Well, most surfers will answer that age old question with: “If there’s any other surfer out, other than my mates and I.” A more reasonable, realistic answer would likely be, “More than three surfers apart from my mates and I.”
We live in a crowded world, folks. Just tune into any nature series, and you’ll see a montage of crowded human cities, teeming with traffic-laden highways, thousands of pedestrians, industrial chimneys spewing toxic chemicals into the air – you know, that old chestnut. These anxiety-inducing images are there to highlight the human footprint on earth, and it’s worth pointing out for this article. Trident won’t be drawn into any debate on human impact on climate. However, we still figure most people don’t enjoy sucking on their car’s exhaust pipe. Nor do they enjoy tanning by inserting themselves in ovens. So let’s just go easy on the petrochemicals, what do ya say, ‘ey? Surely nobody on earth looks at a smelly factory and schemes, “stuff beautiful mountain vistas and snow white beaches with turquoise waves, smoky chimneys is whut’s real purty!”
Too may humans.
Anyway, all that stuff is the net result of lots of humans. Too many humans, some may say. And certainly when it comes to surfers – most will say the same: there are too many humans out at any given surf spot. Some may even give up altogether, get back in their car, cry and head off home. Other surfers will simply try to find less crowded spots. The more extreme amongst us may toss a few stun grenades in the water to disperse the crowd. (Ed’s note: That doesn’t really work. Sadly)
Anyhow folks, Trident’s point is clear. Whether you loathe them, despise them or hate them. – crowds are an inevitable part of surfing a decent, let alone a world class wave.
Now, we all have our limits. For this author, several dozen is manageable, but fifty is kinda the limit. For others, a crowd may be closer to a hundred, or less than ten. For other surfers, anyone out at all is unacceptable. Extreme.
How to measure a crowd?
However, let’s not focus on how some surfers can barely manage their own company, let alone a few others. ‘Coz Trident has come up with certain ways of measuring crowds. And subsequently, the likelihood of you scoring waves within said crowded spots.
First off – the crowd itself. Granted, have you seen those recent clips of Mundaka? And the clips of those hordes of beginners on foamies? Crowds liek those would make most surfers question the point of it all. So, yup – let’s not be too over the top when describing crowds. Yes, epic Pipeline and Snapper are gonna attract crowds in their hundreds. So too will average Muizenberg. As will Uluwatu and similar such surf tourist destinations. So, for example, when faced with 80 odd okes out at your first stop in Bali, do you immediately think: “Absolutely the hell not!” and hop on the first plane back to Joburg without even paddling out? Exactly.
So, with radical crowds, set your limits low. In mad crowds, simply lower your expected wave quantity. Whatever you’d normally aim for, just lower it. At a new spot where you ain’t King Local, try to aim for at least one decent wave. Not so hard is it?
