I'm heading to SanO next Thursday, and I hope the waves are back to the normal SanO slop. My recent knee injury (and the fact that I haven't been on a board since last October) makes me long for the long slow rollers that SanO is famous for.


When I was there in June of this year (alas, in a knee brace, so I wasn't able to surf) there was a good swell with head high to head and-a-half high sets. (that's if you're standing up, NS SmileWavy) My friends and I remarked on this as we have been going to SanO for surf/camping trips since 1985 or so, and can count on two hands the times there has been "big" surf.


Looking forward to the waves next week. :)

The half pipe and parks aren't designed for anyone under 40 believe me. When I used to volunteer teaching boarding my student wanted to try the half pipe. He asked me to go also.
All I did was fall on my arse. Oh I forgot to mention the half pipe was hard packed ice.
Now I mostly stick to the marked runs occasionally venturing in the trees.

I have never ventured into the parks...yeah, right! That's hilarious! I just like watching the youngins doing all their fancy stuff. It is truly amazing. Maybe if I was a young miss thang again but nope, this old lady is gonna be happy just cruisin'.

And Baz! That video was awesome! Those guys... Insane! That must be such a high riding those waves... I can just imagine. I will never be that good but oh how I wish I could experience coming out of a barrel at least once before I die. Don't think it will happen but at least I can watch those cute dudes do it. I guess second best thing to me experiencing it. :)

And geary, your "hidden spot", steep? And how do you get out there with no lift ? Curious about this secret pow you speak of...

Here's a pic a friend of Keala Kennely's dad sent to me a few days ago:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1315548418.jpg
(reef rash from that epic session in Tahiti)

Tweez, You'd have no problem riding our secret area. If you're able to zero in on this photo, you'll see only my dozen or so tracks. This is only the smaller (slightly less steep) portion of the area.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1315548345.jpg

Well Paul, I am not going to be surprised if we realize we have run into each other at some point. We have overlapped or closely so many times since the 1970s , Oahu, New Zealand, Kauai.
Lots of the time spent in Whangerei was doing a rebuild on our boat Tevake. See below. So not a lot of time for surfing then.

Funny Brian and Caverly live 1/2 mile from me. That is looking like more than rash that Keala is sporting, ouch! Did you see some of the bombs she rode, and those that munched her? WOW! Is your Brewer gun at Brian's house? Hey, it has cured long enough, Bro.
We just had our first north swell of the season today. Maybe time to head this way this year. Sounds like you about wore out the slopes last year. I like the pic of the hill side with all the tracks, do you have to hike back up the hill?
Next time you find yourself heading this way, give me a shout. We can check out some near by back roads in the SC.

Baz thanks for posting the vid. I was mesmerized watching the event for days. Fantastic conditions. I've spent quite a bit of time in Tahiti, but not looking for any of that size.

Cheers Richardhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1315555934.jpg

I'm sure we'll get to ride together this season, Richard .. one spot or another. Funny thing is, I haven't seen Brian since Bake Oven days in San Diego, 45 years ago.

Tevake is a beauty. I had an interisland ride on a tri just a few weeks ago, where we all shared an incredible spotting of a 12-ft Tiger, slow cruising alongside in glassy water.

The Secret hike is only 3 minutes. Here's a pic of the condo steps in April 2010 :
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1315591596.jpg

Man is that a pile of snow!! :eek: My jaw dropped. Looks like you could loose a car in all of that.
I did try an afternoon of snow boarding a few summers ago near the top of the Jungfrau
in Switzerland. It was funny, most folks were just renting gear to have a pic taken. But for me it was a session. There was a small rope tow line and about a three hundred yard area to slide down. It was definatly coming together for me as the afternoon progressed. after the first couple passes I started making it without falling. Then was able to slide up to the rope for a clean turn around. Big fun!

I'm loving the snow pics.

Cheers Richard

These photos are actually all from the '09-'10 season. Imagine approximately double that for this past '10-'11 season.

