A Pleasant Surprise

February 2013

I have avoided buying surfing magazines! I say "avoided" because a.) I don't need more magazines around my house for me to get addicted to and b.) I couldn't imagine that the surfing magazines, which are most dedicated to twenty-something guys, could be particularly interesting or well-written. I've subscribed to an online magazine that comes out a few times a year and is dedicated to women surfers, but I've left the mainstream surfing magazines alone. Occasionally, I would skim through them when I was in a book store, mostly looking at the photos and reading the captions just to see where the unusual waves were located. However, a couple of months ago, I saw an online special for Surfing magazine that would allow me to receive and read Surfing on my iPad. From the editor's note to the features, the writing kept me interested and excited about surfing. I was very pleasantly surprised by the writing quality and engaged in each of the stories. In fact, the very first line of the editor's note in the February 2013 issue made me realize how much I was going to enjoy reading it: "Surfing is not always easy or automatic."I love that line, and I knew that I would enjoy reading the rest of the magazine.

Surfing didn't happen for me this weekend, which is why it's a good thing I have my magazine. On Friday, the current and the winds were way too strong. So strong, that the surf was blown out and un-surfable. Although I heard that there were small, but decent waves on Saturday afternoon, I was unable to make it down. (On a side note, a friend who made it out to surf said that it was extremely cold in the water and required not only a 5-4 wetsuit, but also a vest underneath as well as booties, gloves and a wool cap. Hmmm...I'm not too sad I didn't make it down 'cause I hate being that cold.) And, besides, a cold front had swept through town and not only was it cold, it was wet, which makes for miserable conditions for any sport. I just couldn't imagine getting into the water no matter what thickness of wetsuit I was wearing.  Sunday morning wasn't much better, and, by the time that it cleared on Sunday, the waves were almost completely gone, and what was left definitely wasn't surfable. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that some waves might build for a possible surf session either Monday or Tuesday afternoon. By Wednesday, storms will be back. I can always keep my fingers crossed for next weekend and hope for warmer and sunnier weather  as well as a few waves.  Here's hoping!