the fun and the challenge. They like sharing the same wave.

I guess it is a difference in cultural norms---I don't know.

[Edited on 4-13-2010 by DianaT]

landyacht318 - 4-12-2010 at 11:41 PM

"I guess it is a difference in cultural norms---I don't know."

Much truth to that. Riding the same wave as a friend can indeed be a lot of fun. But in good conditions, for one friend to 'drop in' without permission on another friend who had priority can cause the friendship to suffer. It can be very disrespectful. When A stranger does so, intentionally, more than once, flared tempers can burst, especially in good conditions, or large conditions, or waves of consequence. Or if one person lives there, and the other person who shows no respect does not.

Pages could be written on surfing etiquette. And some rules change in different locals/ cultures. Don't get me started on the Brazilians. :lol:

jeremias - 4-12-2010 at 11:43 PM

are those waves in Asuncion?

DianaT - 4-12-2010 at 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jeremias
are those waves in Asuncion?

Yes, they were in front of our house, but they are not always there.

landyacht318 - 4-12-2010 at 11:56 PM

Psssst, you were supposed to say.
" Those waves were at "spot x" somewhere on the west coast."

:spingrin:

[Edited on 4-13-2010 by landyacht318]

jeremias - 4-13-2010 at 12:01 AM

Your secret's safe with me, and 2000 of my surfer buddies...

DianaT - 4-13-2010 at 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by landyacht318
Psssst, you were supposed to say.
" Those waves were at "spot x" somewhere on the west coast."

:spingrin:

Actually, the local surfers used to keep the real surf spot secret, but now they hold tournaments there once in a while and would really like to see some gringo surfers participate.

[Edited on 4-13-2010 by DianaT]

DianaT - 4-13-2010 at 12:12 AM

OK, since we are learning about all things surf, edumacate me about this.

We have a couple of people who have and continue to collect some old surfboards for us to donate to the local team----some in good shape and others need repair, but our friend is good at repairing and we have taken repair items to him. Thank goodness the local surf board maker was willing to talk on the phone with him or we would have bought all the wrong stuff.

However, for the most part, we have had a difficult time getting anyone to part with old surfboards----even ones that are doing nothing but collecting mud in the backyard.

A local lifeguard here in Imperial Beach explained it to me that surfers are very, very sentimental and they don't part with old boards because each board has a special memory attached to it.

Your take???

landyacht318 - 4-13-2010 at 12:13 AM

This here is a digital photo of a 1 hour photo I had developed in west OZ. It kind of sums up what sharing good waves with a few friends can be like. If I were to paddle out at this locale and not show respect to these local crayfishermen, I would have been run out of town a bloody mess.

I gave the negative to the guy riding the wave, and was allowed many waves from then on, but was warned to not be caught taking any photos.

I don't know why my photo is not showing up, I've done so successfully before.
Here is a clickyhttp://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss15/wrcsixeight/DSC03501copy.jpg?t=127114200

[img]http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss15/wrcsixeight/DSC03501copy.jpg?t=127114200[/img]

[Edited on 4-14-2010 by landyacht318]

landyacht318 - 4-13-2010 at 12:18 AM

There certainly is a sentimental attachment to surfboards.

Some guys want to keep them to try and have them replicated as close as possible.

Some would want to keep them to give to their kids.

Some of the greedy ones don't want to leave any behind because that could mean they have to share the waves with those who live there.

Some of the boards with removable fins are useless without the fins, which still have considerable value.

woody with a view - 4-13-2010 at 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DianaT
OK, since we are learning about all things surf, edumacate me about this.

We have a couple of people who have and continue to collect some old surfboards for us to donate to the local team----some in good shape and others need repair, but our friend is good at repairing and we have taken repair items to him. Thank goodness the local surf board maker was willing to talk on the phone with him or we would have bought all the wrong stuff.

However, for the most part, we have had a difficult time getting anyone to part with old surfboards----even ones that are doing nothing but collecting mud in the backyard.

A local lifeguard here in Imperial Beach explained it to me that surfers are very, very sentimental and they don't part with old boards because each board has a special memory attached to it.

