I know I'm rushing things, but I can't wait for Spring. The hooded suit, the chest zip that does not fit over a large chest very well, 5mm fin socks, thick gloves, windburn, the pins and needly feeling that you get before whatever body part gets all woody-numb if you happen to get a 40 degree water flush. I am sooooo done. I would love to go out in a 3/2 or a 2mm jacket and polypro shorts. And stay out ALL DAY. Gah, I miss marathon sessions. These days I am out for an hour or maybe two before I completely lose the feeling in my face. I really need to move. This whole winter thing is a drag.
I hate winter. That's why I left New England and moved down south (southeastern NC). The whole winter here is like April in Boston--which means it does get cold but warms up again and the ground doesn't freeze, and camellias bloom, etc. I haven't been in the water since Xmas eve--I only have a 3/2 wetsuit, so I'm waiting for the water temp. to get back up to 60 degrees, which I expect to happen sometime in March. I considered buying a thicker wetsuit, but I really hate the cold and don't tolerate it well so I guess I can just take 2 or 3 months off from bodyboarding each year.
Sorry, but I will take the suits & cold over the flat & crowded conditions in summer. I would prefer to shed the 5mil gear, gloves boots, hood, etc for a lighter full suit, but if it means flat, crowded conditions & the lifeguards telling us where & when we can surf, I will take the winter that we have had this year.
I couldn't have said it any better Chuck! Especially with this pattern we've been in, who can complain!? Long live winter!
Oh well... I've never really found myself in situations during the Spring, Summer and Fall where lifeguards were telling me where to go and what to do - I get to the beach around 6:00 in the morning or before it gets dark at night, way before they show up for the day and after they've packed up their oversized sunglasses and gone home. Usually there's a few people out surfing at that time of day - which I've found most winters as well...so if I had a choice, I would take the warmer weather. There have been days when I've had a peak to myself, but more often than not, someone inevitably shows up. With Long Island's fruitful history of poor winds and less than average surf, I imagine travel to different states is necessary during the better swells. I'm pretty much stuck here because of work obligations. So, IMHO - winter sucks, and always will. I am not tolerant of the cold, but if you are - more power to you.
spring sucks in california because of steady never ending onshores. unless you know a sheltered spot...
Lol... LOL - we have steady, never ending onshores or crosshores. Every season. We could trade if you want!!!
My local spot gets a lot of cross-shores, too. They can blow for days, and the 'sideshore' current will get stronger and stronger. I've often gone out in those conditions--and it's a struggle to get out--only to catch a wave and have the sideshore current knock me right off the board. On the plus side, we've got 80+degree water temps for the whole summer and into September, free parking, no lifeguards, and relatively uncrowded beaches.
Spring... We had some great Spring swells, which I really enjoyed - but I am convinced that the water is never going above 55 this year. I heard a rumor that we are going to be having air temps in the upper 70s over the weekend and next week, but I am not holding my breath. Now onto summer - my favorite season. Hot bodies, not so hot bodies, warm weather, shorties, flip flops everyday, jackets and boardshorts. And lots of dawn patrols or before dark sessions, which I really have come to appreciate in my old age. I love getting to the beach at sunrise, surfing for a few hours, and then sitting on the sand watching the beach-goers filter in around 8 or 9 with their endless array of funny umbrellas and big sunglasses. This year I am determined to find one of those umbrellas that look like grass skirts.
The water's already 70+ down south (eat yer heart out). I like to go early in the summer, too. Not too early though, the locals say the sharks are more likely to be out at dawn and dusk. Last August, when the days were starting to get shorter, I went early one morning and noticed that the waves were breaking full of fish. Then something really big broke the surface and the fish scattered. So that was a bit scary and reaffirmed my belief that it's best to let the sun get up in the sky a bit before going in. The mornings have been a bit cool down here lately, but next week, after the holiday weekend tourists go home, it'll be time to start going to the beach early, around 7:30 or 8:00, before the sun & winds get too strong, and before the crowds start arriving. Summer's still my favorite season, in spite of the heat and humidity in coastal NC.
