Anyone Ever Ride a Reef Break?

[GDFL]

Does anyone here have experience riding a reef break as opposed to a beach break? Any different? Dangerous?

 

[Idok]

there's a coquina reef break at the dome home......



but Im guessing your talking about a live reef?

 

[joe b]

I think your ski would splinter when you hit bottom.

 

[surferdude345]

i would think that is probably not the greatest idea - reefs will cut you up to shreds if you get washed on them

 

[Tuttle]

Never on a ski but about a dozen or so surfing.

 

[suicide]

Last year in the Caymans we were doing a freestyle show and there was a really cool reef break(about 2 miles out). The water was so clear that It was hard to tell if it was 2 or 20 feet deep. Waves were up(3-4) It was called Stingray city. Not the greatest surf break but I was really impressed how the water totally changed exactly were the reef was visible(freaky). Almost like a border seperating the two.

 

[FL-cracker]

I prefer to surf a Rock bottom break in my area, over any surf break for say waist to chest High surf.... It is always heavier surf then a Sandbar break on any given day.... anything over chest, and Id prefer to be at Sebastain..... that way you dont have to worry about getting pownded into the rocks.

But its just to sketchy to risk stabing into a rock bottom ocean floor, so for the ski its just not worth it to me.

 

[GDFL]

Yeah, I was speaking of a live reef. If it was that or nothing, what would you do?

 

[wydopen]

what would you do?

slash the peak..

 

[FL-cracker]

slash the peak..

X2, anything but stabs, and backflips really.. I have done rolls in 2 ft of water, but I dont recomend learning them that way\.

 

[GDFL]

Thanks. So it's at least partially do-able right? I'm looking at a very long shot scenario where that might be my only option.

 

[Robert]

Reef or sand, they both feel like concrete when you hit them. At least the sand around here. When I lived in Miami it was softer, but up here it is like concrete. The cuts may be a little worse on the reef, but I have had my worst case of road rash from hitting the sand here.

 

[Speleopower]

I've only surfed on heavy reef breaks but the ski would be fun as well. Though I don't like the idea of my multi thousand dollar ski going over the falls of a heavy reef break.

The below pics are of places I used to surf at a lot. Both are very very shallow and you ended up hitting bottom in a bad wipe out. I always carried a bottle of rubbing alcohol for cuts.

Also, ride at high tide if you do go out.

Scott

 

[GDFL]

That's some pretty surf.

 

[Speleopower]

Until you see it from the riding position, then you see the water draining off the coral heads. Note how the water level goes down as you approach the wave.
I wish I had pics of another spot that you have to jump off the exposed reef/short cliff and paddle away before the next wave. Then to get back on shore you have to let yourself get washed up onto the cliff to climb out. Awesome break but can't be ridden in more than about 4' high waves.

Scott