What should I know before surfing on the north shore of Oahu?

Question

I started surfing last year at Hau bush, and white plains (south shore). I started out on a 9'6 board, then I moved to a 7'6 and could catch small waves on both. After that, I tried a 6 foot board but couldn't catch anything with it. I'm used to smaller surf, 5 ft and under. I haven't surfed in a while, but now I've got the itch to go agian. I'm 5'3 120lbs. What size of board should I buy, are there some tame areas that aren't in Waikiki? I'd like to get out of my normal two surfspots. What should I know about catching larger waves?

Answer 1

before you go out on the north you better besher you can surf pretty good it gets tough out there practice befroe you go out in the big stuff i would ride my 6'3 thruster on the NS be comfortable on the board you ride don't kepp changing what board you ride -----------love from california (its

the son of booboo)

Answer 2

that it can be wet

Answer 3

All you have to know is that Hawaiian chicks are pretty much hot!

Answer 4

I've been surfing for over ten years and I'm still not completely comfortable surfing on Oahu's NS.  Check out less crowded spots on the East side or West side.  When it's not too big, Makaha is super fun and not at all sketchy.  Do you ever go to bowls at Ala Moana?  It's tame when it's under four feet.

Answer 5

1) Just go up there and check out the scenes and the different setups.  Take a board you know well and are confident with (think about it: the northshore has seen everything from 12' redwood logs to 5' tow-in boards).  It's your attitude, not the waves.  

2) Pick a 2-4' day.  That's easy info to get.  And preferably go midweek when all of Town isn't headed to the North Shore.  

3) Start out at Chun's reef.  Rights and (shorter) lefts.  Nothing scary there.

4) Work up to Lani's next - it's just next door to Chun's.  Easy in/out, consequences are minimal until it's a solid 6'.

5) Head down and get used to some basic rip and current experience at Haleiwa.  It's a great wave as well.

6) Wait for a 2-3' day midweek and head up to Pupukea.  100 yards from Pipe and a little more challenging but very fun.  Good surfers here so go out expecting to watch, get comfortable with it and maybe catch a couple.

7) From there head up to Sunset Point (again, on a 2-3' day).  Very good wave, not heavy like Sunset (proper).  Really high level of performance.  The Roxy chicks keep a big house right there so you'll probably see a few of them which should be encouraging.

8) And from Sunset Point you can start finding less-known breaks around the area or give 'real' Sunset a try or maybe Rocky Point, etc.

MOST IMPORTANT: etiquette is everything on the North Shore.  Know how to duckdive or hang onto your board.  If you're in the pit and can get to the shoulder (and ruin a rider's line) or take a beating you'd better take the beating.  Don't snake.  Even cute girls don't get away with snaking on the north shore.  That's Town only.

Work your way into a crowd slowly.  Remember that everyone has something to go do and that crowd of 15 your sitting in might be a fun group of 3 within 10 minutes.  I've found that surfing during the work week between 9 and 11 and then 1-4 are really conducive to good conditions and faaaar fewer people (work and school, eh?).

But you've gotta go.  There's nothing like it for your stoke.  It's the gnarliest of the gnar.  Own it.  You only live once.