RUBBER SOUL

November is here and it’s time to carve up some waves like a Thanksgiving turkey or a belated Halloween jack-o’-latern. It’s also the first month of the fall/winter season when wetsuits are a must – according to our resident zen fishing master, Dr. Bogus, the average water temperature at the start of November is 66O Fahrenheit and concludes with an average temperature of 58O. In general, you’ll usually see surfers don the fullsuits once the water starts to dip below 70O.

The workings of a wetsuit is a pretty straightforward two step process – (1) the rubber allows water in and traps a small layer of water on your skin, and then (2) your body heat does the rest by warming the water and the rubber acts as an insulator of that warmth. Obviously the thicker the wetsuit - the greater the insulating capacity and hence “a warmer suit”. A “4/3” millimeter (mm) wetsuit along with 5 mm booties, gloves, and a hood are about as thick of material as you’ll need to charge the iciest of waters along Bogue Banks in January and February. However a 3/2 millimeter wetsuit can work for the fall and early spring months, and some of the winter. If you’re in the market for a wetsuit this year, then expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $400 for the suit and another $150 on booties, gloves, and a hood if you want to go there. You do get what you pay for, so here are a few bells and whistles to be aware of.

Your soon to be “rubber soul” is predominantly made out of synthetic neoprene rubber containing small bubbles of nitrogen gas. Other fabrics such as lycra, wool, spandex and even titanium fibers have recently been incorporated into wetsuit construction to increase warmth and flexibility. This has transitioned wetsuits from feeling like a Medieval Knight’s armored suit to almost wearing nothing at all. Today’s wetsuits are leaps and bounds from where they were just a decade ago let alone the fossils we were wearing in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Accordingly, the more alternative materials in the wetsuit – the higher the cost.

The wetsuit is also actually a bunch of pieces of rubber that are stitched together, and sure enough, the weak spots of the wetsuit are located right at the seams. Fortunately seams have also undergone a technological metamorphosis to increase durability and prevent water from directly penetrating your body. The better the construction, the warmer the suit and less chafing too. Again, you get what you pay for. Seam construction can transition from basic flat lock stitching that allows air and water through the seams, to waterproof glue and blind stitching, to the crème de la crème, which is liquid-taped seams that combines a strip of liquid neoprene/fluid tape with glued and blind stitched seams. Some wetsuits are 100% liquid-taped, others may be partially liquid-taped – pay attention.

And finally as a customer of ours once said after shelling out hundreds of dollars for a new wetsuit and accessories, “this isn’t just a wetsuit – it’s an investment”. He is absolutely correct and keep your returns coming from your investment by rinsing your wetsuit with freshwater after each session - you should get a few to even more winter seasons out of your equipment.

See you in the water until next time – www.eisurfshop.com.

SURFING’S BEST MONTH

While October is usually reserved solely for ghoulies, goblins, ghosts, and everything else Halloween, it is also the first full month of fall and a red hot month for fishing.  But for me and probably a lot of other wavesliders out there; October is probably the best month to go surf.  Sure September is the peak of hurricane season and may offer bigger and better swells, and the summer months don’t require a wetsuit, but October might be surfing’s best month here along the Crystal Coast for the following environmental reasons.

Waves – It’s not too late in the year to see the last breaths of the Cape Verde phase of the hurricane season, not to mention that any frontal system remnants also have a chance of developing into something tropical if they stall offshore.  October can also see well-centered low pressure systems move across the Country and stall near the coast as well – i.e., early season nor’easters.

Crowds – Well, there are none really which is a welcome reprieve from packed summer line-ups.  The local groms and young adults are back in school, vacationers are down to a minimum, and cooler weather and water spook some of the more casual surfers away.  Not the greatest news for many local retailers and businesses that cater to these summertime demographic blocks, but the upshot is that it’s not uncommon to know everyone in the water you’re surfing with, or at least recognize ‘em.

Water Temperatures – The average water temperature (as collected by resident fishing expert Dr. Bogus) is 72 for October – it drops 10 full degrees a month later for a 62 degree November average.  72 degrees is comfortable – 62 degrees is downright cold.  Quite often, you’re in baggies at the beginning of October and a full wetsuit come Halloween.  The water feels crisp and clean just about the entire month – love it.

