surfing conditions at San Francisco - Fort Point

I was there from around 1-1:45, uncrowded, and only about 4 rideable waves came through...only saw 2 or 3 rides... yikes. maybe the tide was tooooo crazy

It got WORSE, yet way more crowded. So, how did your real time report actually help anything? You get more people showing up, the tide drops more, Rhino Rock starts showing it's ugly horns as every set rolls over it, and you've got tons of people out there that like extra shrapel in a hand grenade because they don't totally understand their surroundings. But, people drove all the way there and they don't want to go home and not surf, so they go out, making things that much more dangerous.

Is that a good thing, Lee? Do you actually WANT to make things more difficult for yourself out there?

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Yeah, boo hoo on me, right? Shame on anyone who says anything negative, no matter how accurate or true it may be. I see those negative comment numbers just piilllling up.

I swear, I'm not trying to be a dick and I'm not trying to threaten anyone or discourage them from surfing. What I AM trying to do is be a realist. I didn't write anything that's not 100% true. I also just truly don't understand what Lee, or anyone else, is trying to get from posting reall time reports on this place. Do you want a pat on the back or something? If you surf this place half as often as you post about it, you'll know it can change at the blink of an eye, even more so than OB. So, real time reports are basically irrelevant 75% of the time anyway. So, the ONLY certain impact from a positive report is that it will be more crowded. You could argue that people were goign there any way and that it is the only logical choice (not true, btw), but certainly won't make it LESS crowded.

And the part about "extra shrapnel" in the hand grenade is 100% spot on. If you don't think so, you either don't surf there or your not being honest with yourself. At the size it was at today, and at that tide, it can become VERY dangerous if you have multiple bodies pinballing around Rhino, or even more bodies the shoulder because it's where people think it's "safe", but they are actually in the way of people trying to SURF the wave.

I admire the purpose of this site. I like that everyone is trying to share the love and spread the stoke. But to deny the full scenario is not very realistic.

Boy, howdy that's a lot of words.

People aren't voting you down for being generically negative. You're just misinformed. StokeReport is not some hive mind that produces crowds.

A single post on this website isn't going to cause a flock of internet users to load up their BMWs and hit up a break that's known for being localized and dangerous. FP got crowded because it was firing, which it isn't always, and on a day like today (I heard there was a big contest down in San Mateo somewhere) there's not many other places to surf.

Occam's motherfucking razor.

So tehdely, are you saying that no one pays attention to these reports and surfs a spot (or doesn't surf) based on what is written? If that's the case, why post at all? Granted, people can make up their own minds, but I hope that at least *someone* is paying attention, or else it's just a bunch of meaningless words in cyberspace.

Did you go to Fort today? I would hardly call that "firing". I would call that biggish, poor angle, tons of current with Rhino coming in to play way too much to make it enjoyable for anyone. It wouldn't have been enjoyable if NO ONE was out, but with the crowds it was just flat out dangerous at points. And there WERE other options today, plenty within a 20 minute drive in either direction from ######. I'm not going to name them; that's up to you. ;-)

Pete, c'mon now. Who didn't know that ###### was one of the two options out there today? I hear ######s had 35 guys out. Didn't see any reports. So why the crowd? Why did they go there when nobody posted a report?

Think it's just magic that everybody went to the two spots working? Nobody knows where to go without Lee's report? C'mon -- everybody watched the contest and then paddled out. You're claiming to be a realist. Follow through a little.

Then, once again, if Lee's report doesn't affect anything, WHY POST IT???

I AM following through, mate. You seem to think that these reports have absolutely no impact. Are you saying that they don't? If they are so useless, then why have this site?

The thing I like about this site is if it's crap I save myself a drive. No report, I'll drive for a look. I'm never really inspired but I like not wasting time or gas if it's blown out, etc. So there's an excellent reason to have the site and to post on it. It's good for the community, which is valuable and worthwhile in my opinion.

