Crazy Spring Weekends

Allergies have been dragging me down. If I'm not sneezing, I'm coughing. I also have had a sore throat that has made me sound like a blues singer who has spent too much time in a smoky jazz bar. On Friday, I knew I probably wouldn't surf even if there were waves. Before I could even send a note to the surf dude, he sent a text saying that the waves were rough, the air was cold and the crowds were big. He said it wasn't worth a trip to the island, so I was relieved to find out that I wasn't going to be missing much. I was still under the weather on Saturday, which not only stopped me from surfing, but also from running. I did sneak in a little ride, but a short, easy bike ride was about all my lungs could handle. I'm sure hoping that this Friday will bring warmer weather and nice waves.

I noticed on Facebook that my local Cinemark movie theater would be showing a special surf movie premiere one night this week. "A Deeper Shade of Blue" is described as "world-renowned surfing legends as they discuss the evolution, the culture and the impact of surfing from its beginnings to today's billion-dollar-a-year global industry." According to the description, "Panelists include surfing movie star Gidget and legendary surfing sensations James O'Brian, The Marshall Brothers ..." I think I might have to see if a couple of my surfing buddies might want to go see the movie. I'm sure I'll leave the theater anxious to get back in the water. And, I'm also sure that I'll feel envious of their skill level.

An email notice arrived letting me know that Surfing magazine published a special edition that is ready for me to download on my iPad. It was the Hot 100 issue that highlights the up-and-coming surfers. I've not read very much of it, but I didn't notice that only 34% of the Hot 100 were goofy-footers like me. Hmmm... Also, the average age of the Hot 100 females is 17. Oh MY!!! The guys are 19, which isn't much better, but at least they are a little older. Interestingly enough, they offered a graph explaining where the Top 100 were from and the graph showed the three top home areas as Australia, USA and Hawaii. I wonder why Hawaii gets its own spot on the graph instead of being grouped in AS A STATE within the USA. In fact, the two highest percentages on the graph went to the USA and Hawaii...both 30 percent. I'd be curious to know what states they all were from. I would guess most of from California, but I'm hoping when I start to read the articles that at least one might be from Texas. I doubt it, but one can hope.

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!