COMMENTARY - ADIOS WINTER

March 20^th is the first day of Spring for 2010 and it sure will be good to see the Winter of 2010 rapidly fading in the distance of the rearview mirror.  I also need to eat some humble pie this year – normally I’m mocking our weather by referring to our four seasons as; (1) almost summer, (2) summer, (3) still summer, and (4) Christmas.  This year we had a pure-T, bona fide winter and it was brutal for surfers on a couple of fronts (no weather pun intended);

 

(1) First and foremost, the waves have been pretty much non-existent. Sure, there was a one-day (or half-day) surf event here and there, but it was usually bracketed by a week-long flat spell (or more) on either side. There were really very few marginal days in-between either – very little feast and lots of famine in the wave category. 

 

(2) Bone-chilling water temps were pervasive, especially in January and February.   Our average water temp for both months is 51 degrees.  I’m not sure we even saw a single day in either month that even hit 51 according to our resident fish expert and trusty daily water temperature taker, Dr. Bogus.  The average LOW water temp in Jan. and Feb. is 48 and 50 degrees, respectively.  Heck, we barely saw anything above 48 - period.  Daily temps went way down in the low 40s and then it was 46, 48, 48, 48, 47, 49, 47, 46, blah, blah, blah for just about the entire month February.  Muy frio!! 

 

(3) Arctic cold air.  Remember the good ol’ days when it might dip below freezing at night just a handful of times the entire winter – make sure to wrap the pipes, cover the plants, and bring in the pets.  Jeez, this winter it seemed like every night (and most days) the mercury went south of the freezing mark.  The wind chill was especially cold and for surfers, there’s nothing colder than freezing water on the wetsuit or the face and a 15 – 20 mph north wind blowing across exposed skin and saturated neoprene.  Coffee intake this year was at an all-time high.  De-caffeinated will work, but high octane is better.

 

          So granted I probably don’t need any more “whine” with my cheese, but don’t think I’m alone in looking forward to better waves, warmer weather, and pleasant water temps.  See you out there once all of these things come together, or beforehand if necessary.  – www.eisurfshop.com.