Your take???

boards are like old girlfriends. some are better than others, but most all carry a piece of your heart with them forever. a really good board, well, you can imagine......

norte - 4-13-2010 at 07:18 AM

I notice the author never came back. could it be he knew the answer all along an and because he s a friend of the infamous Davidk he was trying to instigate another free for all?

Thanks for the honest discussion.

TMW - 4-13-2010 at 07:19 AM

Quote:

Thanks Geoff.

TMW - 4-13-2010 at 07:23 AM

Quote:

No I don't sail anymore. I usually watch the moon phases for surf fishing but it usually doesn't make any difference on how the fishing goes for me. I've got lots of Baja travel books but none on surfing. Does that answer your questions jerk?

shari - 4-13-2010 at 07:30 AM

One cool thing about Asuncion is that we have beaches that face many different directions so the kids can get on waves no matter where the swell comes from. This week we've had a SW swell which means the surfer kiddies have been at pig beach...in front of Dianne T's home...which is great for them as it's right in town. The swell has been awesome for the last few months...nearly 8-10' the whole time...much to the dismay of the abalone divers who have to work close to the rocks!! Surf's up dudes!!

TMW - 4-13-2010 at 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by landyacht318
Many factors contribute to whether a particular surf spot will have many people out, or none. In addition to what BajaGeoff said about swell directions, the tide can have huge effects on some locations. A new moon or full moon is about when the tidal swing is the largest(usually a day after).

Some locations will love a real low tide, some work better on a high tide, some can work through any tide. Some spots are better on an outgoing tide, most are better on an upcoming.

Shifting sands can also make or break a certain location.

After the presence or lack of ground/wind swell, what might be the biggest factor in whether you see surfers out or not, is the wind. Wind blowing from land to sea, is good. It make the waves clean and break in a barrelling/ tubular fashion, if the bottom contours allow.

No wind is also good.

Strong NW winds, or any onshore direction, will make many surfbreaks choppy, with whitecaps depending on the strength. It makes riding waves much less pleasurable. Early in the morning is usually when the wind is lightest, and can, but not always provide the best conditions for surfing.

Many non surfers believe that strong local winds make for good surfing. It is strong winds a great distance (500 to 10,000 miles)away from land which create long period ground swells and provide the groomed, well traveled energy which makes the best waves for surfing.

What makes surfing the most pleasurable is trading/ sharing waves with your friends. What makes surfing the least pleasurable are crowds of greedy narcissists. Surfing in crowded conditions would nearly be akin to getting ready to take a swing at a golf ball, and some yahoo comes running up and smacks it on your back swing. Or when fishing having another boat dropping anchor right next to you. Or having a lover defiled in front of you.

Imagine anything , relatively solitary, that you enjoy to do, and have it ruined by the presence of others. Perhaps they are a good and respectful people, but would it not be better if they were good and respectful somewhere else? If the others have no respect or any otherwise desirable character attributes, then it is difficult to not be overwhelmingly angry at their presence. We surfers realize we are our own worst enemies.

Crowds in Surfing are incredibly frustrating, and why emotions can get so high when one cannot escape them, especially when going to great lengths to do so, then finding that many others have the same Idea/location in mind, and bring their 'at home' attitude with them.

When a surfer has had all the conditions come together- swell, wind, tide, time, remote location, and friends to share it with, it is simply magical experience, and that location forever becomes etched in that person's conscious.
When one hopes to repeat this experience, and finds all the conditions come together, except there are 150 others there, and then seeing it advertised online, well it is enough to cause some surfers to verbally attack DavidK, rationally or not.

[Edited on 4-13-2010 by landyacht318]

Thanks. Since 1987 I've been down the Pacific coast from Puerto Catarina to Punta Rosarito many many times usually surf fishing and sometimes just exploring but I've never seen anyone surfing. Now I was not looking for them so I may have went by at a distance and just not seen them. I think on my next trip down I'll pay a little more attention to the conditions on what you and Geoff have said. And don't worry If I do see anyone surfing I'll not say where, just like I don't tell where my favorite fishing spots are either. Just general info.

