I got over the fact that winter is over and so are winter swells. So I was quite happy to see some 2ft + sets rolling in on the weekend. Actually, Friday, we even had a few 3ft when there was some NE wind swell. In Tamarama anyway. Bondi missed it but apparently had the bigger wave Saturday.
I have to admit for the first time, I have not even looked at Bondi, well I’ve looked at it on the cam and all I could see was close-outs and crowds on the mid morning low tide. Which was kind of a good thing because it made me make friends with Tamarama. Yes, even with the rocks. Tamarama is better on low tide and generally not as crowded as I discovered.
I’ve surfed Tamarama three times in a row which also made me heaps more comfortable with it. All of a sudden it did not seem so small any more either. I always thought I would get claustrophobic in the tiny bay but it’s actually quite spacious especially if it’s breaking further out. I was very proud of my rock jumping achievement. I’ve jumped off the rocks to get in without stacking it. Mind you, it was only about 2ft, not sure how I’ll be going with the rock jumping actions once there is some actual swell. Oh well. I guess I can cross that bridge…aeh jump that rock…when we have swell again.
I was also quite pleased to figure out that the rocks are quite soft. People told me before that they were but the concept of ‘rock = soft’ is hard to comprehend unless you see for yourself. And whilst I managed not to stack it getting into the surf in first place, I miscalculated the length of my rides a few times and came off the board over the rocks and to my delight my fall was cushioned by some soft rocks covered in seaweed.
So it seems slowly but surely I get to accept that Tamarama is my new local. I do miss some of the peeps from the Bondi crew though. Not so much the massive crowd but after 8 years of surfing Bondi most days, I know most of the regular crew there and it’s always nice to have a good chat. I thought it would be the same crew but no given it’s around the corner. Ok, I’ve bumped into the odd Bondi regular who tried to escape the weekend crowd and/or tried to make the most out of the NE swell on Friday but still mostly new faces. I guess more making friends work to be done in the line-up after all.
The week ahead is looking like more of the same. Small clean conditions for some fun little waves to be had if you have the right gear. i.e. fish, mal, etc.. Oh and next time you’ll hopefully read the Weekend Wave Wrap on the new Venus Goes Gidget page…workin on it…workin on it…
Have a great week gidgets and friends of gidgets.
x Clauds
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