House of the Rising Wind

Wind chimes woke me last night; never a good sign. So, here in Del Mar the surf is about the same as yesterday (1-3 ft) but the west wind is already blowing. Making for very bumpy, lumpy surface and surf conditions.

Nobody out, parking lot is deserted but at least the sun is out and there was one surf day this week (if you blinked yesterday you missed it). All in all, this is pretty dismal. I'm heading to the gym.

Have a good one.

Aloha
Gary



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Location:Coast Blvd,Del Mar,United States

Wind II

There isn't any! Hooray! Awesome! Most excellent!

No waves either. 1-2 feet with the occasional 3 footer on the sets. 10 guys out. Tempted to go out just to get wet. Yeah, that's it; get wet and get some exercise at the same time.

Have a good one.

Aloha
Gary


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Location:Coast Blvd,Del Mar,United States

Wind!

Don't know how much more of this I can take. West wind is already on it. Slow, crumbly waist high rollers. 10 guys out chase down those elusive here and there corners. This sucks. Tomorrow?




Just got these two books. For those of you who remember Ron Stoner's work from the mid to late 60's, this is an essential book for your library. It also adds some stories about his vanishing act and subsequently being declared dead. Is he or isn't he?

The Ben Marcus book is filled with great factoids and photos of


surfcraft over the years and does a great job of describing the evolution of our tribal culture. Another title for serious anthropolgy students.

Have a good one

Aloha
Gary


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Location:Coast Blvd,Del Mar,United States

Lumpy, junky slop. Looks like mainly left over wind swell about knee to waist high. Nothing to it. Not much wind to speak of; gray and cloudy to the north and east, partly sunny to the south. 3 guys out.

This is simply dismal but the good news is that the wind is going to pick up again this week. A repeat of the latter part of last week? Oh nooooooooooooooo..........! I feel a mildly depressive episode coming on.

Have a good one.

Aloha
Gary



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100th Post!

I noticed that this morning's post to the CSSR was #99 so I started thinking about what I was going to do for the 100th.  I was thinking that the wave quality at Del Mar has really deteriorated in the past year (don't exactly know why but I'm sure you all will let me know your opinion) so I wasn't going to find what I was looking for there anytime soon.

As I drove away from 15th street I kept having images of Blacks flash through my mind.  Conditions (sunny, good tide, North East winds and some swell left) seemed about right but did I want to make the hike down the road to find out; cause it's an even longer hike back up (at least it seems so)!  I finally convinced myself that even if it wasn't 100th post good there, the scenery and views would be worth it.

I met up with several folks on their way back up the road as I was meandering down it.  They all said it was seriously fun with some great offshores hollowing it out some.  Got down to the beach at around 7:45 and by 9 the winds had turned onshore but there were some great waves and rides for that short period of time.  I managed to burn through about 250 frames and these are the best of them.

Thanks to all for your support of CSSR and I hope you enjoy these photos of Black's on my 100th post.

Aloha
Gary

It Figures

That after a cold, gloomy and windy weekend, Monday would be nice.

Waist to shoulder wind swell waves; disorganized with poor to poor+ shape. Light NE wind with fairly clean surface conditions. One guy out at 15th and about 5-6 at 18th. Shaping up to be a nice day even if temps are a little cooler than normal.

Have a good one.

Aloha
Gary


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Location:Coast Blvd,Del Mar,United States

Epic Conditions at Del Mar this Morning.

This video shows what you all missed this morning at Del Mar. That'll teach you to sleep in when epic conditions like this are to be had!

Have a good one.

Aloha
Gary

Lots of Water Moving Around

Shoulder to head high short period (stacked back to front and vice versa) NW windswell. Strong southerly winds already hacking it to bits. However, there are about 10 hardy souls out that are not to be discouraged by the conditions.

There are some corners and shoulders here and there and that's what they're after.

Bigger (south swell too) with even more wind forcast for tomorrow.


Have a good one.

Aloha
Gary


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Location:Coast Blvd,Del Mar,United States

Las Flores Surf Club

15th Street regular Marc Geiserman just returned from what looks and sounds like an incredible El Salvador surf trip.  Organized by an outfit known as WaveHunters, he was in El Cuco where he stayed at the Las Flores Surf Club.  With El Salvador's only coastline on the Pacific, it's interesting that El Cuco is in what is known as the "east side" of the country.  That has more to do with the geopolitical divisions in the country.

While there, Marc and his buddies surfed Las Flores in front of the surf club and a boat accessible break known as Punta Mango, which they renamed Punta Pummel for the damage it inflicted on their bodies.  

Here are some photos of Marc on it at Las Flores.

In Marc's words:

We spent 7 nights, ate mostly at the resort, yet when we went into town we sat at the Market on the beach on the sand, high tide nipping our toes, and drank way too much Pilsner Beer, and ate delicious fried shrimp, with “Pupusas” (tortillas stuffed with cheese, and pureed beans). Pupusas are the National dish of El Salvador…

We made the mistake of going to the big city of San Miguel one evening…Its about a 45 minute “rapido” white knuckle drive from the resort.  Stopped in a bar, some locals were looking for a brawl, Cops showed up…Lined us all up with hands behind our heads, patted us down, all under the guise that “it’s for your security”, and left without further consequence.  The local boys continued to provide stink eye.  We cleared the town as fast as we came.

Don’t get the Double Cadillac Margarita (DCM) at the resort...which quickly became the drink of choice. To our surprise, and full wallet depletion; we had had a full 7 day week of pounding them (DCM’s) and buying round after round for our pals…the settlement bill comes to each of us on departure day…Yep…$20.00 Bucks… each!!! 


