[EastEndWahine]

Today I surfed Trestles for the first time.  That wave is insane, so perfect and rampy.  However, everyone knows it's crowded.  It's tough to get a wave there when there's a pack of pros and semipros.

Anyone have any tips on how to surf a crowded peak?  I think you rock guys and gals are used to this since you have a more defined takeoff zone.  I'm used to surfing beachbreaks with scattered peaks, so I don't usually surf such a small takeoff zone.

I mean, I don't know if there's anything worth saying other than "get in the fray and fight" but maybe someone has some tips.  I got a few waves today thanks to some peaks that swung wide, and that's usually my strategy...sit on the side and wait for the stray peak that swings my way.  But it would be nice to get some more waves on the main peak.  Not that I'm planning on dominating Trestles anytime soon, but I had the same problems at Rincon.

[ankleslapper]

Unless you heard the Benny Hill theme music playing in your head as you paddled into those waves, I don't think anything from rock applies.  You lost me at pros & semipros but glad you got a few!

[snaggletooth]

i love trestles, too, but i won't surf in a crowd. i'd rather go to uppers and have my own peak. at rincon, i will grab a few at the top by just sitting deeper - people are surprisingly nice about giving you priority there and don't seem to drop in - but only do it for a few waves, then wander in towards the rivermouth and wait for people to fall or the wave to section (beware if dane reynolds is there cause he can float a section longer than any mere mortal....that almost ended in disaster for me one time...).
 
sorry, not much of a tip, but i just don't have it in me to be in that pack for very long. so, i guess my advice is, go in for the strategic kill - get a few good ones, then go to your own peak for a while, rather than fight for position for a long period of time. that works for me on good days in LB - hit a jetty that's working, take a few good ones, go to the middle peak and enjoy the peace for a while, then maybe another surprise attack back at the jetty again. otherwise, it's too mentally fatiguing to deal with a ton of people for me.

[Looseness]

i love trestles, too, but i won't surf in a crowd. i'd rather go to uppers and have my own peak. at rincon, i will grab a few at the top by just sitting deeper - people are surprisingly nice about giving you priority there and don't seem to drop in - but only do it for a few waves, then wander in towards the rivermouth and wait for people to fall or the wave to section (beware if dane reynolds is there cause he can float a section longer than any mere mortal....that almost ended in disaster for me one time...).
 
sorry, not much of a tip, but i just don't have it in me to be in that pack for very long. so, i guess my advice is, go in for the strategic kill - get a few good ones, then go to your own peak for a while, rather than fight for position for a long period of time. that works for me on good days in LB - hit a jetty that's working, take a few good ones, go to the middle peak and enjoy the peace for a while, then maybe another surprise attack back at the jetty again. otherwise, it's too mentally fatiguing to deal with a ton of people for me.

I think Snaggle's strategy is pretty good.

[little_nasty]

As you prob know, I was living out there for a bit and got to hit trestles a bunch of times.  Personally, I never found that lineup difficult at all.  Sometimes a bit crowded (surprisingly more issues with newbies than pros), but respectful and no hassle.  Usually the biggest obstacle I had to getting waves there was my own kookiness.

I also like snaggles strategy.  Whether it’s trestles or any other crowded break, I usually stake out a spot that isn’t necessarily right in the main takeoff spot (or I surf there on days when the crowd is expected to be light/elsewhere).  And then I just wait for good ones to come my way.  At trestles sometimes I sit real deep or sometimes kinda far out or sometimes head up the beach a bit – personally I like uppers better anyway.  Folks there generally respect when you’re in the best position (rather than dickhead NY’ers that will paddle battle down the line), and I am always courteous and let people know right away whether I’m going or not.  And if I am going, I effing go.  If not, I let them know so it doesn’t go wasted.

I think a little wave knowledge goes a long way.  Out in HI, my brother and I used to have a couple waves pretty wired.  I mean we had lineups (triangulation kind) down to the nearest meter depending on size, tide, and wind.  I always knew when the lineup (people kind) had drifted too far out, in, left, right, etc.  We could also game the visitors (or crabs as we called them).  But that’s team tactics which is probably beyond the scope of what we’re talking about here.  I guess the point here is that nothing beats water time at a particular spot.

And generally I’ve found that CA surfers are a little lazy – no offense, it’s cool and laid-back.  But a wave-starved new yorker sometimes tries a little harder.  Things that I’ve noticed CA surfers dislike: current, dump&thumpers, long walks (no pave for skaters/bikers), stormy crossed-up peaks that haven’t organized yet.  I surfed a bunch of headline breaks by my complete lone self because of the previous factors.

Lastly, I’ll say that while I really don’t like any hassles whatsoever, every now and then you just gotta assert and/or stick up for yourself.  Most of the time with me it’s just out of principle, but I can also be a spiteful vindictive little bitch too.

[EastEndWahine]

Hey everyone thanks for the input   Good ideas here.

I did catch a couple of nice waves, and it was using the strategy you guys are talking about.  I basically sat to the side and waited for the wide ones.  Got two great roping righthanders that way.  I found it easier to do this on that side of the lineup rather than waiting for the lefts.  Also a weird current if you get stuck inside...it's like it sucks you back towards the beach and you can't paddle anywhere.

It's just hard because if you want more than a handful of waves in a 3 hour session you really need to get in there.  But I think like LN said it's also about wave knowledge and spot knowledge, and that's the first time I've ever surfed there.

Even though I said I wasn't going back there until school's back in session I might just have to.  Maybe I'll try uppers or churches or something.  I just jumped right into lowers because I wanted to surf that spot.  Definitely gonna go back and try it again.