When I hit the beach to surf I usually head down to Mermaid Beach. Though the waves are not among the best of the Gold Coast's offerings, I choose this spot because of the ability to dodge the swelling crowds. Crowds and surfing: they've got a funny relationship. No serious surfer out there will tell you that they enjoy surfing in a tightly packed spot, yet nonetheless we all tend to exacerbate the matter by obeying certain sheep-like behavior (i.e. the "follow the pack" mentality).
On the average day, Mermaid Beach has three or four peaks, though only one will be taken advantage of and by a big, poorly distributed mob. When I get there, instead of jumping in right away and paddling out, I take a moment to ponder the scene and choose my spot wisely. Ultimately, my decision will be shaped by the quality of the waves rolling in and the amount of surfers in a given area of water. Personally, I am always willing to give up a bit of wave quality to be able to have plenty of room, though that's just me.
I'll sometimes end up walking about a kilometer in either direction to determine which wave I really want to catch. Once I've caught one however, it's almost invariably the case that one of the surfers crammed into the pack will branch off and come surf the spot I'm at. It's not clear to me why they didn't do so at an earlier point, since the wave had been breaking there all day long. It seems to be a matter of a lack of imagination on the other surfer's behalf, not realizing the wave was there until I chose to catch it.
I'm constantly amazed by the number of surfers who arrive at the beach and do not look for a wave. Rather they just paddle out to the closest group of surfers assuming that will be where the best waves are.
There have been days when I was the only surfer getting wet on days with excellent conditions all along the beach. Yet when another surfer gets in, they come sit on my tail instead of taking advantage of the ample space. In such scenarios I simply paddle over to the next wave to keep surfing, wondering the whole way there about the other surfer's intelligence.
But witnessing this kind of behavior day in day out begs the question; What happened to the spirit of exploration in surfing? Where did it go? When was it replaced by such sheepish behavior, where we just follow the crowd? Perhaps I am just a little different to most surfers and enjoy an uninterrupted surf. Perhaps most of us actually enjoy the hustle of a crowd. I don't know. I do think this pattern of behavior is weird though.
Some food for thought though: each time you hit the beach for some quality surf, take a minute or three on the beach to really observe the waves before paddling out. There will probably be a better option than the most crowded one and you will definitely get to catch more waves.
On the average day, Mermaid Beach has three or four peaks, though only one will be taken advantage of and by a big, poorly distributed mob. When I get there, instead of jumping in right away and paddling out, I take a moment to ponder the scene and choose my spot wisely. Ultimately, my decision will be shaped by the quality of the waves rolling in and the amount of surfers in a given area of water. Personally, I am always willing to give up a bit of wave quality to be able to have plenty of room, though that's just me.
I'll sometimes end up walking about a kilometer in either direction to determine which wave I really want to catch. Once I've caught one however, it's almost invariably the case that one of the surfers crammed into the pack will branch off and come surf the spot I'm at. It's not clear to me why they didn't do so at an earlier point, since the wave had been breaking there all day long. It seems to be a matter of a lack of imagination on the other surfer's behalf, not realizing the wave was there until I chose to catch it.
I'm constantly amazed by the number of surfers who arrive at the beach and do not look for a wave. Rather they just paddle out to the closest group of surfers assuming that will be where the best waves are.
There have been days when I was the only surfer getting wet on days with excellent conditions all along the beach. Yet when another surfer gets in, they come sit on my tail instead of taking advantage of the ample space. In such scenarios I simply paddle over to the next wave to keep surfing, wondering the whole way there about the other surfer's intelligence.
But witnessing this kind of behavior day in day out begs the question; What happened to the spirit of exploration in surfing? Where did it go? When was it replaced by such sheepish behavior, where we just follow the crowd? Perhaps I am just a little different to most surfers and enjoy an uninterrupted surf. Perhaps most of us actually enjoy the hustle of a crowd. I don't know. I do think this pattern of behavior is weird though.
Some food for thought though: each time you hit the beach for some quality surf, take a minute or three on the beach to really observe the waves before paddling out. There will probably be a better option than the most crowded one and you will definitely get to catch more waves.
About the Author:
Damian Papworth knows that for a surf trip, Australias Gold Coast is a ideal destination. It really is the earth's ultimate surf resort. This and other unique content '' articles are available with free reprint rights.
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