It all started with a surfing movie (or, maybe, two)! Many surfers have seen "Step Into Liquid" and "Miles to Surf." Both films highlight tanker surfing, and mention one of the best tanker surfers in the country who happens to be in Galveston. The cool thing about tanker surfing is that it allows a person to surf even when a wind shift has flattened the waves on the beach since the wave is generated by ships/tankers. Because the surfing is in/near the inter coastal canal, however, surfers must pay close attention to shallow areas as well as objects just under the water's surface.
Last week, the surf "dude" I often surf with contacted me to find out if I might consider a tanker surfing trip. "Of course," I answered quickly. However, I had a little hesitation about whether it was something I could actually DO. The dude assured me that I could, but I still felt the need to send a note to the guy leading the tanker tours. I explained my concerns, and he wrote me back to let me know that it was, in fact, a dangerous sport, but that he would take me to a few easier spots. A day or so later, though, he wrote back to my friend Brian and said that he didn't feel good about the trip with three beginners (me and two others I surf with at the 43rd St. jetty) and only one experienced person in the boat (Brian). His email stressed the importance and necessity of strong paddling skills and that he didn't feel comfortable about the trip and he wouldn't take us out after all. I was very disappointed. I've since sent another email requesting permission just to ride in the boat. I explained that I would take my board, but that I wouldn't put it in the water if he thought I was not capable. I'm anxious to hear how he will respond. I sure hope he will let me go. Of course, that is dependent on whether we can get two other surfers to join us. Since the email saying we couldn't go, the other two "beginners" have decided they wouldn't go anyway; even if they could just go and watch, they wouldn't pay the money to not surf. I think I know of at least one more who would go, but that still leaves an open place. Oh my! I'm not ready to give up yet though.
This week, one of the pages I follow on Facebook just so happened to post a video of tanker surfing. It sure looks fun. (http://wavecation.com/galveston-tanker-surfing.)
On another note, it's been flat, flat, flat in Galveston this week. The great waves from last weekend disappeared by Monday and the beach looked like a lake for the rest of the week. A few weak waves developed close to shore yesterday, but nothing surf-able. And, today was flat again. According to the surf forecasts, we might see some waves midweek, so I might just have to pack my board before work with the hope that I can have an after-work, late afternoon surf session. Hmmm...I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
