Grey, messy, small, but you might be able to jag one

Posted on November 24th, 2009 in Dee Why.

The Friends of RealSurf are back

Posted on November 24th, 2009 in Top stories.

Hello Friends,

Good news for everyone who’s asked when we were going to do another fundraiser so you could get a new RealSurf t-shirt.

We’ve just set up a fresh online shop with a range of Friend of RealSurf shirts – and even a couple of FoRS coffee cups.

The rather cool thing about the new shop is that it lets you easily choose from heaps of different styles and colours. We’ve made the leap into on-demand production. All you have to do is pick out a design you like, place your order and the shirt (or coffee cup) is printed and sent to you. Our shop is driven by an outfit called zazzle.com.au. They’re big in the States and have recently set up in Australia, so everything’s pretty slick and well designed.

Anyway, we’re stoked to have a way to produce FoRS shirts again, so we’re hoping lots of you will dive in and get yourself one today. Thanks in advance for your generosity!

buy unique gifts at Zazzle

Still there, but much smaller.

Posted on November 24th, 2009 in South Carolina.

I had a good session at 4 in the afternoon on Monday but Tuesday is going to be much smaller unless you got a really big board to drag down to the water. You will find offshore winds and maybe a bit of drizzle but at 8 Sec. intervals, you will ride.

Roberto

C C Rainy and ordinary in the drink

Posted on November 24th, 2009 in Central Coast, Surf Reports.

Overcast, drizzle and mild on the Central Coast this Tuesday morning.  The swell is bumpy and weak at 1 – 3 feet from the east southeast.  There is a light to moderate east southeast breeze forecast to strengthen later.  Low tide at 0735 and High tide around 1355.  Local barometer 1021 hpa, 18 degrees C. 85% humidity.   Have a good one.

For Sale -  I have a Surtech (Tuflite) Velzy 12 foot Hawaiian Paddle board (not SUP) for sale.  Excellent condition. $950.00 (cost $1600.00 + new).  This board is a standard (stock) class racing paddle board and goes like the clappers, very fast.  Good cross trainer for paddling on flat days.  If you are interested I can send photos.  Contact Matt at  ms2007@bigpond.com

Warm-Water Wash (Bondi)

Posted on November 24th, 2009 in California, Half Moon Bay, Surf Sessions.Unfortunately the weather changed dramatically in the night, bringing stiff onshores, light rain, and cool temperatures. I awoke to bigger waves that were blown out and unsurfable. One Aussie website claimed the surf was only 2-3 feet but my observation was head-high; they must measure waves from the back or like in Hawaii, at half their face height.

Later in the day it looked a bit cleaner and some surfers were out getting waves. Jonesing, I suited up, leaving gloves and hood behind. It was odd to paddle without gloves; my hands felt small and underpowered. On top of the short-period swell, the chop from the storm front was substantial, tossing me about on little Nemo, and this time Dramamine was not up to the task. I soon made my queasy way back to the beach, having accomplished nothing but some warm-water duck-diving practice.
By morning, the wind had dropped substantially, though it still blew onshore. The whitewater cauldron had quieted and I decided to give Bondi another go. From our 5th floor balcony, I could still see the rip I'd used the day before to get out. It was a little harder to spot from down on the beach, but a "Dangerous Currents, No Swimming" sign marked the surfers' entrance to the Tasman sea.
Once out, I found the chop was about 2-3 feet on top of shoulder- to head-high mushy waves. This not only made it hard to pick the shifty waves out of the slop, but I was bobbing around like a rubber duck in a candy-hyped toddler's bath. The Dramamine held, but I wasn't getting anything, just watching other people ride. It was discouraging, but then I remembered that a substantial percentage of Australians surf, many from the time they can walk. They have the skill to make a pleather purse from a dish rag, whereas I... am not so capable.

Little consolation though really; I would have liked to ride at least one wave at Bondi. So far the Southern Hemi has pretty much skunked me while there's been good surf at home, and I'm getting hungry for a serving of cold Nor Cal waves.

Don’t Panic Bloke, In Byron Bay Today.

Posted on November 24th, 2009 in Byron, Local Colour.

While lugging my gear up the beach I noticed a pod of dolphins chasing fish in the channel. It’s always fun watching the reaction as they hit the crowd. Yeah, Yeah I know, a bit sadistic of me, but hey ya gotta get your jollies somehow. Some folks get radically excited by the encounter. Us old salts tend to just shrug and think hmm Dolphins teah nice. Then there are those who have just seen a dorsal fin up close for the first time ever, they usually panic. True, we’ve all mistaken a Dolphin for something a tad less friendly at one time or another, and anyone who says different is full of it. But either way no matter what owns that dorsal fin you just saw, it’s a really good idea not to panic. Getting freaked out in the water is a really good way of getting yourself FUBAR. So take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy the fact that either there’s a dolphin right next to you. Or that you’ve now got a great story to tell your buddies, about the beasty that just cruised past, In Byron Bay Today.