Learning to surf in OC or SD counties

jumalian · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 7625 City: san diego

I used to surf when I was a kid. Gave it up 'cause a near drowning incident freaked me out. Now, I wanna learn all over again. Frankie wants to learn, too. Where's the "safest" place to learn? Are there places to rent boards?

Thanks in advance.

K-dub · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 14760

San Onofre st. Beach would probably be your best spot to go....
I have no idea about where to rent boards. I'm sure shops in San Clemente rent....

Ocean Beach in SD would be another beginner friendly spot.

Bethany · Posted: Mar 12, 2004 4:17 pm Post subject:

Personally I would go Ocean Beach before San Onofre. Locals get kinda crazy in those parts. Plus, I think there would be more rental places in SD.

Lindsay · Posted: Mar 12, 2004 4:24 pm Post subject:

La Jolla Shores is also a good bet. Very gentle, sandy bottom, and places to rent boards. Lots of rental spots in PB/Mission Beach too.

If the weather is as nice as it was last weekend, the beaches will be packed.

K-dub · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 14760

Bethany, they get crazy down by Old Mans, and Trestles...I was talking more down in the St. Park area. They could find thier own breaks the further they go down the beach.

jumalian · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 7625 City: san diego

Lindsay,

Frankie works right on the beach in La Jolla, at the Scripps Pier. Her window overlooks the surfers out there. Do you mean that beach? Lots of surfers there.

Thanks all.

Dragonlady8 · Guest

Torrey Pines and Carlsbad are nice and off the beaten path too.

itch · Posted: Mar 12, 2004 6:55 pm Post subject:

TORREY PINES I LOVE HER MOVIES SHE GIVES THE BEST.............ummm
Sorry Seem to have something else on my mind.
I agree though keep them away from the locals they almost did me and a buddy in years ago.
ITCH
GB

Jester · Posted: Mar 12, 2004 11:28 pm Post subject:

No, stay away from Scripps Pier & Black's. First of all the nudists there are frightening, but this time of year the waves will probably be too heavy to learn.

If you wanna hit La Jolla then I'd go with Lindsay's advice, hit up the Shores. Hit me up when you 2 wanna go out, I'll give you a lesson & you can even borrow my boards.

hopesfall · Outlaw Joined: 06 Nov 2003 Posts: 104 City: o.c

Bethany, what are u talking about at san-o there is just awhole bucnh of chill old guys out there long boarding.
At trestles i guess there can be some crazy guys and its not really a good place to start.

Maybe if you want to learn soon go to san clement i go there some times its not that bad. Its a sandy bottom and during the winter there is usually only a few guys out and nowone really gets crazy.

Also i ahev never rented a board but i think like any surf shop mayeb like beckers or something liek that will have a long board foam top which will be good for learing, for you to rent. if your in irvine too i wouldnt drive all the way down to san diego unless u want too.

jumalian · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 7625 City: san diego

hopesfall, I drive to SD because I want to...Frankie's there. Wink

Jester, thanks man! We'll have to take you up on your offer!

K-dub · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 14760

meow...*whip-crack*....meow..*whip-crack*

salmon_tacos · Posted: Mar 13, 2004 10:23 am Post subject:

jumalian,

Are you going to wear a vest? I wouldn't laugh if you did but it's kind of sad how wearing a vest might be more dangerous than not wearing one, if you know what I mean. I was just thinking about this the other day when I noticed that the O'Neill Vapor vest looks like it was made for surfing, with no zippers, buckles, or straps on the front.

Maybe I'm just getting old but I think a vest would be a smart idea under some circumstances, e.g. just learning and not familiar with the ocean, pushing yourself in heavy surf, or surfing where you might get knocked out on shallow rocks or reef. Then again, maybe it wouldn't be so bad to die surfing.

jumalian · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 7625 City: san diego

salmon tacos, trust me, I've thought about it. And yeah, I do have the Vapor vest! I could always wear it under a rash guard or something. What do you think? Laughing

Tyler T · Posted: Mar 13, 2004 1:03 pm Post subject:

I live in NW Oregon and am completely unfamiliar with the surfing scene, but the way you talk about it now, and how you have in the past leads me to believe that surfers just aren't very nice people. I mean, I've never seen a wakeboarder be rude to another wakeboarder. Often times, I even see someone go over to a boat where someone might be just learning, and they will help them out and give them advice. It sounds to me that if you go out and try to learn how to surf, someone is gonna try to kill you or something.