DianaT - 4-13-2010 at 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
One cool thing about Asuncion is that we have beaches that face many different directions so the kids can get on waves no matter where the swell comes from. This week we've had a SW swell which means the surfer kiddies have been at pig beach...in front of Dianne T's home...which is great for them as it's right in town. The swell has been awesome for the last few months...nearly 8-10' the whole time...much to the dismay of the abalone divers who have to work close to the rocks!! Surf's up dudes!!

Only problem with the surf being up is the surfer kids in BA are like surfer kids in California---they weigh their priorities --- surf vs education and you surfers know which one often wins. :lol:

The name Pig Beach is showing up more often and it sounds strange, like there are pigs still running around. From what we have been told by some oldtimers is that there was a big pig farm in that area at one time, so the beach became known as pig beach. As access to the beach is down the cliff or the steps someone built, I doubt the pigs ever made it surfing. But we love the name. But you surfers do not need to fear competition from any animals, at least the four legged ones. Well, not quite true. My dogs love to run on that beach and they love the water and surfing.

I hope they can get through Abolone season, but I also hope the big swells have brought more sand back to the beach---the sand that the big storms took away.

[Edited on 4-13-2010 by DianaT]

tiotomasbcs - 4-13-2010 at 10:07 AM

Sorry, out of line! Lo siento. Bad day at the beach and negative encounter with gremmies are no excuse for my words. Ocean waves are caused by storms usually far away. The beach and waves are more crowded than ever and this causes veteran waveriders great pain. Surfing is best enjoyed in small groups of friends! Disculpe.

shari - 4-13-2010 at 10:33 AM

Ok tio....sorry you had a bad day....you can come out of the corner now :biggrin:

gracias for the apology.

The Sculpin - 4-13-2010 at 11:45 AM

Well I gotta say that after being on this and other incarnations of this board for decades, this is the best discussion about surfing and it's "culture" I've seen in a long time - anywhere. Tio's first email does a very good job of showing how a bad day surfing can ruin the day on land for everyone. Surfing is alot like cocaine. The first time you ride a wave is exhilarating, and you spend the rest of your life looking for that same rush. Regardless of how good you get, and how many more waves you ride, you never get the feeling of the first wave again. Sure, there's the first barrel, the first 20 footer, the first air, yada-yada - but by then you know what you're doing - it's just not the same. Just like cocaine, that pursuit could ruin your life! House by the beach - part time night job so you can surf early mornings, spotty employment history because of too many trips to Bali, your first punch out, your first act of vandalism, those overwhelming feelings of paranoia when you spot a car with boards heading to your spot, the territorial beast within awakens!!!. Hopefully you surfed before you met your spouse. If not, they're history! If you end up making any kids, you seriously consider putting them in boarding school in Kansas to spare them the agony. You give in, tow 'em out using your leash, launch them into a wave, and kiss them goodbye forever - you know by the time their 15 they're going to be surfing heavier waves and taking off deeper than you. Sigh....For those lucky enough to have a job and a 401(k), guess what happens when you retire? Ratchet up the search!! Start all over again with a newfound purpose!!!I tell ya, maybe it's better to have a cocaine habit.....at least they have rehab places for that!

Oh, and if your board has no fins - no problem.......surf the rail!

Cyanide41 - 4-13-2010 at 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DianaT
Landyacht318, I appreciate your explanation as it is very well stated about lots of the elements of surfing and what it means to many.

As I said, I am not a surfer, but from what I have been told by ones who do surf is that it is only polite for one person to take a wave.

These guys are members of our local surf club and one of them is a very good friend of ours. When I gave the cd of photos, I asked him about sharing that wave ---at first there were three of them on the same wave. He said that for them, it was a part of the fun and the challenge. They like sharing the same wave.

I guess it is a difference in cultural norms---I don't know.

[Edited on 4-13-2010 by DianaT]

Sharing waves with a buddy is one thing. Snaking waves from someone you don't know is another story.

