Surf Alert…brewing now!
We’ll have another shot at some swell over the next few days as an interesting low pressure area is developing just to our South. Check the wrapping features on the swell model below:
Yesterdays swell sent some decent size and a few windows of clean faces in the chest high plus range. A few of us got out this morning before the Surfrider beach clean-up. Early bird gets the worm…and our worm was super clean longboard lines, only waist high but fun just the same! Looks like West facing beaches will see this new swell first and then it will wrap from Mexico beach towards Destin and P’cola. The kicker will be the wind and rain etc. … perhaps a cleanup day as the system drifts West?
Stand Up Paddle Board, Yolo Race #2 Report
…Just got in from the stand up paddle board race on Oyster Lake. There was a super crowd gathered again tonight. The lineup was also crowded with more teams entering the mix. Most impressive to me was the strong turnout of 5 all ladies teams, Waterbabes, Yolo Women, Walton Wahines, Kitty Hawk Kites, and my new favorite word to say with a cheesey spanish accent…Yololitas!!! The Yolo Women prevailed, followed closely by the South Walton Jr. Lifeguard team. Third place honors go to those speedy senoritas the Yololitas!
The adult men’s field was also impressive with 8 teams up for the challenge. And a challenge they received as the second heat of racing saw strong headwinds on the outbound leg. The racing was very close with the top three teams finishing within just a few seconds of each other. This week Team Yolo came out on top with Gary Wise hammering in the anchor leg while standing on his recently injured bionic leg. Gary is just in from racing in the Molokai paddle board race in Hawaii this past Saturday. And I’m not kidding about the bionic leg. Unfortunately he was a DNF in Molokai because his re-constructed knee gave way in the strong seas and currents encountered on race day. Second place tonight was earned by Team Aqua (last races winner) and Team RYNO pulled across the line for a close third…only one second behind Aqua.
The racing is getting more interesting as the teams are looking better organized and I have witnessed several teams out practicing together. I predict we will see more tight finishes in the races to come. The next race is scheduled for August 14th at Watercolors. This should prove to be another picturesque spot for a race. The beautifully manicured grounds will also make for a nice post race gathering place. I’m planning on bringing a picnic and some friends and family, hope you do the same!
Don’t miss the Surfrider Beach clean-up this Saturday morning at Ed Waline Park, 9am. Surfrider will supply the trash bags…bring a board, we may have a little bit of this swell still rolling in. And, the next Surfrider Surf movie night will be Saturday August 16th at Club Spinnaker in Panama City beach!
Surf Movie Night, Saturday July 26th
| Jul ’08 |
| 26 |
| 7:00 pm |
Join us for a Surf Movie Night this Saturday, July 26, 2008, at Spinnaker in Panama City Beach. We’ll be supporting the Surfrider Foundation with a membership drive and enjoying some good movies and also some short clips from the local surf scene. Spinnaker has a terrific outdoor dining and bar deck, tasty burgers and seafood, great sound system, 25 foot movie screen and if you stick around after the movie most likely a killer live band! Entry before the movie starts (around dusk) is free…arrive early and get the local discount of no cover charge! This is a family friendly event, so bring the kids and have a great time!
This week the movie is Believe.
For directions to Spinnaker click below:
http://www.spinnakerbeachclub.com/aboutus/map.htm
Dolly Surf Report
Well, Dolly brought some excellent surf today! John Cross and I braved the early morning jelly fish infested swell in Destin. This was quite possibly my most painful surf session ever. It didn’t take long for us to figure out that we were going to be eaten alive. We surfed for about 30 minutes and then both went off to work.
I was determined to find a jelly free spot and in the afternoon, I called for reports from Pensacola to Panama City and heard stories of jelly fish everywhere. I stopped by the house and devised a plan to try several layers of lycra and if necessary some pantyhose for my hands. (It’s hard to watch decent size surf just roll in unridden.)
Eventually I landed a couple blocks from home in Blue Mountain Beach. Paddled out dressed like a super zero and was pleasantly surprised to finally find my Jelly free zone…right in my own backyard. Could be some leftovers in the morning…If I can rise again at 5:30 and test the waters before work! Mike
Photo Credit and More Photos: Fluid Surf Shop
Say Hello Dolly!
Hello Dolly! Here comes our first shot at some tropical swell in the Gulf this season. The projected path is just about a best case scenario for our area. If it will just slow down a bit and camp off the tip of the Yucatan for a day or two we’ll be sure to have some excellent ground swell. Wax ‘em up and start coughing at work but don’t ask for the sick day till it gets a little closer.
Team Aqua Paddles to Victory in Race One!
The YOLO Paddle Board Race was going off last night! With more teams, more spectators, music, and fanfare, the event is taking on a life and providing a great opportunity for folks who love the outdoors to just get together and enjoy. Ma nature helped too by throwing up another spectacular sunset.
Pics here:
http://www.iwilldesignforfood.com/yolorace1/
The men from Aqua Surf Shop earned top honors. Arriving just a few minutes late, they got held over to a third heat of racing. Racing with fewer head to head teams would seem to be a disadvantage, but they pushed themselves and racing against the clock delivered the fastest time of the event. Congratulations Team Aqua!
Equally impressive to me was the great showing of Ladies for this event. With the YOLO Women and the team formerly known as Waterbugs now Walton Wahines (much more flattering) demonstrating that fun is an equal opportunity experience.
On that note, there were plenty of kids checking out the scene and showing their skill paddle boarding. They were frequently riding tandem and even trandem? I think we’ll have to open up a category just for the kids!
For more information see the YOLO press release.
The next race is just a couple weeks away. We’ll keep you posted. Don’t miss it!
