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learn to Surf e-Book online
| THE BREAK ZONE and NEGOTIATING YOUR WAY OUT. | |
| Understanding the break zone. | |
| The break zone is the gateway to the deeper, calmer water where surfers can sit, relax and wait for a nice unbroken (green) wave to come their way. It is also an area that tests the skills of every surfer who wishes to paddle through it. |  |
| It is the zone where the waves peaks, breaks and releases its power. It can be an unforgiving area that requires special skills, board control and confidence to negotiate a way through. | |
| You should only start to progress through the break zone when you are comfortable with your surfboard control, your paddling technique and you understand the surfing conditions. | |
| First of all study the conditions, things you should be noticing are:- | |
| - Are the waves breaking close to shore (shore break)
or further out (back break), or both. - Are the waves dumping hard or spilling and rolling through. - Will you be in shallow or deep water. - Is there a rip that could assist you, or, may be hazardous to you. |
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| The oceans conditions can change on an hourly basis, the more time you spend studying your local surf break and other surfers will give you a better understanding and more confidence as you start to paddle out. | |
| Secondly, your timing when you start to paddle out. Waves come through in what is called "sets", on average at most surf breaks a "set" will contain between 3 to 6 waves, after the "set" passes the waves decrease and the ocean goes into a "Lull". During the "lull" is when you want to be paddling through the break zone. | |
| At some surf breaks the break zone may only be a short 10 metre sprint, and at other breaks it may be a gruelling 50 metre paddle. As a beginner you should only start to paddle out when the surf is small and not very powerful. | |
| City of Encinitas License #17029 |
City of Oceanside License #103444 |