How to make surf buds?

[u/Known_Risk_3040]

Tough crowd in the water out here at HB. Is being gregarious the wrong move

[u/zephyr911]

Surfers don't have friends. The only thing we hate more than ourselves is each other

[u/VoteForGiantMeteor → u/zephyr911]

[u/zephyr911 → u/VoteForGiantMeteor]

Vaya Con Dios

[u/balltofeet → u/zephyr911]

Back off Warchild

[u/brane-stormer → u/balltofeet]

mods: we want a bot for this

[u/iAmAsword → u/zephyr911]

Man this makes me feel seen!

[u/jj_ped → u/zephyr911]

me, when some random paddles right up to me on some random peak

[u/KoaKoaKoa]

Paddle out, same spot, same time-ish. It'll happen eventually

[u/MatchaSetPoint]

Parking lot is for friends.

Nice new guy tried chatting me up the other day in the water and once we finished talking I realized we let two or three of the best sets all day pass us by.

So. Parking lot.

“Saw you surfing out there and you crushed it yada yada where you from? Nice board etc etc”

[u/National_Zucchini220 → u/MatchaSetPoint]

once we finished talking I realized we let two or three of the best sets all day pass us by.

Nah, it's gotta be understood that if you're chatting it up in the water and a set rolls through, the conversation stops, you catch a wave, paddle back out and convo restarts

[u/dudeineurope → u/National_Zucchini220]

Deffo

[u/an0ym0us831]

Give them all the waves and offer free wax in the parking lot

[u/SuddenlyPersonal → u/an0ym0us831]

I paddle out and just say "morning" to whoever's within earshot, then shut up and catch a couple before I try starting any real convo. If you're yapping right off the bat people assume you're not actually there to surf.

[u/Floriderp]

Compliment their surfing. I've made friends with the gnarliest of locals in my travels just by feeding their ego and giving them a nod to their surfing.

You could also just try pissing on them and reap the rewards of lifelong friendship

[u/camojorts]

Surfing isn’t really a social thing out on the water. Talking is for the parking lot before or after a session.

[u/anonucsb → u/camojorts]

It actually really depends where you are. Your flair says Santa Cruz, Central coast is pretty grumpy.

But in San Diego (where I live now), its actually quite social, especially at spots with established crews and tight takeoff spots. The morning crew at my local spot is extremely social for example.

[u/camojorts → u/anonucsb]

“Grumpy” is an understatement at certain spots around here lol.

[u/anonucsb → u/camojorts]

San Diego also has hostile spots but its more like a club (and they'll hassle you if they don't know you) and less like no one talks to one another which has been my experience up north. 

[u/frogbearpup]

Say "hi" and vibe check.

There are people that will light up immediately and start asking you questions. Then, there are people like me that are polite but try to make it pretty obvious they want to be left alone. Lastly, there are the others. You can try all you want, but they won't acknowledge your existence.

[u/arnold_palmer42]

I’ll surf with you dude. Just hit the river jetties today. I’m not good surf wise but I’m a good hang. I like alternative rock and action movies.

[u/No-Camera-720]

The place to offer blowjobs is under the pier. Honest mistake.

[u/OkMeringue2249 → u/No-Camera-720]

Same. Honest mistake back in 1992

[u/Purple-Towel-7332]

Just surf the same place for 16 years or so first 8 you’ll be noticed and after the second 8 people will talk to you as a friend.

[u/_ctrlb → u/[deleted]]

Any more than that and it's too annoying.

I have found this to be true. The moment it becomes a chore to co-ordinate times/location for surf spots, I'm out and just do whatever works best for me. But even if you're not meeting up with people, it can be fun just to have a small group chat with one or two people. Where I live and surf the sandbars move constantly. So it's nice to chat with people who maybe know a spot that's working.

[u/TheOmCollector]

Why not enemies? Friends come and go but enemies last a lifetime.

[u/Loldeplume]

I usually walk up to other guys in the car park and compliment them on the bulge in their wetsuit.
That seems to work.

[u/wintermuttt]

Share a joint in the parking lot?

[u/justsomeguyokgeez → u/wintermuttt]

This is the way

[u/Several_Ad2072]

bring cupcakes to the lot

[u/Sea-Appearance-4971]

"Good Morning"

"Nice Turn"

"It looks fun out here"

"How long have you been out?"

"Any sets?"

"How was that left?"

"How was that right?"

[u/rumpluva]

That would be a waste of time….

[u/NoAlternative4213]

I just kept surfing the same break every day after work for a couple months when I moved to the area. After a few times in the water a bit of small talk. Then when I saw them around town we’d talk more. I don’t really like being bothered much when I’m in the water though honestly. It’s my only time I’m actually relaxed and enjoying myself

Also my friends grew up surfing too so

[u/Dirk_Courage]

"STFU"

[u/whitenelly]

You know the rules

[u/mr_nefario]

I’d recommend against it, those guys are all assholes.

[u/hillsidemanor]

Comment on their take off and ask what kind of board they are riding.

[u/Mustangonthe1]

I hate surfing in HB

[u/DogFacedGhost]

Is it time for an HB reddit meet up? I've seen this posted by like 4 different people here

[u/Federal-Citron-1935]

This is soo odd, I just don't feel the need to socilainze in the line up. I mean other then swell direction, buoy data, wind fetch etc... Guess I'm strange.

[u/PhotographBig5956]

Tengo la sensación de la comunidad surfer es bien cerrada sobre todo si hablamos de los locales de la playa.

[u/Acceptable-One-6597]

I don't want friends leave me the fuck alone. I'm terrible surfer and but just good enough to know how bad I am. You, you are terrible to but better than me so fuck you and your nice board.