I remember when beginners and longboarders were NOT welcome @ the Hook. Times sure have changed.
Could be true? But I had a close call with a long-boarder who almost ran over me! He took off and being crowded he prob couldn’t help it… But I ended up duck diving and flipping upside down as a means to shield me from possibly being accidentally ran over… I felt the jerk hit me(he nailed my right rail on my brand new single fin w/box! I was pissed. But not much you can do when its crowded and I don’t know if it was intensional? Don’t think it was though? It seemed like he was taking off and misjudged it as about 10 of us where paddling like sitting ducks as this longboarder was on a line already… I was right on the mid-shoulder right in his path-almost under him! I opted to duck dive -but flip upside down! Hoping like hell he would miss me… Then Boom! I feel a bump but didn’t know what ended up happenin…m anyhow I check the side of my brand new board-which had a 4" chunk taken out the bottom near rail… Maybe this is why the long boarders are not liked much outhere? Too many peeps out, not much safety with big boards that have trouble turning out of the way… Just a thought.
I’ve been at the hook on crowded days when I could tell that people were annoyed that I was out kookin around, but I’ve also been out on days with clean waves and only 10 people out that were all really cool. I brought out a friend one day that is even less experienced than I am and a guy came over and started giving him lessons just because he was a nice guy. I understand people being pissed when new surfers clog up theyre local break, but I sit out on the sides and only paddle for waves that I know I wont A snake anyone or B run anyone over, so It kinda bugs me when I get dirty looks from grumpy ass locals when Im paddling as hard as I possibly can trying to get out of their way so that they can get a wave. What am I gunna do fly?
i'm not trying to bust your balls fellas but just trying to help you and the lineups that you frequent out... all i can say is don't be there! when i'm up and riding, i want a clean uncluttered wave to play wiith so, i do my absolute best to give that to the other surfers in the water when they're up and riding. if i'm not out of their way, i messed up... it shouldn't be the job of the rider to have to dodge buoys. everyone knows where the wave is coming from and going to break and generally where the ride is going to take place (especially at a place like the hook). don't be there! this usually means more paddling and more work but that's the way it is. i'd say 99% of the time, when i see guys get runover, it's their fault. they shouldn't have been there.
btw, the board looks great. i'd be stoked on it!
Chrisp, I totally agree with you and understand that thats the universal rule in the water. I always make a point to say hey my bad if I do happen to get in someone’s way. Just talkin about folks that are grumpy no matter what just because they know you’re new, regardless of how respectful you’re being.
Thanks I got some fun waves on it this morning 
shape, I got a funky bottom turn today and ended up going back up and over the wave haha. Halfway there I guess.
Damn right. It’s called “surfing” not paddling.
If you can’t stay out of the way, go away.
Gavz- real cool! It sounds like you did well… But you need to learn weight transfer now! Drop in and do a good bottom turn -sink your tail and rail…now you’ll be driving towards the shoulder…now you have to transfer weight and turn back into the wave. As you’re about a bit close to lip you need to carve a turn-which will head you back down as in drop in…
Learn to do some side to side pumps in flats -just to get the feel of weight shift and how to get the feel of board.
Now a cut back needs to be done on the flats-SIr. For now just practice a good drop in, bottom turn, and off the top carving turn… Throw some spray off the top- Ok? Get that down pat and move onto the “cutback.”
Again, watch a good surfer do it to get the idea in ur head first- then do it!
Avoid hitting people! I would not listen to those tips. Some peeps can’t help it-inc them! There’s old timers who can’t paddle fast, there’s kids just starting out etc… Treat people the way you want to be treated k. Earn respect by giving respect. Bullying people will get you in a mess. Not that you would. Just my .o2. Fyi- I’m welcome out @ the hook, and every spot in sc I’ve surfed!? Good luck on your skills man! It will come.
It sounds like you are doing great Gavz. KEWL board! I love the Hook too. No matter where you surf, when paddling out you can stay out of the way of someone who’s already up and riding by going under the WHITEWATER behind them - INSTEAD of trying to make it over the shoulder in front of them. When people see that you know this and are doing your best not to mess up their rides, hopefully you will gain some respect too. It’s always tough when it’s crowded but this should help.
I don’t agree with paddling towards the white water to avoid a rider… Why? Well, at some spots where there is sharp coral or jagged rocks- it will get one possibly killed if pushed into da rocks/coral…
I AM GOD Enterprises (I.A.G. E.) (A joke lol). N e one lol?
How long have you been surfing, if I may ask?
Just watch where the guys paddle to get back out…the trick I was taugh by calif surf addicts when ya get dunked by a wave is to ‘flow with it", don’t fight it as you get dunked… After you flow with it- then start swimming. Best to progressively work your way up to wave power/size so you get used to it.
Fyi- I only surfed moss landing, steamer lane and stockton ave after I felt confident enough and had the skills. But when I surfed stockton ave I was lucky my friend coached me to paddle through the channel to get outhere. But luckily there’s not a bad undertow there…it’s more just shallow reef action.but who knows!? I just flow with it man. And if I have to push myself off the bottom with legs and swim up- I’ve done that also. Do what you have to do.but being a good swimmer is a +.
So try surfing the beach breaks @ 1-2 foot b 4 you try it at 3-4’. And def DON’T try it @ 5-6’ until your ready for it. And you’ll know it when ur ready.
Long enough to know if you paddle towards the white water @ a location with jagged rocks or coral reef- ur F’d!
So, you should also know that it is your responsiblity to stay out of the way of other people. IOW, you SHOULD paddle toward the whitewater instead of trying to make it over the shoulder when a rider is approaching you while you’re paddling. There is no excuse for messing up someone else’s ride if you have the option of going behind them.
Like I already said, if you can’t stay out of the way, you should find another spot to learn the basics.
No kidding I know not to be in a guys path… But sometimes if tired or its too crowded ones judgement can get altered…you’d have to be in tune with nature and be God to know every situation that could happen.ofcourse I’ve paddled thru white water to avoid a surfer. It just isn’t always possible. Most of the time I paddle way beyond a riders path on shoulder to get back out. Sure on small weak days you can hit white water. Try it on a bigger day and you just get plowed and can’t get back out well. I gen prefer paddling back out on shouder channel vs paddling inside. To each his own. Anyhow, I agree with you, but not totally as the other spots one cannot paddle for the white water in all situations as doing so would put one on the rocks and in total pain… Fyi- I surfed hawaii one summer to learn about that. You get caught inside-it takes you into shore and in jagged coral reef. The shoulder is fine as long as out of path 0fcourse.
Fwiw- at some spots padding for the white water is not always an option. That’s all I’m saying. But trust me, the only time I got caught near a guys path was due to crowds, plus at the time it happened I was new to sport. Good luck trying to instruct all ofthe newbies, vals and guys who don’t always know what’s up outhere!? I just avoid being in path or riders and surf around ones who are in way.:))