K-dub · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 14760

Tyler T, surfers are very territorial. Even more so here in California because there are so many people here that surf. There are specific breaks that you really want to stay away from if you are'nt familiar with what's going on, and the unsaid rules of the line-up. It's really easy to find yourself being chased out of the water if you are'nt "local". Santa Cruz is where I surf here n Nor-Cal, and it's very well known for having very aggressive locals. I have been surfing my whole life, and surfing in Santa Cruz for the last 12 years, and I still wont go out to certain spots there.

jumalian · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 7625 City: san diego

Tyler T · Posted: Mar 13, 2004 1:50 pm Post subject:

jumalian, lol. VERY good point.

hopesfall · Outlaw Joined: 06 Nov 2003 Posts: 104 City: o.c

It also depends on wht day u go out on how crazy guy will get, and for the most part i think most surfers are pretty mellow people, unless ur being acomplete jackass in the water and cutting of people all the time.

If a guy cut you off on a lake or a tuber or jet skier messed up your perfect water you would get pissed, so its the same thing, if a guy is snaking all of your waves of just being an idiot in the water its the same thing.

Jester · Posted: Mar 15, 2004 9:36 am Post subject:

jumalian · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 7625 City: san diego

Jester, he's making fun of me 'cause I like FRANKIE. Pretty typical, eh? Laughing

Anyway, when the water warms up, we'll hit you up to go out there. Thanks!

Thanks for the responses, everyone!

Jester · Posted: Mar 15, 2004 2:19 pm Post subject:

I don't get it. I know K was making fun of you, that's why I was laughing, but Taco's post about wearing a vest seemed genuine. Is there an inside joke that I'm missing? Confused

jumalian · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 7625 City: san diego

No, no inside joke. Like the original post said, I almost drowned when I was a kid.

Tyler T · Posted: Mar 15, 2004 3:02 pm Post subject:

I can't see a reason to not wear a vest even in knee deep water if you don't know what you're doing....or even if you do know what you're doing. It's easy pretty easy to drown in shallow water when you're unconcious.

Jester · Posted: Mar 16, 2004 8:57 am Post subject:

Yes that's true, but going unconscious is no small feat in itself. Even if you somehow do manage to coldcock yourself there's usually a ton of people around you who can & will save you. It's a rare occasion that somebody gets in trouble in the water & isn't rescued.

Tyler T · Posted: Mar 16, 2004 9:02 am Post subject:

Jester, not trying to start a stupid argument or anything...but why rely on others? It's like that one movie...what's it called? Risk Management or something?

Jester · Posted: Mar 16, 2004 10:57 am Post subject:

Yeah, I guess that's fair. However, to my knowledge there are no documented cases of people drowning while they were learning to surf. Surf related drowning fatalities almost always occur with experienced surfers pushing the limits & getting into bad situations.

Most people learn to surf in waves no higher than your waist & in water about as deep. Like I said, if you manage to drown in that situation you've simply given a real life example of Darwinism.

K-dub · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 14760

A surfboard is like a large life-preserver in itself....you don't need a lifevest if you have a big one attatched to your leg. Confused

FRANKIE · Guest

i used to live on la jolla shores (i just moved...AGAIN). i work just off the scripps pier at SIO - with my view being the surf. i don't know?... maybe it's just the season, but i don't wanna learn on overhead waves - only because i don't wanna make joe feel/look bad Wink

, jk. every once in a while i look out at the surf and say, "i could handle those 3 footers".

take care all.
frankie

jumalian · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 7625 City: san diego

Ok, so the next time we ride behind Henry's VLX, or Caleb's Super Air, I don't want to hear anything about the wake being too big. Laughing

FRANKIE · Guest

ha... ha... ha...

salmon_tacos · Posted: Mar 16, 2004 1:52 pm Post subject:

...ouch.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

FRANKIE, nice!!!! Twisted Evil

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

FRANKIE, what the hell!!? Man that was a GREAT burn and you erased it!!!

Wait, or did Joe erase it for you? Neutral