I couldn't agree more. When the waves are good it's a no brainer, you go. It's the times when the surf looks OK, and you just feel like getting wet. The risk/reward thought process never really involves the water/air temp, it always "Do I really feel like getting in and out of the wetsuit."
not a winter issue, but I was fixn to paddle out and I hid my key above the springs and then bumped into the car, heard the key fall to he ground? looked for 20 min, had chicks walking the bike path stop and ask 'what are you doing' as I am laying in the dirt feeling under the car, couldnt find it and I am covered in dirt and sweat and said forget this, I'm going to surf, car is locked I can call AAA whn I get out. I surfed for 2 hours and then got out and borrowed a cell phone to call the wife, wife called AAA and they came and rescued my stupidity, but at least I surfed. as a bonus, the guy whos cell phone I borrowed fed me beers till the tow truck got there. now, the only problem is I can't get copies because the key is quirky and 2 different keymakers cant make a key that works for the door. I am flirting with disaster untill I can get some copies made Also after I moved the car I couldnt find the key, I think the car ate the key
one i try to avoid as much as possible by simply driving home in my suit & walking straight into the shower. not an option for many, i know, but it works for me.
Here's a little trick that helps from locking myself out of my car. As with most newer gen cars the key and key fob are one unit with the remote unlocks and all, which have a battery inside which has always worried me about shorting out if I brought it out in the water. But I just unscrewed the key fob part and the key itself was just attached to it. Took it out of the housing, put it on a normal old key ring, and attached that key ring to the leash string on my board. when I velcro my leash to the string I just tuck the key into the velcro straps so it's not swinging all over the place when I'm out in the water. Been doin it for years now and haven't had any rust problems yet (knock on wood). Just some fruit for thought, I prefer it to using the key pockets/lanyards in most newer wetties. So if you've got an older key, or one where you can remove the little electrical bits, put it on you leash string and no more worries about getting locked out! Only time I've locked myself out was when I was getting changed post session. I just got out of my wetsuit and threw it in my container into the trunk, and without thinking I closed the trunk. I walked around the car to the side door to grab my backpack with my jeans in it and realized the door was locked. And I had just closed the trunk with the key in there... Had to borrow someones phone and wait 45 mins for my locksmith buddy to come out with nothing on but a tshirt, a towel, and underarmor... My buddy finally showed up and used this airbag thing to pump the door open so we could reach the unlock switch. Needless to say it was awkward, especially when I had to ask to borrow someones phone lol. Luckily though I think it was late sept early oct so I didn't freeze to death. Good times!
I feel you guys. Had a humdinger just this morning: Took 45 minutes to dig out my car, pre-dawn. Scraped off my windshield last to reveal a HUGE crack. Decide to drive to the beach anyway. When I get there its like 2 ft and weak as hell. Decide to paddle out anyway, after all that effort. While I'm changing in my car, I stub the **** out of my toe. Had zero good rides. Fuggin winter.
Drove the hour to surf, very cold day, great session, then get back to car to change - completely forgot towels. Had nothing. No blankets, tarp, napkin, nothing. Had to drive the hour home in the 6/5/4. I'm still itchy.
Tie wraps! Have had the hide a key failure like everybody else and now have a key tie wrapped to every car I own.
All you lucky people with your vehicles...I have too many stories about riding the train to Long Island, changing into my wet suit in Burger King, trying to hide my gear under the board walk while I surf, walking back to the train station in full wet suit, and changing in the stair well of the parking garage...try going through this past winter without a vehicle.
first gloved session of the season I lost my grip while loading my log on the roof of my car, dropped it from over my head straight on it's rail, strait across my front quarter panel and left a solid dent/crease. I am still yelling expletives every time I see it, this was in November. Log 1; Car 0. Thanks for the solid glass job, Austin!
haha, this is an awesome thread. I got so tangled in my leash today that my head was underwater and my feet were in the air and I couldn't come up. I had to crocodile roll to break loose. I came up gasping and realize two dudes were just staring at me. Mind you this was in-between sets in really calm conditions, no waves anywhere insight.
I have a Soma blow-up case...So I was waiting on the train platform and because of the cold temperature the air shrunk and I had to blow up the bag more. So I was kneeling down on the ground blowing into the case, when a cop comes up behind me and asks what I'm inhaling. Is that air in there? What is that thing? I'm like, it's just air...and he says, ok just checking what you are doing there.
Busted my ass at work all day in order to get off early enough to catch a sunset session last year. While getting dressed I locked my keys in my company truck. I couldn't call my boss for a spare key because I was supposed to be working so I had to pay 50 bucks for a locksmith and didn't even get to surf.
Surfed DP about 15 years ago. I got out to go pick up a buddy and come back so I just stayed in my suit. On the way back I get pulled over for speeding in the state park. I had a felony warrant on me so I ended up going to jail in a fullsuit. The cop was cool though. He let me grab my shoes and underwear. He still works at the park, I don't think he remembers me but I remember to slow down when I see him.
This is my first winter, so my sob story is limited/standard. 1- Days are too short 2- Changing outside. Especially on the days I stay in too long. When your rigid, there's no quick way out of it 3- Not getting home for an hour and then having to flush the gear 4- Waiting up for Santa
scrambled eggs dif take - am parked behind 'angry aggressive surfer w/no friends.' he gets out of water to his car. he looks at me so i wave - cause i really want no part of this guy. he chooses to wave back and promptly drops his cherry longboard and smashes his glassed in fin….he looks back at me LIKE I DID THIS….and i am worried….but instead of busting the longboard over my head…..he bursts INTO TEARS (he's over 40)…and collapses onto the ground. i drive away. with the twilight zone tune playing in my head.
