East Coast Winter Review

[havanasand]

Okay, so it’s been over a decade since I have surfed a whole winter on the east coast… Can you guys give me a grade on a scale of 1-10 (10 being epic) for the overall swell review for this current winter… Its about what I had expected, but I feel over the past month or so, things have slowed down to a screeching halt. In my mind, this winter feels like about a 3… anyone want to shed some light based on the past 10 years or so, where this winter has ranked?

This winter has been about average imo. Flat spells are factored into the equation. There have been a few fun runs of windswell and medium period groundswell that provided some fun days. The doomsday combo swell we saw in December was probably the funest day I've ever seen in VB and from what people have said it doesn't have the potential to get any better here, all things considered. If it were 2 feet bigger it probably would have closed out but the combination of windswell and groundswell directions created some A frames that connected all the way to the sand. That, and the fact that the air and water temps kept the crowds out of the water and everyone got a solid wave count regardless of ability. Guess that bumps my score up to a 5.5. That's my .02 and armchair analysis.

[gjp27]

Disagree with these low ratings for NJ. December had 3 great swells (Dec 12, Dec 21, Dec 27), two of which were all time and have been covered extensively with photos and videos online. January only produced one day of surf (31st), but it was all time at select locations. Also, the bar should be very low for January (second worst swell producing month to next to July).

Given you know that winter time is feast or famine, i'd give this winter a 7 based on the fact there have been 3 absolutely epic days going into February.

[757surfer]

Yea havana Id say a 4 for VB as well. The days it has been good its been pretty good. just wish there was more!!

[havanasand]

Yea havana Id say a 4 for VB as well. The days it has been good its been pretty good. just wish there was more!!

I've still got the new 4/3 in the back of my truck with the tags still on it from when I upgraded two weeks ago. Might need to get the scissors out for this weekend. With 43 degree water temps I think there will be plenty to go around regardless of the upcoming hyped up forecasts.

[LBCrew]

December had 3 great swells (Dec 12, Dec 21, Dec 27), two of which were all time

You're right... I just wasn't counting the two first swells you mentioned, because Dec 12th was still Fall, and the actual solstice fell on the 21st, meaning the first full day of winter was the 22nd. If you add those two swells in, I'd stretch it to a solid 4... maybe a 4.5.

[Stranded in Smithfield]

1 - worst winter in memory
2 - I've only surfed once this season so far
3 - flatness punctuated by a few rideable days
4 - a few good swells
5 - decent; what you'd expect
6- several days of good surf
7 - definitely better than average
8 - a really good season
9 - it's been awesome!
10 - EPIC

I like the ratings scale LB...first winter on east coast in several years...I seem to remember a lot of Jan. & Feb. growing up that were 2s and 3s...never been too big on either of those months...

North Florida November into December... an easy 8...with a little time and maybe some travel in a 30 min. radius of my normal haunts, I surfed nearly every day however late December to the present...lots of extended flatness and over average wave height has dropped... so I'm going 4 but I didn't expect much....

[McLovin]

6. It was somewhat consistent for east coast standards before Christmas (a nice run of swell for Thanksgiving weekend if you remember). January stunk, I haven't surfed a wave over waist high in 2013.

The doomsday combo swell we saw in December was probably the funest day I've ever seen in VB and from what people have said it doesn't have the potential to get any better here, all things considered. If it were 2 feet bigger it probably would have closed out but the combination of windswell and groundswell directions created some A frames that connected all the way to the sand.

I saw pictures of that, and that's about as good as VB gets in the Winter. What a fun swell that must've been.

[seldom seen]

You're right... I just wasn't counting the two first swells you mentioned, because Dec 12th was still Fall, and the actual solstice fell on the 21st, meaning the first full day of winter was the 22nd. If you add those two swells in, I'd stretch it to a solid 4... maybe a 4.5.

Same here...I'd up my # too considering the Nov/early Dec sessions I had...probly give it a 5.

[gjp27]

Dec 12th was still Fall, and the actual solstice fell on the 21st, meaning the first full day of winter was the 22nd. If you add those two swells in, I'd stretch it to a solid 4... maybe a 4.5.

I think the 'surf seasons' around here are generally accepted to switch a month earlier. I wouldn't classify Katia or Leslie as summer waves, despite both swells being well before September 21st. Similarly, i think most consider late november to be the start of winter with the water temps falling and the swells switching to shorter interval hit and run windswells.

Even so, I don't know how you can include the doomsday swell and say it is only a four. Those were the best waves in NJ since April 20, 2011, a spring swell.

http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/ea...-photos_54431/

Maybe I am inflating my 7-8 becuase of how bad the past two winters have been.

[meatloaf]

tough. in rhode island its been a 2 for me. it was only 1-3ft with a occasional 4ft tooo - hopefully we get some s swell at the end of the week....

Id give it a 1. I have not surfed since october 20th.... sure the hurricane got in the way during november and december for me... but we've had nothing to go in for where I am.