Ok so I rode for the first time in the surf this weekend, Any pointers ?

[Buckwild12]

Ok, So I looked like I had no idea what I was doing, I felt super uncomfortable, and really intimidated. Any pointers on stuff that I can try to make myself not look like a retard at Wavedaze? Ive been riding for 6 years now and you couldnt have guessed it by me this weekend, I was on my knees more than if I'd have gone to church.

 

[nokfir]

if waves are big it can be intimidating....start small and get comfortable.

what ski are u riding?

 

[BruceSki]

keep your head on a swivel. if they look too big for you to get over just spin around, head to shore, then swing back out on the next set. They were real big on the east coast this weekend and today. We had 10ft waves here today that were glassy and smooth. A little intimidating for sure if you have never ridden them before.

Basically getting comfortable in the surf takes time. Sometimes you need to get killed by a few waves to figure out where you need to be without getting killed anymore.(if that makes any sense)

 

[sportfish258]

Ok, So I looked like I had no idea what I was doing, I felt super uncomfortable, and really intimidated. Any pointers on stuff that I can try to make myself not look like a retard at Wavedaze? Ive been riding for 6 years now and you couldnt have guessed it by me this weekend, I was on my knees more than if I'd have gone to church.

My experience as well . By the time I felt comfortable I had NOTHING left . As the county folks say I was "plum give out " by the second day . It helps to have your boat set up for it foot holds etc. Years of white water boating ( I'm comfortable in pushy water ) , but the idea of getting rolled in swamping and hydrolocking my boat was very stressful . You / we have the skill . It's just about getting comfortable . My 2 cents

 

[Charlie_Hustle]

My first time in the surf (Liquid Militia Freeride March 2010) I was in straight survival mode. The waves in the back sets were huge and even the white wash was powerful. Six months later and Im finally starting to be able to read the waves and feel comfortable. The coolest thing about the riders in Oside and Pismo (and riders in your area too Im sure) is that you can pick their brains and they are more than willing to share their knowledge. And like Motoman said, sometimes you gotta learn for yourself from your own mistakes. I been pounded pretty good a few times but riding surf is both the funnest and hardest thing I have ever done on a jetski.

Now get back out there and ride surf!~ :headbang:

 

[Saltwater N Premix]

I remember the first time in surf with my SXi, we needed 4 people to fight it into the surf as I was still buckling up my life vest I had to reach down and turn the gas on as I was going thru the whitewash it was a yellow flag down the beach and I wouldn't have been swimming in it.. I was out for maybe a minute and a half I got beat so hard and mustve fell 10 times in a minute. I caught some air just trying to get over the waves and eventually had to turn around and jet to shore before I got pummeled by a 2XL set rolling in. It was a bad first day to go in the surf but I feel if I could do it that day I can do it almost any day. Keep at it, it takes much practice.

 

[Buckwild12]

I am riding my Superjet, It has footholds and a front ray mount fire extinguisher/footgrip. the waves were somewhere between 7-9 feet. I was higher than I have ever been before. I think the biggest thing is the fact that plummeting from the height I was getting. Its 2-3 times bigger than I had been previously even off of big boat wakes. I did get rolled a few times pretty good, I am no surfer on a ski thats for sure the nose dug in and I got rolled. At least I didnt let go. The guys on couches were going 2-30 ft on big air. it was awesome yet scary at the same time, I dont believe it was terribly deep where we were riding and I was afraid of turning into a huge lawn dart.

 

[BruceSki]

yeah those are very big waves to be in for your first time. start with 1-3 footers to get comfortable and learn how to read the waves. Then you can go hit the big stuff with a little less fear.

Fear of those big waves is good though, they can easily ruin your day and/or drown you, separate you from your ski, or sink your ski if you aren't very cautious.
In big surf, I recommend riding in as big of a group as possible too. Make sure everyone is on the same page with rescuing a downed rider/ski and towing in. If you aren't prepared to get the downed ski out in a hurry, you will be towing in two skis.