[Edited on 4-13-2010 by Cyanide41]

TacoFeliz - 4-13-2010 at 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Sculpin
Well I gotta say that after being on this and other incarnations of this board for decades, this is the best discussion about surfing and it's "culture" I've seen in a long time - anywhere. Tio's first email does a very good job of showing how a bad day surfing can ruin the day on land for everyone. Surfing is alot like cocaine. The first time you ride a wave is exhilarating, and you spend the rest of your life looking for that same rush. Regardless of how good you get, and how many more waves you ride, you never get the feeling of the first wave again. Sure, there's the first barrel, the first 20 footer, the first air, yada-yada - but by then you know what you're doing - it's just not the same. Just like cocaine, that pursuit could ruin your life! House by the beach - part time night job so you can surf early mornings, spotty employment history because of too many trips to Bali, your first punch out, your first act of vandalism, those overwhelming feelings of paranoia when you spot a car with boards heading to your spot, the territorial beast within awakens!!!. Hopefully you surfed before you met your spouse. If not, they're history! If you end up making any kids, you seriously consider putting them in boarding school in Kansas to spare them the agony. You give in, tow 'em out using your leash, launch them into a wave, and kiss them goodbye forever - you know by the time their 15 they're going to be surfing heavier waves and taking off deeper than you. Sigh....For those lucky enough to have a job and a 401(k), guess what happens when you retire? Ratchet up the search!! Start all over again with a newfound purpose!!!I tell ya, maybe it's better to have a cocaine habit.....at least they have rehab places for that!

Oh, and if your board has no fins - no problem.......surf the rail!

What he said!!! :biggrin:

Mulegena - 4-13-2010 at 03:53 PM

Well done, TioTomas.

In my life-view we are all snarkey sometimes, but a sincere and gracious apology from the deliveror to the deliverees clears the slate clean like clear sparkin' water.

Group Hug.

tripledigitken - 4-13-2010 at 04:15 PM

Time for etiquette lessons later son. :cool:

dtbushpilot - 4-13-2010 at 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mulegena
Well done, TioTomas.

In my life-view we are all snarkey sometimes, but a sincere and gracious apology from the deliveror to the deliverees clears the slate clean like clear sparkin' water.

Group Hug.

What she said.....dt

DianaT - 4-13-2010 at 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tripledigitken
Time for etiquette lessons later son. :cool:

Nice photo.

jodiego - 4-13-2010 at 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Sculpin
Surfing is alot like cocaine. The first time you ride a wave is exhilarating, and you spend the rest of your life looking for that same rush.

Sheesh, can you not come up with any other comparison to surfing than drugs? How about the first time you fall in love or your first really good sexual encounter. Those of us who have never snorted cocaine cannot share your analogy.

The Sculpin - 4-13-2010 at 06:03 PM

Sorry about that, jodiego. Good for you that you have never had cocaine, but the problem with cocaine, and heroin as well, is that it is much, much, much better than falling in love or a really good sexual encounter. That's why it's sooooooooo addicting!! That's also why it's a very selfish drug. I'm sure 'ole Skeeters has many a story that would prove my point in far less poetic circumstances. Anyway, I have seen many people take up surfing and act in the same way as a drug addict (yours truly included) because the experience is so similar. The Jeff Spicoli sterotype is not too far off the mark. Never mind that surfing also attracts all sorts of hooligans and miscreants (Dora, Spreckles, Crawford, Garcia) that spice up the image even more. Anyway, I don't mean to highjack this thread, so let's leave it at that and by all means, stay sober!

jodiego - 4-13-2010 at 06:12 PM

Well said Sculpin. Understand your point. Catching waves is truly an addictive experience.

tiotomasbcs - 4-13-2010 at 06:30 PM

Thanks for takin me off the Hook, guys! Anyone who has felt a wave pick up their surfboard up and take them toward the shore...Orange skies and Jimi Hendrix! Try to understand. Smiles

jeremias - 4-13-2010 at 07:37 PM

don't do drugs. drugs are bad...mmmmmk?

Mexitron - 4-14-2010 at 06:20 AM

Hmmm.....the term "addictive" as in cocaine is a little harsh I think. Both Baja and surfing are sources of extreme pleasure for me and I will go to great lengths to experience them both, but they add to my life, not suck it away like coke does.......but I definitely get your point!

805gregg - 4-16-2010 at 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sallysouth
Do you surf ? Diana, whats up? Geoff is telling it like it is and it is spot on. :?:

He's on a paddle board not a surf board.