Marc has another story about cows, some self destructive urges and cooler heads prevailing.  Ask him about it next time you see him.

Marc has promised more photos are coming and if he sends them to me I'll put them up as well.  


Have a good one.


Aloha
Gary

Surf Day

Glassy, 2-3 ft, maybe bigger on the sets. 10 guys out pretty much right on the reef. Set just came through that looked to be shoulder high but not too shapely; it'll do.

Talked briefly with Marc in the parking lot about his recent trip to El Salvador. Said it started out slow but by the end of the trip it was double overhead. Put a giant hole in his brand new board too.

Have a good one.

Aloha
Gary




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Location:Coast Blvd,Del Mar,United States

Afternoon in the Morning

Conditions at 7 am are what you would expect at 2 in the afternoon. Strong, steady westerly winds, crumbly blown out sea surface; plus there is no swell to speak of.

Ankle to knee high, no one out. Swell is supposed to pick up later in the week but so is the wind. Oh well, it is what it is.

Have a good one.

Aloha



Gary


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Location:Coast Blvd,Del Mar,United States

Flat

Semi-glassy conditions, slight surface bump, neg tide and no waves in sight.

A great day for ocean kayaking, paddleboarding, SUPing, and/or diving. Looks like the sun is trying to break through; that would be great!




Another photo from the Saturday Woodie gathering.

Have a good one.

Aloha
Gary

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Location:Coast Blvd,Del Mar,United States

Eddie Are You Kidding

Full on coastal eddie, minus tide, minimal swell, south wind; perfecto! More of this past weekends' stellar conditions, just with less swell.

Waist high close outs and 3 guys out. Speaking of crowds, could you believe the crowd at Terra Mar on Saturday? 50-75 people scrapping about for 4 foot close out set waves. I hope that is not an indication of a summer time log jam there.




One cool thing this weekend was discovering a parking lot full of vintage woodies Saturday morning.

Anyway, a typical May day here in San Diego. I've got some painting to do. Have a good one.

Aloha
Gary


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Location:Coast Blvd,Del Mar,United States

Party Wave!

Super glassy this morning. Way low tide and fairly crowded. Stopped counting at 30. Wind is starting to turn onshore a bit but it's not too bad yet.

Some of the dawn patrol crew is starting to exit so the count should be tolerable in short order. Cloud cover is starting to break up, should be a most excellent Friday here.

Have a good one.

Aloha
Gary


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Not that Great

2-3 feet; poor to fair shape. Lumpy surface conditions, no wind and no focus to the swell. Crumbly rollers breaking to north and south of reef but, strangely, not on the reef.

About 15 guys out. Sun is just beginning to break through and it is warming up. A shoulder high set just came in with zero shape or form. Luke and Kurt are out; maybe they can tell us why. I'm going to hit the gym.

Have a good one.

Aloha
Gary




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Location:Coast Blvd,Del Mar,United States

A Few Shots from This Morning at 15th St.

Shortboarders got all the waves this morning; it was all a short period wind swell.

So you're saying, "wow, it was overhead, Gary didn't mention that".  This kid is only about 3 1/2 feet tall and he is crouching.

On the inside sandbar in front of the lawn.  At the end of this ride he steps off onto the sand.

Sunny and Clear

Good conditions, poor+ surf. 2-3 foot close order wind swell. Scattered peaks without much direction. Very slight east breeze.

One guy out at the reef; two guys paddling out in front of the grass; 5 out at Tres Palmas; about the same just north of lifeguard tower.

Bigger and juicier north today. It's going to be a nice, nice day so get outside if you can.

Have a good one.

Aloha
Gary


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Location:Coast Blvd,Del Mar,United States

No Surprises Here!

Completely blown out.  And guess what...........looks like a red tide is lurking right offshore.  That should make things a lot better don't you think?

Have a good one.

Aloha
Gary

Partly Cloudy or Is It Partly Sunny?

Surprisingly clean. Not glassy by any means but not total VAS either. Jumbled up 3-4 ft windswell with poor shape and a slight northeast wind. Nobody out.

Have a good one.

Aloha
Gary


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What a Day!

2-3 ft; maybe 4 on the sets. Glassy, peaky and kinda soft. About 30 guys out. Most everyone is on the reef but the lefts south at 11th street look better.

If you've got the time get out here. Looks fun!

Have a good one

Aloha
Gary


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Got Size?

Swell has increased considerably. Shoulder to head high; possibly bigger on the sets. Not an easy paddle out. Light south wind is putting a bump on it but it isn't too bad yet. Fair shape with about 20-25 guys out.

Ian came in after he put a ding in his rail with his shin. You'll have to ask him about the details. A good story.

Sun is making an appearance. Gotta go. Have a good one.

Aloha
Gary

Ugh!

Waist to chest high crumblers with a strong south wind already on it. Afternoon like surface conditions. 3 guys out.

But for the wind, this might have been a good day. Ken is coming in and just gave it a thumbs


down.

Have a good day

Aloha
Gary


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1-2, maybe 3 feet. Left over wind swell with not much to it. A shoulder here and there but you really have to hunt for them. I feel the south wind rising as I write this.

6 guys out including Rodney who told me that yesterday was better than it looked. A set just came thru; Rodney picked off a short but sweet left on his 5' 8" "funboard". Not sure how he catches anything with that board on a day like today. But he does.

When the fog lifts this is going to be a great day.

Have a good one.

Aloha
Gary


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