So tcannon, what you're saying that this site DOES influence you. You're saying that if you got a report that said it's total crap, you might not take a drive down to the spot. Conversely, if you got a report saying a spot is totally firing, you might be more inclined to take a look, correct?

So, when you asked, "Nobody knows where to go without Lee's report?", you just showed by example that some people DO pay attention to this site and use it for guidance for sure. What if someone posted an update at 4:00pm and posted that the tide was getting too low and that Rhino Rock was really exposed, and the west angle of the swell is pushing right into it, and there are lots of people that can barely surf on the shoulder, and it was generally not fun?? Would you be more inclined to check it out or stay home?

My arguement has always been against REAL TIME reports at this spot. If you want to come home and recap your session, I have no problems with that. But this place changes so fast, and one minute it can be safe/uncrowded/fun, and the next it can be dangerous/crowded/not fun. Plus, the locals are none to stoked on these reports. So, I just suggest posting the recaps AFTER you surf.

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So, that's what you call "following through", Tom? You don't like the truth, just "-"?

I think Tom's point is that a "real-time" report here has much more power to dissuade than to persuade.

I might be turned off from going somewhere if I see someone post on SR that it is absolute shit. But otherwise, if I'm rarin' to surf, I'm rarin' to surf, and I'll have already got my spot picked out.

Nobody is loading up SR, seeing that ###### is reported as uncrowded, and thinking "boy, today is absolutely the day to go there with all my friends... this can't fail!"

I'm sure if you had actually asked anybody who was in the crowd what compelled them to come, none of them would mention this site. There's really not that many of us, and I like to think we're a little more respectful and sensible than you give us credit. You should come to one of our meetups some time and get to know the gang, and perhaps it would put you at ease. We're not hiding behind a computer screen!

In case anybody's unclear on approved surf-report ethics, I'll break it down for you.

It's OK to report on spots that typically have crowds of greater than 11.4 surfers per square mile; but only on rainy days, never on statutory holidays and reports must be written within 15 minutes of your session, unless it's written in code, using a swedra-approved decoder ring.

lame. boring. move on.

I don't think stoke reporters genuinely recognize the impact of this site. I mean real time reports on San Francisco breaks; i think its safe to say this site gets pinged like crazy by a lot more than the actual stoke reporter crew. So for the record, i agree with not posting reports on certain spots. They are already overcrowded and can't support our rapidly growing surf population.

I'm not sure why Pete is getting near universally ganged up on here. While the majority of folks might not immediately hop in their cars & head to the water based on a report on here, I suspect it's very probable that a few might. And a few at Ft Point or Dead Man's is a crowd on its own, not to mention the folks already in the water. And unlike most locals, Pete is expressing this valid point of view in a very respectful manner. Just a little disappointed in the inability to see his point of view.

And most of y'all are IT guys, so you must know that the people that comment on a blog like this tend to represent maybe 1% of the people that read it, so, we really don't know how the other 99%+ are reacting to reports.

Since all I do is report, andsince Pete asked, I do so purely to share the joy of having paddled out. I definitely don't do it to influence others to paddle or not to paddle. And since I only report on OB, Any influence I have is diluted by OB's wide expanse & the hundreds of other reports, cams, & data dedicated to OB.

I had written something harsh, immediately regretted it, changed it to "-" and went to bed.

I suppose I'm projecting. I've never seen a good report that surprised me and influenced me to go. I've had negative reports save me from a drive. I go to CDIP and Weather Underground to decide where I'm heading - not here. That's just me though. Sort of imagine that you're not even going to attempt FP unless you've got enough experience to know when it'd be working or not without a report, but what the hell do I know?

I really appreciate real time reports when it's bad so that I know to keep sleeping :)

I had written that anyone who could read a tide chart and buoy report would know that late yesterday afternoon was the time to check Ft. Point. But thought that might be giving away too much info

Plus the post-Maverick-let's-go-surfing urge.

