Ride time and the new GPS watches

Miki Dora once said - "Life is a waste of time and surfing is as good a way to waste it as any"



For the New New Scotty there is a graphic at the start of the thread.

From our friends at Swellnet

Surfers: The 2%ers

http://www.swellnet.com/news/surfpolitik/2014/11/24/surfers-2ers







Last week I was shown an infographic of an average surf session. In it, each aspect of surfing - paddling for waves, sitting and waiting, standing on the board - was divvied up into a percentage of the whole session. Standing on a surfboard, the infographic said, comprised just 2% of the whole surf session experience.I didn't think much of it at the time, it was Friday afternoon, my mind was moving on to other matters. Yet that statistic took hold over the weekend slowly burning its way out of my subconscious. The process was slow but by Sunday night it had consumed my thoughts. I couldn't think of anything else: Just 2% of surfing involves actual surfing!But not only that, we spend 24 times more time paddling (47%) and 25 times more time just sitting doing nothing (53%).If you were to invite an economic rationalist into your life - or perhaps you already subscribe to the theory - this infographic would be their first port of call.

"It makes no sense," our imaginary economist would say while making a sweeping motion with his arm. "You spend all this money, waste all this time, invest all this energy, and yet this is all you get back? A mere 2%?"And yeah, when you think about the number it's a bit of a shock, so you slowly nod in agreement with your imaginary economist, suddenly affronted by your wasteful ways. You think about the thousands of dollars spent on surfboards over the last twenty years, the thousands spent on petrol while chasing waves, and *gulp* the thousands spent on travel seeking better waves.Cursory mathematics puts the sum somewhere near $50,000, but probably higher. $100,000. And for what? A sum total of three hours actually riding a wave, little of which can actually be recalled such is the fleeting nature of the experience."Madness," you say aloud, and the imaginary economist solemnly nods his head. Maybe, you think to yourself, it's time to slash and burn this surfing gig.

Take up a sport like football where the siren sounds and it's game on. Never mind what Wayne Lynch reckons, that's the real involvement dream.Or maybe wait for Greg Webber's wavepool to become reality. In an interview with Swellnet three years ago he argued the merits of his pool. "No waiting and no competing for waves" Webber said. Each wave would go for 30 seconds "and in one hour you'll get 12 of them." Six minutes of foot time every hour! That's 500% more than we're currently getting. I smile inwardly to myself, the imaginary economist smiles back. That's the kind of robust return he likes.I start wondering if it's possible to do the same in a natural setting, spend more time actually surfing and less time doing other things. I'll have to take a hit on quality, no more waiting for the best sets, and there'll be the odd drop in or two, but the foot time percentages will certainly increase. I smile at the thought.And there's always room for improvement.

On dry land I can invest less of myself into surfing and so improve the dividends. I can streamline my life and take reign over my thoughts. No more daydreaming about surfing. No more time wasted. The imaginary economist gives me hope and a mantra to repeat. "It's all about the numbers," he says.Confident that I'm on the right track my economist leaves me to my own devices.Alone again, I click online to see what's happening. First stop Swellnet to see what the waves will be like later this week, then check for airline specials to Samoa, I've heard about a wave on the north side that pumps, and I'll probably need some new boards from Pato. Might call in to the factory and talk some ****. Pull a half inch of width out of the nose of my next board and jam a quarter inch of tail lift in too."It's all about the numbers..."

Geez Ted..thanks for that info ..I always knew it but when you see it in Black n White...Fark....I think I'll just put all my surf stuff on Ebay and play golf..






BTW..How come I'm allowed to print Fark...but not S**te ?..BB auto cue..

hmmm, just take away the all round fun and be done with it.



I would recommend not getting one.


I was dw ing with gps.



there you are having a good time then when you finish the times lousy .all of a sudden it wasn't as much fun.



do we really need to delving into a surf session like this.

is it going to help you surf-no.


just a surf brand that has figured out how to get surfers to buy gizmos that are all ready out there


geez you would do better working on your surfing technique

I picked up the new Ripcord gps watch in Hawaii not for the gps but the font is huge and I can read the time
oh it was cheaper than you would buy here

Couple of staff at work have those step tracking arm bands about 109 bucks,one said to me about 3 hours into his shift hey I've walked 984 steps already this morning.
My reply was, great what else have you achieved

Hey Roy - have you seen Laird Hamilton's Surrator board prototype as yet brother ???? similar to your BLEF fin in regard to the serrated edge design




Apols Devilman for hijack here big time

Maybe our sport should be called "Paddling" instead

I like the idea of the tide set up and not having to actually program the thing.. Just turn it on and let the GPS update its location. But i still can't justify the $500..

Surf stitch recently advertised the White one for $299 and they sold out in minutes. I was too slow..

I don't mind my time sitting out the back waiting for a wave ,Ive witnessed some spectacular sights such as a huge tuna jumping from the water sillouhetted by a rising sun,turtles appearing for some air,dolphins surfing swells and even a 6ft hammerhead cruise straight under me feeding along the bottom,its all part of the experience of what surfing is about and what makes it so awesome.Those watches are the last thing I need for my surfing,couldn't care less how far Ive paddled ,how many waves Ive caught or how long i sat out the back for,if i get one or two waves in a sesh that gets my stoke meter up its a good surf, even if its just ripping a decent turn or scoring a quick barrel Im stoked.techno free thats me
Also agree with prawn head ,its also why I kite surf when the winds up and the surfs marginal.

i hear you kiters loud and clear - I was just surprised that it took Sean so long to get involved Like Ricardo I love the sights as well - but do tend to get annoyed when long lulls are frequent. If you have ever been on a surf trip to the Pacific Islands you will know the feeling of waiting

Geez mate that looks like that farken schitzo Darth , WA71 , Genuine Crap , Doggie , Barbs troll

100% of my time surfing is spent, well surfing.

Its not just about that 2%. In fact some of my most memorable surfing memories haven't been about the 2% on the wave, but the remaining 98% of time in the water and the other 100% getting to that point in time.

Case point: I remember one trip driving down a once remote bush tracks before dawn and arriving at the break to fine I had the ocean to myself. The water was dark, murky and had a smell to it, just letting you know that today it was alive with all forms of sea creatures. The Autumn fog was so thick I could just see end of the waves peeling off as they finally broke on the rocky shoreline, beyond that there was nothing to see but a wall of grey mist.

I remember stewing for a good bit about the benefits of going out by myself into something I couldn't see, on a remote and rocky coastline (no phone reception back then), and I remember how I knew i would regret it if I didn't paddle out.

I remember pushing past the shore line and finally seeing this perfect wave peeling left and right, and still not being able to see beyond it.

I remember floating alone out in an ocean that I could not see in any direction, a shore line that I could no longer see, peering down into water that was almost black and having to guess the take off point (no visual reference available.... and no GPS).

Sure I remember the waves I caught alone for 2 hours until I heard another car rock up, epic But the feeling of riding those waves only takes up a moment of the whole memory of that early morning session.

I didn't start, or get back into surfing just for the thrill of the 2%

Im not going to dwell on the efficiency of my surfing ...... and Im sure as hell not going to purchase a GPS watch to help me re-live the moments.