How to Enjoy Surfing Crowded Spots

Crowded lineups are part of modern surfing. Drive up to an easy-access break on a sunny day and you’ll see it: boards everywhere, people sitting shoulder to shoulder, and sets split ten ways. Most of the time, it’s frustrating. You picture yourself surfing alone down the line, but instead you’re dodging people left and right and waiting forever for your turn.

I used to let it ruin my sessions. Then I started shifting my mindset, and I realized crowded surf can still be fun if you approach it differently.

Celebrate Other People’s Waves

When you celebrate other people’s rides, even if they’re strangers, the lineup feels lighter. You make connections, share laughs, and sometimes even end up sharing waves. The energy you bring out there has a way of coming back to you.

Bring Friends

If you are going to a surf spot that’s already super crowded, why not bring even more people? Besides if it’s a small AND crowded day then I would rather enjoy it with friends and talk about our next surf trip to a less crowded spot with more waves.

Be Patient and Selective

Crowds mean you won’t catch every wave you paddle for. In fact, at some breaks you might have to wait 30–40 minutes for one clean wave. The trick is to accept it instead of fighting it. On a trip to Bali, I learned this the hard way. I tried to chase every wave that rolled through and kept getting exhausted from mediocre waves with people dropping in. When I finally chilled out and got more selective with my waves, I caught one that ran all the way down to the shore. That single ride made my whole session.

Stay Aware

Packed lineups can be very unpredictable. I’ve seen people ditch boards, advanced surfers snake people, and set waves break right on top of clueless beginners. The only way to handle it is to expect chaos, stay alert, and look around you constantly. Situational awareness not only keeps you safe, it also gives you a chance to catch waves when others aren’t paying attention.

Final Thought

Surfing crowded breaks can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to ruin your session. If you shift your mindset, cheer for others, surf with friends, wait patiently, and stay aware you’ll leave the water feeling stoked. Crowds aren’t going away, but our attitude can turn them from a headache into part of the fun :)

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