Hence the crowds.

Thanks sticker. I appreciate your comments and respect your point of view.

Ft. Point Freddie here to remind Pete and his buddies of the Federal charges filed years ago against some locals who pounded on a surfer they werent happy with in the lineup. Some of Pete's comments appear to have a similar level of "who know who you are" anger. Lets all chill.

the point is; if you have issues with surf-reporting you should show some integrity and not use this site.

don't just take what you need -and then whine and complain that everyone else doesn't use it exactly the way you think it should be used.

Sticker is correct. Only around 1-3% of the people who check out a blog or site actually comment. There's a lot of eyes on this site and it definitely extends outside of the SF / SM surf area. I'm an example of that.

I also think that Pete has a valid point. One factor that kind of gets distorted by the platitudes that we all throw around here for fun is that there are a tremendous amount of good surfers that have the skill level to jump in the water at Ft. Point. And most of these surfers are pretty dialed into the various ways of communication. Between the web surf reports, calls and text messaging its pretty easy to hit critical mass at a spot like Ft. Point. And like I said earlier, most of these surfers are skilled but once when you combine critical mass with lack of local knowledge... shit will happen.

I think another factor that gets ignored is that Ft. Point is super easy to drive to from all directions. I think the chances are pretty good that if someone's local break isn't working between San Rafael and San Mateo, and if they hear/see report that its really no effort to hop into the car and check it out.

Pete seems like a good guy and despite a couple off remarks from both sides its great to come to this site and see the respect and level headed on topic discussions that happen. A rarity on the web.

Hey Ft. Point Freddie, just to clarify my stance: I'm absolutely NOT threatening anybody or saying we know who you are, bla bla bla. But as sh0wn said, I think the number of people that actually comment on this site is just a small fraction of the people who actually VIEW this site, and even the most neanderthalic locals know how to use the internet these days. And I can just say, from firsthand experience, that there's a lot of grumbling and groaning in the parking lots these days, and I think it would be beneficial to at least be *aware* of these issues before deciding to post real time reports.

I am NOT a pissed off, angry local. I'm a happy family man, educated with a fantastic job and a good life. But I hold myself to the same standards that I ask of anyone else, including the "angry" locals. I had to pay my dues and earn my position in the lineup over time, even if the guys dropping in on me were less talented surfers that I am. EVERYONE is entitled to surf where anywhere they want, but there are smoother ways to integrate oneself into a lineup than others.

As I said in a different post from a while back, localism is rarely fair or makes sense, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. The more you’re cognizant and respectful of the situation, the smoother the integration will be. I just ask that people be aware of the full situation, and I’m just trying to present the “other side” with my comments. I’m not trying to be a dissenter just for shits and giggles; I’m trying to help us ALL get along out there.

I agree with Pete, he is not being confrontational (if you think Pete is being confrontational you have never been confronted before) just pointing out the obvious that advertising and promoting a spot that can not handle a lot of traffic is a bad idea. Just 10 more people in the line-up at FP can make it very congested/dangerous and Stoke Report has the ability draw more then 10 people. I'm not a local at FP (I've had pussies at FP mutter stuff under their breath at me before), but have just observed the spot and it is clear that overcrowding is a serious issue (Friday was fun but a circus). If you want to go surf it go for it but just don't push people on the fence into the line-up.

P.S. I like Stoke Report and read the site regularly but as for people jumping all over Pete for possessing a different point of view group think is never a good idea.

If someone is trying to control the flow of information about a "secret spot", maybe I could get with it, but ######?? Could a break be any more public?

I've know a couple that lives over there - maybe I can talk them into putting a webcam on it and piping it to surfline. :)

This is about to turn into a discussion about Avatar, I can just feel it.

And I'm just gonna edit to say: thanks for explaining yourself, Pete, and thanks for injecting some sanity into this discussion, Crypto.

Food for thought. Sometimes I forget I'm not the entire Internet™