Sandspit photos 1/19, 1/22 - Page 2 - Santa Barbara Surfer

brown recluse · 01-27-2010, 10:42 AM

"and it's getting worse"

Worse than when? Last week? Last year? 5 years ago? It's always been just as crowded, you just didn't surf there back then. So you have no reference. Remember, right now is going to be "back in the day" someday. You'll be complaining about the massive crowds 20 years from now saying "it was so rad in 2010 when there was only a few dudes surfing the harbor".

JonS · 01-27-2010, 12:03 PM

I know that for me personally, my decision that it would be permissible for me to post surf pics of places like Rincon
was based on 30 years plus of surfing there (i.e. my observations of the reality of just how many people actually surf
there, either regularly, or as a visitor). I hope that you don't give up on the fact that there are always going to be times
when the smart surfer is going to score in uncrowded conditions if/when he uses his head. And, you can also count on it
being a zoo pretty much everywhere, when we're talking about a well-forecasted swell event...

Connor Lyon · 01-27-2010, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brown recluse

"and it's getting worse"

Worse than when? Last week? Last year? 5 years ago? It's always been just as crowded, you just didn't surf there back then. So you have no reference. Remember, right now is going to be "back in the day" someday. You'll be complaining about the massive crowds 20 years from now saying "it was so rad in 2010 when there was only a few dudes surfing the harbor".

I am positive that i has gotten way more crowded since a couple years ago. Im sure its always been crowded on good days, but now there are tons of guys on little days when there should only be like 5 guys out. And how about all of the spongers? There was definitely way less spongers past couple of years. Yea I have not been surfing there for 5 years but I have surfed it very consistently for the past few years and I have noticed larger crowds.

yakas · 01-27-2010, 02:19 PM

the reason no one was out there was because it was full of poop.

poop=uncrowded - regardless of the decade

Russell · 01-27-2010, 02:40 PM

Like Recluse says, same old story. I surfed HH sandbar when I was 7, 48 years ago with only 5 guys on the whole beach, rode waves from the jetty to the dredge. Kidding yourself complaining about shots on this website. When its big now bunch of out of town pros out and that has nothing do do with this website. Get a life or travel (or better yet, both!).

GRINDER · 01-27-2010, 03:39 PM

If you don't like everybody surfing your spot then you need to call them on it.
What is a local 1 mile or 50 miles from break? Like Jon said sometimes you have to plan for the uncrowded wave. I live 3000 miles away and I am already
planning on my uncrowded waves that I will get in May less than a 30 minute
drive from SB.
anyway thanks for all the shots and keep them comeing.

Brandon S. · 01-27-2010, 07:14 PM

Sit deeper. Less crowded

JonS · 01-27-2010, 08:02 PM

Every once in a while I try to calculate a realistic figure about how many regular surfers call SB home (guys who surf year in/year out several days per week). If you take that number, and then divide it by the number or recognized legitimate spots, what would the ratio of surfers:spot be?

Think about pure population data in the state of CA, and then extrapolate for growth over the next ten years. Factor in the so-called "surfer conveyor belts" like private or public surf camps, UCSB, the SUP explosion, what do you honestly expect it to look like in, say, 10 years? The numbers in and of themselves will blow your mind.

But, I can guarantee you this. If you are a good surfer, a committed surfer, you will still get plenty of waves.

My primary job, I am a psychotherapist, and I often counsel people who suffer from anger or depression. The truth is (myself included) we all could stay pissed off forever about the way things have become, or, we can be glad for what we have, and actually enjoy our lives....

Again, this is just my opinion. I'm almost 50. I never would have thought this way in my 20s or 30s, and especially not as a teenager. The older I get, the more I realize that some battles are not worth waging. You can't stop the population growth in California, and you cannot stop the popularity growth of surfing... And more and more photography enthusiasts are going to start clicking away.

more betterness · 01-27-2010, 09:12 PM

Quote:

But, I can guarantee you this. If you are a good surfer, a committed surfer, you will still get plenty of waves.

+1 to this...

I grew up surfing lower trestles, and something that really influenced how I think about crowds was watching some regulars out there day after day ALWAYS getting their pick of a set. Even in a takeoff zone as compact as Lowers these guys just had this place wired and caught probably around as many waves as they would have if the place was empty.

Dont get me wrong id 100% rather surf with no one out, but thats just not a reality for me or most people in California. So developing the level of skill to be able to surf and be comfortable in a crowded lineup successfuly has always been something ive worked on.

