Tired of Crowds at SFOB?

the complaining, justified or not, is that OB with sunny skies clean conditions and under 6' is very crowded, when 10 years ago it wasnt the case. Back in the 90s it was even less, while you still had 200 guys at Rincon. But, once its real 2nd bar, crowds stay home. One of the theories behind the OB explosion was the dotcom mania of late 90s, brought a LOT of younger peeps to SF, looking for $ and below average looking women. And they never got the first, but stayed for the 2nd. At the same time wetsuit tech and glorification of surfing brought more fair-weathered socalers to the lineup.

1) Overpopulation.

2) Dawn patrol is dope.

u want ppl to surf when it isn't crowded?

SF is the second most densely populated large city in America and one of the largest coastal cities in California. Shut up about crowds. Seriously. There is friggin nobody in the water around here and the only thing worth surfing is endless beach break. If you are whining about crowds, your problem has nothing to do with surfing.

Let's not end up like Santa Cruz locals guys. We have plenty of stoke to go around. And OB has always been full of positive peeps. And to be honest, even when it is crowded, I've never been cut off at OB.

It gets crowded every fall until the big swells show, and then the crowds just wash away. Part of the problem is there are times when OB is one of the best waves in the region. When it is too small and shitty in Santa Cruz, those guys head north. Still, I surfed this year on a decent day where I couldn't see another effing soul in the water. Harder to get that with surf forecasts, cams, and reports. But its not the number of people, it's how they act. It only takes one douchebag methhead in Santa Cruz to bring the lineup vibe WAY down. As long as you look before you take off so you don't burn anybody (and hopefully everyone else is doing the same), and don't try to be a wavehog, OB is fine with 200+ in the water (which I've seen a couple times on the weekend this year). As pointed out, OB is a big beach and if you don't want to be in a herd of sheeple you don't have to be.

Dawn patrols are very bad - don't you know that's when the landlord is most active? Plus there's morning sickness, fog, etc etc

Yeah, man. Dawn patrol sucks. Don't try it!

Surfing sucks, don't try it!

sharks eat everyone at dawn patrol... that's why it's not crowded. sharky breakfast time yum yum crunch

Dawn Patrol: Flat but windy, water is 33 degrees, and I got midget mugged last Thursday @7AM in front of BC...shoe laces stolen off my booties. Mornings are horrific for surfing, go at 2pm..when the winds are nice and calm and the lifeguards are out.

> OB with sunny skies clean conditions and under 6' is very crowded, when 10 years ago it wasnt the case.

That just isn't accurate. I dragged my ass from Berkeley to SFOB on the weekends 20 feckin years ago, and it was just as congested on a good day then as it is now. For that matter, look at the old '70s-era videos of that top secret spot under a certain top secret bridge: it was crowded even then, and it was just as junky a wave then as it is today.

Then, as now, you could also paddle out on many days (like this morning, for example) and see pretty much nobody at all.

@madpie truly nails it. As far as I'm concerned, end of conversation. I can't speak for 20 years ago, but I can for 10 years ago, and I have vivid memories of sunny fall HH days being completely stuffed.

Memories are funny things. They do what you want them to do.

Still the same steep drops and flabby shoulders that we know and love today. Only the pot back then didn't cause couch-lock :) heh

I agree with madpie. OB was about as crowded in the 1990s as it is today.

Tomorrow is the 21st anniversary of the Oakland Hills firestorm. That Sunday the entire beach was 6-8 solid and the winds were howling offshore. The sky was orange and the water was purple. The crowds clustered at the usual locations, but everywhere else inbetween was a u-pick'em peak fest. We smoked Mendocino Thunderfuck in the dunes when our arms were too noodled for more. Outdoor grown and 100% organic. Good times!

@piss, you aren't smoking the right strains!

sharky in the early mornings.

Dude, my point is that I don't want today's stuff. I'm happy in Mexibrown town, if I even go there anymore, which I don't.

#thumbnail:

Have to disagree that it's not any more crowded today. I started surfing OB in 1991 and at least in my memory it was WAY less crowded. I remember on days like Friday I'd be wishing there were other surfers in the water because all by my lonesome I was scared of whitey. Don't have that issue today. Not that yesterday was crowded, but, had to give up plenty of waves to those with position, which rarely happened back in the early or mid 90's

Top 5 reasons OB is crowded...
1) That bitch Gidget
2) Wetsuit Technology
3) Beach Cams and Cell Phones
4) Foam
5) Because getting shacked is about the best feeling on the earth...

Get a board with more foam and get in first!