Quik Pro NYC 2 Legit 2 Quit!

Is it on or is it off? Will it be firing or will it be flat? Is it a contest or is it a circus? That is the questions for the Quiksilver Pro NY being held next week in the Big Apple. Or more like Long Beach, New York- about 30 minutes outside of Manhattan.

If you saw the North County Surf blog back in January, then you heard the rumors about Quiksilver wanting to mirror the success of Nike's US Open in Huntington (or at least that's my thought on their undertaking). Of course you can't have a similar event in California or it looks like you're copying 'The Swoosh'. So hold it on the east coast instead, have some bands on the beach, a skate demo, bmx exhibition, some tents to pass out swag- oh- and a surf contest, and will look like you're not doing the same thing. Even though it is the same thing- just replace Nike/Hurley/Converse with Quiksilver/Roxy/DC and your owner happens to be Bob McKnight instead of Phil Knight. Eerie.

Anyway, there was this little natural disaster called Hurricane Irene last week that rolled through town and dumped rain, washed away sand, and knocked out power to Long Beach. So the rumors flew on the world wide web yesterday that the event was cancelled. Cooler heads prevailed though and they got rid of the 'fluf' and kept the surf contest- oh- and kept the skate demo Friday 'cause the kids love Tony Hawk. So at the core of it all, what's up with a surf contest in NYC?! Well, there are waves from time to time in Long Beach but just inconsistently.

And as luck would have it, looks like the next hurricane in line, Katia, is headed towards the event. Now, it's still a long ways away, but best case is for the event to have firing surf the middle of next week and for Katia to stay in the middle of the Atlantic. Worst case is for a hurricane to plow through the event site- again. Anyway you look at it, the surf world is going to be focused on NYC and it will be interesting to see how Kelly, Dane, Mick, Parko, Owen, Jordy, and the boys deal with the adversity- in and out of the water. The waiting period for the surf portion of the event starts Tuesday the 4th so make sure to check out the all drama here!

Surf Check 8/30/11

Hold tight- we're almost there. Today is a transition day between swells.

After a fun weekend of chest high+ SW/NW combo, we've got a continued NW with inconsistent SW underneath. Waves look to be waist to chest high and fun little peaks up and down the beach. Unfortunately the low clouds and cool weather don't get my mojo going. Wind is currently blowing SW at 5.

Hazy sunshine should prevail around lunchtime today but the clouds should come back again late this afternoon. This weather pattern should last through Thursday. On the bright side, we've got two and maybe 3 solid swells lined up, starting late tomorrow. By now you've heard of the Teahupoo contest the past few days where the ASP World Tour competitors were treated like human guinea pigs as contest director Luke Egan sent the boys out into some of the biggest nastiest surf ever held for a professional contest. That same swell is marching up the coast and we should see some fun sets by the afternoon tomorrow and solid overhead waves Thursday- with double overhead sets at the best spots in the OC.

But wait! There's more! If you order now, we'll throw in a good chest high NW windswell event too! Winds are blowing around 25mph off Point Conception today and will increase to near 35mph Thursday. That will result in chest high NW windswell with maybe shoulder high surf in south SD. Combine that with the overhead+ SW swell and you've got wedges galore at the beachbreaks.

And if you act now, you'll get a bonus S swell from our next hurricane! Models are showing an area of organized clouds off mainland Mexico this morning and that should form into a tropical storm by tomorrow. If all goes according to plan, we could see a hurricane by Friday and hopefully hitting our swell window by Saturday. If that's the case, we hope to see some swell by Monday. Keep your fingers crossed on this one. If I had to pick one day to surf, it might be Thursday as that looks like the peak of the SW swell but the weather will be better Friday... so take your pick. Word to the wise- if there's still solid swell on Friday and the weather is nice, you just know everyone is going to skip work and school... so beware the crowds!

And make sure to check the tides the next few days as we've got a pretty big swing occurring and the swells will react differently of course. We've got a 0' tide around 6am, going to 6' at 11am, then down to 0' at 5pm and up slightly to 2' at sunset. Water temps are around 66 in the OC and 69 in SD.

S#!++Y Sewage Spill!

It's being reported this morning that the sewage treatment plant in Escondido had BIG sewage spill last night at 5:30pm. Approximately 250,000 gallons dumped into Escondido creek. This creek flows into Lake Hodges, then Rancho Santa Fe, and ultimately into San Elijo Lagoon at Cardiff State Beach. An electrical failure is to blame for the spill. Workers ultimately stopped the spill but 249,840 gallons of sewage still drained into the Escondido Creek. Contamination warning signs were posted overnight near the spill area and additional signs will be posted at Cardiff State Beach this morning. The signs will remain in place until samples of water show it is safe for people to return to the water- and with a big swell coming later in the week, let's hope it's sooner rather than later. So what does that mean for the fun surf today at Suckouts, Cardiff Reef, and Georges? Looks like Swami's will be more crowded than usual from the overflow of Cardiff regulars...

Deal Alert! Fullsuits for Summer!