A couple shots of Sugar Bowl, again '09-'10
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1315604119.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1315604214.jpg

Someone with a sense of humor:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1315604310.jpg

.. and yes, there are a few cars that get lost along the roadside every year ..
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1315604511.jpg

.. and Tweez .. this little lady is only 3 years old. Dad took her down the steepest hill, just to build her confidence

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1315605062.jpg

Hey, this posting pics stuff is fun .. My daughter's in town, and she's teaching me how to retrieve & move all these pics around.

Looking at the same stairs, 2011. I can't believe the garage held the weight.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1315612482.jpg


looking down the stairs ..

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1315612233.jpg

I surf on concrete.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1315613408.jpg

Concrete's good .. so long as you wear all the safety gear. I love watching the park guys, but prefer downhill twisties on a Mountain Board (big rubber tires) with brakes. Great to get those legs ready for snowboarding.

Lowyder .. have you ridden Pavones (CR)? We had a property down there for many years. It may be the longest, most fun left I've ever ridden.

Geary! Your secret spot looks awesome! Yes, perfect for me. A gentle slope, not too steep. Awesome! I am so down with that! You said Truckee? I plan to head to Tahoe sometime this season. I'll have to PM you when I do... And check out my son... I don't have a pic with him on his board but he was 4. Did pretty good. Didn't take him on the slopes though. Just the bunny hill. I am going to take him again this year. I would love it if he picked it up young.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1315680806.jpg

Tevake! Your boat is GORGEOUS! I don't a thing about sailing but it looks fabulous! I love being on a boat but hmmm... maintaining one and sailing one, too labor intensive. :D

And HardDrive, I would like to surf concrete since we don't have any waves in AZ. I want to buy a Hamboard really bad. Again, none of the fancy stuff, just to cruise the streets...

Tweez .. Your son is the perfect age to learn. One of my friend's son is a ripper at 6. Hey .. in AZ, you've always got the Surfatorium in Tempe. I remember surfing some odd, experimental waves/tides there in the week prior to the grand opening ('69 ?) Some of my high school friends worked on that project.

No...I haven't...was always difficult to get down there. Ever run into Allan Weisbecker? Guy that wrote "In search of Captain Zero"? He was living down there. Theres now a Pavones surf cam down there...i check every once in a while...I'm regular, not goofy foot, and I look like a dork trying to pig dog a barrel:rolleyes:

Papa G Surf: Costa Rica Surf Forecast and Surf Reports

I never ran into that Allan, but I heard his name mentioned a number of times. Pavones had quite a few interesting characters, and a number of crazy gun battles, etc. Amazingly, evening time at La Cantina was neutral zone for even the bitterest enemies. It's peaceful now .. but unfortunately the surf scene has been exploited/bastardized. You have to go to the other side of the bay for good right handers ...

Even Google Earth has a good line up at Pavones, and Google Images shows some fantastic pics. What a great place.

Left handers go the wrong way for me so my surfing adventure took me to Jefferies Bay. I spent about a month there and got waves just about every day. A couple of big days were just like the postcards, however I tended to like the head high, or just a bit more, days the most.

Jefferies Bay would be a dream trip for me ..

It was pretty good. I spent four months in Zim' and South Africa. The food was good, great weather, the blonde Africaner girls were very pretty. Lots of surfing breaks all the way down that Indian Ocean side of the country. The locals were very friendly and would take me on a surf trip through their farm to a perfect point break. The Atlantic side was OK but the water was cold. Nice clean clear water everywhere and a cheap country to travel in. Safe enough if you don't do anything silly. Waves at Jefferies typically were 300 to 800 yards long and walk back up the beach for your next wave.

Ok, need help. Want to find a private surf instructor in Irvine/OC area. I am going to be out there for two weeks and seriously need to get in the water. Been three months now. I will need to rent the board and wetsuit. Anybody have any recommendations?