Late September Beauties

At first light this morning, 15th street might not have looked all that great.  It was CROWDED (50+), slightly lumpy and the shoulder to head high sets were closing out. The inside was cluttered with shortboarders and the longboarders were getting grumpy from the long lulls between sets.  And the water temp was back down in the low 60's.

Reid is always in the right place at the right time.

Around 7:30 more people were leaving the line up than entering it and the surface conditions were starting to clean up.  The tide was rising but that helped with the shape and made the sets much much better.  When I got out of the water around 8 or so to take these photos, the conditions were significantly different from those of the dawn patrol.

Check it out:

Sequence of smooth moves, (1)

(2)

(3)

Nice bowl!

Raising your hand makes you lighter

Standing room only

Do you surf like a girl?

Wish I did

On the reef

The only longboarder on the inside

All photos by Gary Erbeck; copyright

SoCal Crowds

Not as clean as yesterday; slight surface bump, no wind and about 50 guys out. Swell seems to have dropped some and is inconsistent. Waist to chest high, maybe shoulder high on the sets. Fair + shape. Incoming tide.

Have a good one
Aloha
Gary


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Location:15th st.

Wow!

Solid 4-5 feet with head high+ sets. It is cranking! Glassy, crowd of 30 or so. The lefts are insane; steep take off, little section then a screaming bowl. I was paddling over a set wave and Luke, his eyes as big as plates, is dropping in late, makes the turn and goes screaming by.

Ken, Chuck, Ian, John and I were also out. All catch our share of some big stuff and obliterating the guys inside. What a day. Hasn't been this good in some time. Get some if you can.

Have a good one
Aloha
Gary
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It's Been A Hard Days Night

I should be sleeping like a log but here I am, sending the latest and greatest from 15th street. Fog, fog, fog. Can't see anything because of it. Kenny and Chuck are out; Barb and John on their way. More getting ready in the parking lot.

This just in, eyewitness report, "small dude".

Shout out to Professor Luke; first day of professorship at UCR!


Have a good one
Aloha
Gary


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No Report Today

Cabinet & Furniture Technology class today.

Have a good one
Aloha
Gary


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All Around in My Hometown

We search for surf; alas, strong south wind combined with the high tide has killed it. Lumpy, bumpy waist high junk. About 10 guys out and most of those are from the TP surf class.

White caps are already showing on the outside; in other words, it's windy!

Having said that, there is definitely some swell left and if it wasn't so messed up it might even be worth going out. Another day perhaps.


Have a good one
Aloha
Gary

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Switcheroo

South swell has almost disappeared; replaced by a northwest that is being crossed up by a windswell. Speaking of wind, it's out if the south and steadily increasing as I stand here.

Surface bump, waist high rollers. 20 guys out. Poor to fair shape with that south wind really starting to mess with it. There are still a few peaks out there but it's a rare event.

Today you'll need to find some place protected from the wind.

Here's some of Kenny's parking lot art.


Have a good one
Aloha
Gary




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Better than yesterday

No wind, clean conditions! The south swell is sticking around but there is a lot more wind swell action so the long lulls have disappeared. Waist to shoulder high with some head high sets.

The crowd of 14 is well spread out so there is lots of room, unlike Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Lefts look better than the rights. Tide is coming up.
Have a good one
Aloha
Gary


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Blacks Afternoon

Blacks this afternoon between 2 and 3.

Great to be back!

4 days in Battle Creek, MI, is hard on the psyche. It's always


nice to get back to San Diego and even more so with a south swell in the water.

Clean surface conditions, loooooong period south swell, 3-4 feet, head high on the close out sets, 50, that's right 50, guys in the water with more arriving by the minute. Long lulls, fair shape.

Quote of the day: "those guys sitting on the peak can't surf very well so if you sit right underneath them you can get a lot of waves they miss".

"Guys on the peak.....", I wonder who that could be?


Have a good one
Aloha
Gary


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Paddle for Clean Water on Sunday!

This Sunday is the Paddle for Clean Water, a must attend gathering of the San Diego surf tribe. Terry Rogers and I have paddled in this event for about the past 11 years, what's your excuse for not? Come on, I'd really like to hear your rationalization for not supporting Surfrider in it's goal of clean water to surf in. How much of a sacrifice can it be to participate in this one day a year event? Maybe you just think you can't paddle that far? Believe me, if Terry and I can do it, so can you! Paddle starts at 10 but plan on getting to OB around 8:30 or so; parking can be a challenge and you can even catch a few waves before the paddle around the pier. If you want to ride with Terry and me, call, text or email.

Now on to the surf report for this morning. Clean conditions, ankle to knee high, weak short period wind swell. 7 people out If you like surfing the shorebreak today is your kinda day! Oh, and the tide is low too.


Have a good one
Aloha
Gary


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Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da

Life goes on; even if the surf doesn't. That's Chuck on the wave. Now that he us coming in, no one is out.

1-2 ft, sketchy conditions and a SW breeze. Save it for another day.


Have a good one
Aloha
Gary


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This is Ridiculous!

Thick, thick fog, cold, cold water, funky, tiny wind swell waves and a huge crowd all over it. I can't actually see the line up but I did count at least 20 or so people waking down the ramp and then they faded into the mists.

I did talk with a few people after they came in and they used adjectives such as: crummy, small, crappy, foggy, freaking cold, and, did I say, weak?

So, I'm headed back to the ranch for some breakfast and hoping for a better surf day tomorrow. Nice antenna ball, Chuck.


Have a good one
Aloha
Gary


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Fog Monster

Pretty socked in with a stiff NW breeze. Can't really tell what is going on in the water. Will have to wait for Chuck and Professor Luke to tell us that part of the story.

But from what I can see at the shore break; it looks bleak. Water must be pretty warm to fuel this fog monster.


Have a good one
Aloha
Gary


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Great Conditions

Not much in the way of waves. Clean, offshore breeze, 67 degree water, 8 guys out. Ankle to knee high weak rollers that stand up inside; WAY inside.

Still it's going to be a beautiful day in San Diego so get out there and enjoy it if you can!


Have a good one
Aloha
Gary


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