Tag: california

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Post Bonk Outing

Soft top at Linda Mar

Surf: 2-4 ft. Mushy and Disorganized.

I managed to fit in an early morning outing before some big meetings in the city. I didn’t want to wait too long after getting konked to get back in the water. My board was in the shop so I got a soft top for the day. A soft top is a pretty good board for getting back into the swing of things. I had a nice soft board, nice soft waves, and a good morning to practice not being scared.

The soft top was pretty slow, but I did manage to get in one clean ride, a few mushy rides, and a really fun boogie board ride into the shore. I had to cut things short to jet to my meeting, but all and all a nice morning out.

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>BONK<

Battle Damage

Surf: 2-3 ft.+ knee to chest high and poor-fair conditions.

PM REGIONAL OVERVIEW: Semi-clean surf prevails this afternoon as our mix of NW wind/groundswell and SW swell continues. Better breaks have knee-waist high+ surf, with set to chest/shoulder high for standouts. There are a few workable corners and sections to be had if you have the time.

This morning’s dawn patrol: Foggy…expect clean semi-peaky lines with some workable corners.

Oww.

I dinged up my board pretty good today. I wiped out on a wave in such a way that the board pearled, was pulled under, then shot out the back of the wave before coming down rails first on my head. It hurt pretty good and it took a chunk out of my rails, but my head is fine. I was able to make it to shore okay and with a little ice I was right in no time.

I did get once nice little ride out of the day before hurting myself.
There was an awesome moment when I was paddling out over a wave and as the face started to steepen I could see hundreds of blue and green fish lit up in the sunlight. Totally beautiful.

Can’t wait to get back out (but hoping for fewer bumps and bruises).

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Half Moon Bay

photo(4)

Surf: Waves were about 1-3ft, inconsistent, breaking pretty steeply, little wind so the conditions seemed pretty clean.

Finally got out to try a different break. Surfergrrrl took me out at Kelly Ave in Half Moon Bay. Everything that could go wrong getting out there did so I wound up a good 30-45 min late. When I got there Surfergrrrl had the beach all to herself with some pelicans and sea lions for company.

I’m definitely not completely over this cough and cold thing, I was huffing and puffing trying to catch anything. I pearled on most waves and a couple I just couldn’t paddle fast enough without wheezing. I did get one ride, so I’m happy. Nothing especially clean and pretty much straight in to shore, but after a week locked up in an office and another week laid up in bed I was super happy to be in the water!

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Watching from the Beach

Ride

Surf: 3-5 ft. waist to head high and fair-good conditions.

PM REGIONAL OVERVIEW: Mix of old Southern Hemi swell and new/building NW swell on offer this afternoon. Better breaks have waist-chest-shoulder high+ surf, while top exposures are pulling in head head high+ sets at times. Conditions are still clean, with most spots seeing scattered peaks, with lined-up, workable walls. Surf if you can.

I’m currently living in the Inner Sunset. Ocean Beach is a quick MUNI ride away. I headed over that way, snapped a few pics and watched the surfers.

The surf looked rougher than I like, but people seemed to be having fun. A few dolphins were catching waves, what a trip to watch. I think one snaked a dude’s wave tho. Who has the right away? Surfer near the peak, or dolphin anywhere anytime? Hmm…

Check out the rest of the photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tracey_t/3866424640/

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Surfing away the sniffles.

photo

SURF:
2-3 ft.+ knee to chest high and fair conditions. This morning’s dawn patrol: Glassy, mostly walled up lines, with a few workable corners through the inside.

I’ve been laid up in bed sick most of the week, the rest of the week I’ve been battling potential clients for contracts and “Sure thing” gigs that have fallen through.

Today the sun was out and, uncooperative lungs or not, I was going out.

Most of the waves were closed out, it was kinda crowded, but man, the sun was out and got some fresh air to heal my sad little lungs. Didn’t catch a single wave all day. I was huffing and puffing with every paddle and pearled the few waves I did catch. Ah well, at least I’m feeling better!

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Back on the West Coast

5013_97533_063523

SURF:
1-3 ft ankle to waist high and poor-fair conditions.

This morning’s dawn patrol: Clean, peaky lines with a few mushy, but workable little corners through the inside. Occasional little plus peaks.

Back on the West coast after 2 weeks back home. Waves at Pacifica were okay, got in a few nice long fun rides and did a lot of paddling. I’m totally exhausted, not sure how that happened but it’s good to be back.

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Back in Pacifica

Jamie

Conditions: 1-3ft. Glassy, peaky lines with soft/mushy corners looking semi-workable to the beach.

The mellow little waves followed me home!

Sure it looked pretty flat out there, but I got in some nice long rides on little waves. Jamie and I found a nice spot that, with a LOT of patience, set us up for a few 2-3 ft waves with both lefts and rights. High tide and an unwillingness to let go of the wave meant most of the rides ended abruptly at the beach. Jamie got a few rolling dismounts into the sand. I didn’t get anything that graceful.

El Niño has been forcing Anchovies and Sea Lions up north making the bay area waters extremely active. We had dive bombing pelicans and probably about a dozen or so sea lions around us. It’s a little spooky! Unfriendly fin sightings have been up in Ocean Beach and with Shark Week on the Discovery Channel, everyone’s a bit jumpy.

I snapped this pic of a sea lion near my board:

MRAAAaaaaah

Not very friendly looking…

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Good rides!

Great Day!

SURF: 1-3 ft ankle to waist high and poor+ conditions.

This morning’s dawn patrol: Weak, scattered peaks, with soft, semi-workable little corners on offer.

Wow. Today was a small, clean little day. It looked pretty unassuming from the beach, but man did I have fun. The waves were pretty easy to catch and gave some long mellow rides.

I caught two good waves for my first clean rides on the new board. I got a nice long right and another wave that gave me a few good turns including a left turn. That’s actually the first time I’ve ever turned left. I also made a few clean exits from the wave instead of just falling. Marked improvement is a big win for the confidence.

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More practice

Pacifica

SURF:
2-3 ft.+ knee to chest high and fair conditions.

This morning’s dawn patrol: Glassy, with peaky lines rolling through. Corners are a little soft, but workable

Right back out there for another day in the surf. I got some sloppy rides in, but I am starting to catch more waves with the new board. That’s definitely an improvement. 😀

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Sea lions!

Dawn Patrol at Pacifica

SURF:
2-3 ft.+ knee to chest high with occasional 4 ft. and fair conditions.

This morning’s dawn patrol: Mostly walled up lines with inside shoulders that are open and workable, but a little soft and crumbly. Clean conditions.

Headed out early for another dawn patrol. Short swell period made a tough paddle out. Weather was beautiful. I got spooked pretty good by a tricky sea lion who decided to catch the same wave I did.

Nothing like seeing a 4ft long black shadow coming at you in a wave :p
I wussed out and sat on the beach for a good 20 minutes trying to get the nerve back up to charge out in the waves. Still didn’t really get any rides, but a nice day to be out.