Sunsets – Thanks to the axis angle of the Earth relative to the sun, the sun appears to set a little more southerly in the fall rather than due west.  For south-facing beaches along the east coast of the Atlantic, this means the sun sets over the ocean for the fall and part of the winter.  Not too many other places along the east coast have this bragging right and the sunsets are usually an incredible orange you won’t see any other time of the year – again, love it.    

Driving on the Beach – Regardless of what your position is regarding this topic, most municipalities along Bogue Banks allow ORVs (off road vehicles) on the beach in the fall and winter, and it can be an opportunity worth taking advantage of.  This allows you to find the best location enjoy all of the intangibles mentioned in this article – you may find a great, unknown “mysto” surf break while driving down the beach or a magical place to watch the sunset.  Good times with good people.

See you in the water until next time – www.eisurfshop.com.

 

 

TOP 5 SURF ETIQUETTE RULES

This article is being prepared as our first hurricane of the 2009 season is sliding right in between the wave-producing wheelhouse of North Carolina and Bermuda.  It’s been raw meat for the weather media, hurricane junky blogs, and of course surfers – and that’s for a solid week even before the first hint of the swell lapped up on the beach. 

To no surprise every beginner, intermediate, and advanced surfer within a 200 mile radius of the beach is frothing “to catch some hurricane surf”.  Unless the swell is big enough to separate the men from the boys, then our local line-ups will be twice as packed as usual.  Tempers will certainly flare because the following top 5 surf etiquette rules are not being followed in one form or another (usually by beginners or non-locals – sorry, just being honest). 

So here they are in no particular order of importance – “learn it, live it, love it” (that’s a Fast Times at Ridgemont High quote for the Spicolli talking, checkerboard Vans wearing ‘ol timers out there);

Rule #1: Know the Right of Way (priority) – The surfer closest to the peak (where the wave is first breaking) has priority.  If you’re paddling for a left, then you have priority if no one else is to your right and the peak of the wave – vice versa for rights.  On a similar note, if someone is up and riding the wave, then he/she has priority – period.  Also, be careful of whitewater sections – make absolutely sure the surfer coming down the line won’t make the section before even thinking about paddling.  And finally, share an a-frame peak every now and then with your buddy – one goes right, the other goes left. 

Rule #1a: Don’t Drop In – So closely related to rule #1 that it’s rule “1a”, and perhaps the most important.  Dropping in refers to taking off on the same wave in front of a fellow surfer that has priority who is either; (a) about to take off on a wave or (b) is already riding a wave.  This blocks his/her ride down the line and can be extremely dangerous in bigger hurricane surf.  This is a sure fire way to get the infamous Bogue Inlet Pier stink eye, or even worse (the “fella treatment”).  Look before you drop in.

Rule #2: Don’t be a Wave Hog – Transitioning smartly from rule #1 and #1a; all because you can catch all the waves doesn’t mean you should.   This generally applies to friends of the foam – longboarders, stand-up paddle boarders, and hard-core fish aficionados.  Give a wave, get a wave brother.

Rule #3: Don’t Ditch Your Board – If you’re paddling out and a wall of whitewater is coming, you don’t have carte blanche permission to just throw your board away and dive under. If there happens to be someone paddling out behind you, then there will be some carnage and some hurt feelings - if not something else.  Yes, this is a hard rule for beginners to follow but too bad. 

 

Rule #4: Don’t Paddle Out to the Middle of a Packed Lineup if you’re a Beginner. – Hate to keep picking on beginners but that’s what we’re here for - avoid paddling out into the middle of a pack of experienced veterans.  Even though you won’t be trying to, you’ll be getting in their way and won’t catch as many waves.  Try to go out to a less crowded beginner break.  

 

Rule #5: Snake Accordingly – This rule is the most open to interpretation. “Snaking” is when a surfer paddles around another surfer in order to position himself to get priority for a wave - effectively making a big “S” around a fellow surfer.  Not necessarily dangerous and we all have to hustle for waves but as related to rule #3 – don’t be a wave hog.

 

See you in the water until next time – www.eisurfshop.com.

 

While the thought of a surf etiquette list was original, a big thanks goes to http://www.surfinghandbook.com who had a nice list already and was used as model for this article.