| The East Coast has its own variety of surfing | | | | discovering the fun of body surfing, this very |
| conditions. The best surf usually comes in September | | | | important piece of information may not be obvious. |
| and October. These months causes the most sick | | | | I have witnessed two tragedies that have shaped |
| days among the working surf population. Aside from | | | | my view on body surfing. While guarding on the |
| any storm warning conditions or if you don't belong | | | | Jersey shore, a 16 year old kid was body surfing in 6 |
| to the early morning surf crowd, the easiest rides to | | | | foot surf. The waves shifted from breaking 15, 20 |
| find are usually with body surfing. | | | | feet out to closer to shore. Not really aware of the |
| Decent body surfing can be done with as little as 1 to | | | | rules of the waves, this kid catches a powerful wave |
| 2 foot waves. This tame surf many not be worth | | | | going straight to the shoreline and breaks his neck. |
| the trouble getting out the boards, but nice 10, 20 | | | | He died that day. This was hard for me to accept. |
| foot rides are easy to find. However, a common | | | | Being 16 and stupid is natural and something every |
| condition for east cost surf is for the waves to | | | | kid goes through. Not getting a chance to be 17 and |
| break right at the shore line. These waves are called | | | | stupid was just not fair. Latter in life I knew a man |
| shore breakers. The only game in town when the | | | | who while vacationing at the beach with his family. He |
| surf consists of shore breakers, is pebble. | | | | broke his neck while body surfing in shallow water |
| Pebble is when you ride the shore breakers onto the | | | | with 4 foot waves. My friend survived, but his life |
| beach. This experience is very much like getting | | | | and his families' life was changed forever. |
| stuck in a washing machine during the spin cycle. | | | | There was no reason for these tragedies to happen. |
| After you catch the ride, there is no need to get up. | | | | Safely body surfing in big surf does not need to be a |
| Just keep on your stomach and ride the wave back | | | | life threatening ordeal. A simple change to the angle |
| to the ocean and wait for the next shore-breaker to | | | | of the body while catching the wave would of |
| come your way. The reason this is called pebble will | | | | averting both of these terrible incidents. |
| be obvious to you in your shower after a session of | | | | If you reading this article, the chances are pretty |
| playing pebble. | | | | good that you don't need this piece of advice. The |
| The correct body position while playing pebble is as | | | | people who need to be told do not have clue and |
| close to parallel with the beach. When body surfing, | | | | probably don't read articles in the surfing section. The |
| you should be catching the wave with the breaking | | | | only way this simple knowledge to get to the people |
| crest. Lets say this is makes a 45 to 60% angle with | | | | who need it is if you teach them. Next time you are |
| your body and the beach. Positioning your body at | | | | at the beach and see someone body surfing going |
| these angles are intuitive and common sense to | | | | straight to the beach, please teach them the right |
| someone who has grown up surfing or body surfing. | | | | way to catch a wave. You will have no idea if you |
| When a surfer catches a wave with the board | | | | have averted a tragedy, but you can do the right |
| pointing directly at the beach, the board will pearl and | | | | thing and maybe make a friend in the process. |
| your ride is over before it starts. However for | | | | As always. Keep it safe, keep it fun. |
| someone vacationing at the beach who is just | | | | |