Luckily, its pretty easy to paddle circles around people at places like sands and campus

bentonsb · 01-28-2010, 09:58 AM

ive sponged there for atleast 5 years, its always been like this.. people complain about not getting waves and it being crowded, but the few surfers that actually sit at the real takeoff get plenty of waves, and better ones too.. just saying

ps- isnt there a way to lock specific forum sections with passwords? if people are so concerned just give members the passwords, and let them drool over the pictures that people post of sensitive spots..

01-27-2010, 02:19 PM	#14
yakas yes Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Carpas Posts: 186	the reason no one was out there was because it was full of poop. poop=uncrowded - regardless of the decade __________________ www.CarpSkatePark.org Sign up or else!

01-27-2010, 03:39 PM	#16
GRINDER TANKS LOCAL Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: SUWANEE , GA Posts: 108	Where is security? If you don't like everybody surfing your spot then you need to call them on it. What is a local 1 mile or 50 miles from break? Like Jon said sometimes you have to plan for the uncrowded wave. I live 3000 miles away and I am already planning on my uncrowded waves that I will get in May less than a 30 minute drive from SB. anyway thanks for all the shots and keep them comeing.

01-27-2010, 07:14 PM	#17
Brandon S. MESA Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: MESA Posts: 21	. Sit deeper. Less crowded

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01-27-2010, 10:42 AM	#11
brown recluse Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 162	"and it's getting worse" Worse than when? Last week? Last year? 5 years ago? It's always been just as crowded, you just didn't surf there back then. So you have no reference. Remember, right now is going to be "back in the day" someday. You'll be complaining about the massive crowds 20 years from now saying "it was so rad in 2010 when there was only a few dudes surfing the harbor".

01-27-2010, 12:03 PM	#12
JonS Site Admin Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Santa Barbara Posts: 810	I know that for me personally, my decision that it would be permissible for me to post surf pics of places like Rincon was based on 30 years plus of surfing there (i.e. my observations of the reality of just how many people actually surf there, either regularly, or as a visitor). I hope that you don't give up on the fact that there are always going to be times when the smart surfer is going to score in uncrowded conditions if/when he uses his head. And, you can also count on it being a zoo pretty much everywhere, when we're talking about a well-forecasted swell event...

01-27-2010, 02:40 PM	#15
Russell Loc Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: mesa lane Posts: 465	Like Recluse says, same old story. I surfed HH sandbar when I was 7, 48 years ago with only 5 guys on the whole beach, rode waves from the jetty to the dredge. Kidding yourself complaining about shots on this website. When its big now bunch of out of town pros out and that has nothing do do with this website. Get a life or travel (or better yet, both!).

01-27-2010, 08:02 PM	#18
JonS Site Admin Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Santa Barbara Posts: 810	Every once in a while I try to calculate a realistic figure about how many regular surfers call SB home (guys who surf year in/year out several days per week). If you take that number, and then divide it by the number or recognized legitimate spots, what would the ratio of surfers:spot be? Think about pure population data in the state of CA, and then extrapolate for growth over the next ten years. Factor in the so-called "surfer conveyor belts" like private or public surf camps, UCSB, the SUP explosion, what do you honestly expect it to look like in, say, 10 years? The numbers in and of themselves will blow your mind. But, I can guarantee you this. If you are a good surfer, a committed surfer, you will still get plenty of waves. My primary job, I am a psychotherapist, and I often counsel people who suffer from anger or depression. The truth is (myself included) we all could stay pissed off forever about the way things have become, or, we can be glad for what we have, and actually enjoy our lives.... Again, this is just my opinion. I'm almost 50. I never would have thought this way in my 20s or 30s, and especially not as a teenager. The older I get, the more I realize that some battles are not worth waging. You can't stop the population growth in California, and you cannot stop the popularity growth of surfing... And more and more photography enthusiasts are going to start clicking away.

01-28-2010, 09:58 AM	#20
bentonsb Veteran Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Santa Barbara Posts: 56	ive sponged there for atleast 5 years, its always been like this.. people complain about not getting waves and it being crowded, but the few surfers that actually sit at the real takeoff get plenty of waves, and better ones too.. just saying ps- isnt there a way to lock specific forum sections with passwords? if people are so concerned just give members the passwords, and let them drool over the pictures that people post of sensitive spots..