 

[nokfir]

careful riding those big waves. first one i really got into i took a nose dive and felt it hit the bottom. rolled it, broke 4 motor mounts.

guess you really just gotta start small. im no pro, big waves stil make me nervous

 

[Big Kahuna]

Always pay attention to where the wave is breaking........... That is rule one. Know where you are in relation to the waves at all times. Slow down....... Dont get in a hurry riding. Take your time, pick your wave. If you go balls out, you are going to be worn out before you jump the 3rd wave. Just relax, play in the white wash, get a feel for how your ski reacts to getting hit by waves to the side. When you land, use more throttle than you think you need then let off. Better to get moving again a little qucker than to get stuck and nailed by a wave.

Once you are comfortable riding in the waves. You can go higher by going slower. If you are screaming half to wide open throttle to the wave your going to launch out, not up. If you are going slow and you grab the gas as you get the the bottom of the wave you will accellerate up the wave and your momentum will carry you up.

 

[tipafew]

Those are big waves for your first surf ride........start small

 

[tofa]

If you were in 7-9ft waves for your first time and you made it home to post on here your doing fine lol..

Like most have said just relax and dont panic...just ride and enjoy and youll get better every time you go out

 

[FlightPlanDan]

If you were in 7-9ft waves for your first time and you made it home to post on here your doing fine lol..

Like most have said just relax and dont panic...just ride and enjoy and youll get better every time you go out

X2.

If it was as blown out up there as it was here....It was not a good day for your first surf ride!
Groundswell makes it a lot more difficult to get to the outside cause the lines are so long.
Keep going to the surf. Even when there are no storms out there. You will fall in love with it. Even the 1-2 foot days.

Most of our waves are wind driven. It seems to leave more holes to navigate to the outside & wait on the sets. But the groundswell is definately worth it when you get the hang of it.

 

[BruceSki]

man yesterday was solid 10ft faces and butter smooth. two city blocks between each wave. best waves i have ridden in my life. Landed my first backflip too.

today on the other hand, we got that blown out windy crap. 4-5's with washing machine between it. still launched a couple rolls and practiced re-entrys till i was blue in the face.

Seems like every day is different and I am always learning something new out there. I still always keep an eye out though because you never want to get too comfortable or the ocean will chew you up and spit you back out to remind you who's boss.

 

[FlightPlanDan]

man yesterday was solid 10ft faces and butter smooth. two city blocks between each wave. best waves i have ridden in my life. Landed my first backflip too.

today on the other hand, we got that blown out windy crap. 4-5's with washing machine between it. still launched a couple rolls and practiced re-entrys till i was blue in the face.

Seems like every day is different and I am always learning something new out there. I still always keep an eye out though because you never want to get too comfortable or the ocean will chew you up and spit you back out to remind you who's boss.

Sweet! And Congrats on the flip!....I'll ride one out someday..lol..

We were hoping for some west wind to glass-off the faces...never got it. Sounds like you got it for a day at least!

 

[BruceSki]

The other guys rode saturday and sunday and said it was great. I'm happy I was back in town to ride monday. I landed the flip on steve's wammer with jetworks 771, mag pump, trim.

Now I have to get one down on my measly TS ported 701 with dual 44's, stock pump with TBM cone and 12/17 skat mag prop. I have landed on my head 10 times or so with my ski.

 

[Buckwild12]

Ok, so whats a good helmet to get? Everyone was making fun of me cause I was wearing my hockey helmet. I kinda wanna go try again this weekend, but I am afraid of breaking something before I get to Wavedaze next week.

 

[BruceSki]

I used to wear a motocross helmet but just recently switched to a full face mountain bike helmet. It is much lighter and drains the water faster. Only reason I got a new one though was because my motocross helmet straps ripped out of the helmet on a failed flip attempt.

 

[Big Kahuna]

Ok, so whats a good helmet to get? Everyone was making fun of me cause I was wearing my hockey helmet. I kinda wanna go try again this weekend, but I am afraid of breaking something before I get to Wavedaze next week.

SixSixOne makes decent helmets.

www.pricepoint.com

 

[chriselmore_1]

bell bellistic helmets are real popular and are cheap too!