It’s taken three weeks, but South Oz surfers are finally perched on the edge of the first decent weekend of surf and weather we’ve seen in 2021. After a historically dismal run of wind and swell, you had better believe pretty much every single surfer in SA who can get to the coast for a much-needed fix over this faux long weekend, will.
As welcome as this news might be, the reality of it means you’re going to have to deal with crowds. Boat-towing Pajeros jostling for a pump at the On The Run. Queues of weaving SUV’s with surfboard stacked roof racks, pinned behind clapped out Wicked Camper vans. Endless bakery lineups for watery, tepid coffee.
And of course… crowded surf breaks.
With that in mind, you might ask yourself if there is anything you can do to minimise your frustration and maximise your joy. The good news is there is, so here are my top tips for dodging the hordes.
Go early.
I know it somewhat defeats the purpose when you’re jostling for free spots in the Waits car park with guys who slept in their cars, but the old adage about the early bird still applies. There are plenty of reasons why most people are not in the water well before sunrise – kids, work, distance, and of course, sharks.
Disconnect from the Hive Mind
If you do what the herd does, you get what the herd gets, and as we well know… not everyone gets an equal share. Have a think and listen to the chatter online ( and offline ) about where everyone seems to be going… and go somewhere else. There may be more waves and even better waves where the crowd is, but if everyone is getting in everyone else’s way, very few will enjoy it. Wander away from the hordes and enjoy the peace, and often, the reward for your extra effort.
Go late
Now this one is a bit counter-intuitive but hear me out. The crowd usually maxes about 2 hours after sunrise, for a number of reasons. A couple of hours later, you can often find a quiet gap when everyone has been out and is now queued up at the bakery. You might be hedging your bets a bit with an afternoon sea breeze, but on days of mostly light winds, it can be a rewarding strategy. Bonus points for sleeping in.
Pick the less-obvious bank
Beach breaks tend to naturally spread out crowds, but most crew will head for the bank that looks most reliable / stable. Pick somewhere up the beach that’s not breaking as well or as often as the primo bank, and you will probably get more waves and less aggravation. Bonus points if the tide changes and it turns on for half an hour, because it’ll be all yours.
Go REALLY late
If there’s a chance the conditions might still be OK the day after, you’re likely to find less than half the crowd on it.
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