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The Cult of the Costco Surfboard

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Re: The Cult of the Costco Surfboard

#21

Post by danielharrison »

dogruck wrote: post #12

I wish surfing culture wasn't so hostile. Unfortunately, there are a finite number of breaks and waves each day. So as the number of surfers increases, it amplifies the tension in every lineup. It's like biker culture -- if there were only a handful of roads. The only way I've been able to enjoy surfing is by paying an instructor to help me navigate the lineup and actually catch a wave.

I might be able to provide some insight here. I live at one of the most crowded and user-friendly surf spots on the planet. There's constantly hundreds of people in the water fighting for waves.

The one thing I noticed mostly is how many people come here and just cannot get waves, while there's tens of kilometres of empty beach within 5 minutes drive.

They could literally go anywhere and get a few waves but they choose here and get nothing (except annoyed).

It either comes down to not knowing any better or thinking they're better than they are... often both.

My advice is to go exploring and find a less crowded spot. You may not need to go to the most popular spot to find waves.

Re: The Cult of the Costco Surfboard

#22

Post by rurban »

The Wavestorm is perfect to catch really bad waves. But the previous Costco chinese softboard, a shortboard is also cult amongst riversurfers. Because it's so cheap, thick and extremely wide it's perfect for small riverwaves, and nobody cares if it crashes into a rock, the most common incident on rivers.

Re: The Cult of the Costco Surfboard

#23

Post by orthecreedence »

slg wrote: post #15
nnd wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not every place is hostile, from my personal experience surfing all around the world (Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Philippines, etc) I only experienced hostility in SoCal. So maybe it's just the US thing.

If scarcity is really the problem than I imagine it is a function of the number of surfers over the length of viable coastline. Is there anywhere in the world that has a higher density of surfers than Southern California?

Not higher density, but Santa Cruz definitely gets vibes depending on the spot and the waves. It gets bad after a dry spell, like during summers. People are jonesing =]

Re: The Cult of the Costco Surfboard

#24

Post by ljf »

danielharrison wrote: post #21
dogruck wrote: post #12

I wish surfing culture wasn't so hostile. Unfortunately, there are a finite number of breaks and waves each day. So as the number of surfers increases, it amplifies the tension in every lineup. It's like biker culture -- if there were only a handful of roads. The only way I've been able to enjoy surfing is by paying an instructor to help me navigate the lineup and actually catch a wave.

I might be able to provide some insight here. I live at one of the most crowded and user-friendly surf spots on the planet. There's constantly hundreds of people in the water fighting for waves. The one thing I noticed mostly is how many people come here and just cannot get waves, while there's tens of kilometres of empty beach within 5 minutes drive. They could literally go anywhere and get a few waves but they choo…

The problem is - good surfers are like magnets. People see them catching a wave and assume that there is a good reason they are surfing there rather than up or down the coast. Also people get burnt by bad decisions - after a few weeks of surfing I struck out on my own to find new beaches and swiftly learnt the reasons they were empty - and wasted good days at bad beaches.

I also think the 'pecking order' is made out to be far worse than it is. As soon as most people see you in the water for at least a couple of weekends, and know you are trying, they aren't dicks - especially if you talk to them both in and out of the water and ask their advice. If you just barrel around on a board without talking or understanding the beach then there certainly will be stress as people worry they are going g to have to spend their day either looking after you, out for you or rescuing you.

Re: The Cult of the Costco Surfboard

#25

Post by Grustaf »

I wish there were something similar for kitesurfing. As it is, you basically need to spend 2 grand for equipment, 1.5 if you go second hand but then you need to be knowledgeable. That's a pretty big threshold for beginners that aren't sure about it.

Re: The Cult of the Costco Surfboard

#26

Post by radiorental »

Grustaf wrote: post #25

I wish there were something similar for kitesurfing. As it is, you basically need to spend 2 grand for equipment, 1.5 if you go second hand but then you need to be knowledgeable. That's a pretty big threshold for beginners that aren't sure about it.

Best kiteboarding tried to crack the price barrier but seem to have given up.

Kites are too manufacturing intensive. Kiteboarding and surfing are apples and oranges

That said. I have a quiver of second hand North kites for under a grand. A good board will last you 6+ seasons

Re: The Cult of the Costco Surfboard

#27

Post by Grustaf »

radiorental wrote: post #26
Grustaf wrote: post #25

I wish there were something similar for kitesurfing. As it is, you basically need to spend 2 grand for equipment, 1.5 if you go second hand but then you need to be knowledgeable. That's a pretty big threshold for beginners that aren't sure about it.

Best kiteboarding tried to crack the price barrier but seem to have given up. Kites are too manufacturing intensive. Kiteboarding and surfing are apples and oranges That said. I have a quiver of second hand North kites for under a grand. A good board will last you 6+ seasons

> Kiteboarding and surfing are apples and oranges

I know, that's why I wrote "I wish there were". I also know you can get second hand cheaply - I never bought new, but most beginners wouldn't know what to look for. Maybe a second hand buyer's guide would go some way.

Some people are working on another way to lower the barrier to entry, if it works out I'll post about it on HN!

Re: The Cult of the Costco Surfboard

#28

Post by TheSpiceIsLife »

dogruck wrote: post #12

I wish surfing culture wasn't so hostile. Unfortunately, there are a finite number of breaks and waves each day. So as the number of surfers increases, it amplifies the tension in every lineup. It's like biker culture -- if there were only a handful of roads. The only way I've been able to enjoy surfing is by paying an instructor to help me navigate the lineup and actually catch a wave.

Imagine if somebody built a tow line on a popular break.

Then surfing could be more like skiing or snowboarding.

Snow sports don't demand that you walk up the slope every run, we have machines to do that for us. And you don't have to have great timing and a lot of experience to pick a ski run.

Anyway, I'm terrified of sharks. So I'll stick to the snow.

Re: The Cult of the Costco Surfboard

#29

Post by fapjacks »

ljf wrote: post #24
danielharrison wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I might be able to provide some insight here. I live at one of the most crowded and user-friendly surf spots on the planet. There's constantly hundreds of people in the water fighting for waves. The one thing I noticed mostly is how many people come here and just cannot get waves, while there's tens of kilometres of empty beach within 5 minutes drive. They could literally go anywhere and get a few waves but they choo…

The problem is - good surfers are like magnets. People see them catching a wave and assume that there is a good reason they are surfing there rather than up or down the coast. Also people get burnt by bad decisions - after a few weeks of surfing I struck out on my own to find new beaches and swiftly learnt the reasons they were empty - and wasted good days at bad beaches. I also think the 'pecking order' is made out…

This completely. Even in traditionally hostile places, if you show up enough times and get to know the regulars, you'll be totally fine.

Re: The Cult of the Costco Surfboard

#30

Post by azernik »

nnd wrote: post #13
dogruck wrote: post #12

I wish surfing culture wasn't so hostile. Unfortunately, there are a finite number of breaks and waves each day. So as the number of surfers increases, it amplifies the tension in every lineup. It's like biker culture -- if there were only a handful of roads. The only way I've been able to enjoy surfing is by paying an instructor to help me navigate the lineup and actually catch a wave.

Not every place is hostile, from my personal experience surfing all around the world (Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Philippines, etc) I only experienced hostility in SoCal. So maybe it's just the US thing.

Hostility from other surfers or from local property owners? State ownership of the coastlines is deeply resented and constantly undermined by shoreline homeowners.
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