Ok, you don't actually need fullsuits for summer (unless you in live in Nor Cal) and it's summer for cryin' out loud- fullsuit is a 4 letter word. But if you're a regular reader of this blog, then you know the best time to buy a fullsuit is in the summer. Shops are trying to clear out their inventory to make room for boardshorts and tees and a 4/3 fullsuit is the last thing on a shopper's mind. The smart surfer knows he needs a new fullsuit for the upcoming winter anyway, so why wait until November to pay full price?! Get it DIRT CHEAP now and let it sit in the garage a couple months. Big deal. The boys at Seshday got their hands on West Suits again and they've got them marked reaaaaaaal low since it's 80 degrees outside and the water is 70. Like a 4/3 super gooey back zip for just $159. Regular price is $370- you'd be a fool to pass this up. Or my favorite for So-Cal, the mythical 2/2 fullsuit. Last time I was surfing Fort Point, I saw Big Foot wearing one. Or maybe it was animals on the West team like Davo, Munro, and Warren Smith. Great for water temps around 60, it's like wearing trunks in the middle of January. A must have for your wetsuit quiver at a ridiculous $109- almost 60% off. Anyway, lots of great wetsuit deals at Seshday you have to see today. Remember to get shopping now and squirrel them away for the winter!

Clip of the Day: Solid Surf's A Comin'

By now you've probably heard the Billabong Pro Tahiti is in action this week and they've been on hold the past few days waiting for a solid+++ swell coming to the event. Solid meaning double overhead (12' maybe 15' faces and lips just as thick). And then even BIGGER for Saturday.

Almost too big to the point they can't hold the contest as guys will need jetskis for tow-ins. Like Laird Hamilton big. Like Raimana dodging jet skis big. Like Dorian's waking up from his summer slumber big.

They held the 1st round a few days ago in super good 8' barrelling Teahupoo lefts and could have held the 2nd round the following day- but the ASP hasn't had a swell hyped like this in a LOOOONG time and they're holding out for the goods tomorrow. I can't remember the last time a contest lived up to it's potential. Maybe the 2005 Globe Fiji Pro that Slater absolutely destroyed at 8' Restaurants?!

Anyway, looks like 2 pulses of swell are headed towards Teahupoo- one currently building tonight and lasting through Friday (12'+)  then another slightly bigger bomb (maybe rogue 20' sets?) on Saturday. My feeling is that they'll try to run and finish the contest in the 'manageable' 12-15' surf tomorrow and Friday and let the tow guys have at it Saturday. Seriously, 20'+ Chopes isn't even paddleable which would make a contest virtually impossible. Make sure to check out all the death and glory here at Billabong Pro Tahiti.

On the other side of the world, there's a contest almost as important- the Vans Pro in Virginia Beach, VA. An ASP 4 star event (aka the minor leagues) it's major for all the mainland guys as they can earn points towards the big leagues as well as put some cash in their pocket. Some of the best young surfers here in the US (and from abroad) are competing this week- Kolohe Andino, Torrey Meister, Kaimana Jaquias, Garrett Parkes, Evan Geiselman, Kalani David, Ian Gentil, Dylan Graves, Luke Davis, Keanu Asing, Nat Young, Cory Arrambide, Andrew Doheny, Tonino Benson and Conner Cofffin to name a few as well as 'vets' like Nate Yeomans, Roy Powers, Nathanial Curran, Brian Toth, and Ben Bourgeois. And as luck would have it, there's some solid surf coming tomorrow and Friday to this contest too- from Hurricane Irene unfortunately.

Looks like they should have some solid surf tomorrow afternoon (probably head high+ then some bombing surf on Friday (probably 10'+ faces) and then all hell breaks loose on Saturday as the event may be steamrolled by Irene. Seriously. They'll probably run a million heats tomorrow and Friday just to finish the contest then get the heck out of town. Irene may be a category 4 hurricane by the time it makes landfall with 135mph winds. I don't know if it's worth getting a surf in knowing your town will be destroyed the following day. If I had to place my bets on the 4 man final, I'd pick the world tour vets since it's going to be solid. Maybe Roy Powers, Nate Yeomans, Nathanial Curran, and Benny B. Oh- and throw Kolohe into the mix since the kid has been on fire this year.

Good luck to all the contestants this week and pray no one gets hurt!

Surf Check 8/23/11

Actually have some fun little combo swell action today. We've got some peaking ex-hurricane Greg S swell along with some NW windswell. I love these extreme swells- the S is coming from 190 and the NW from 280 so it makes the wedges extra peaky. Both swells are only waist high but when they combine you'll find some chest high peaks in far north county SD and far south county OC.

Water is nice too, holding in the high 60's. Tides are also mellow today- about 3' at 8am going to 5' at 6pm. Wind is currenly light and variable.

Models show a slight bump in NW windswell towards Thursday and maybe some better SW towards Friday. Nothing big for both swells but it should put us back into chest high+ waves (south SD Thursday, the OC by Friday). Bad news is that the S should be gone tomorrow and we're only left with small NW for Wednesday. Good news is that summer weather gets back on track! Took a few weeks but it's finally pulling through.

High pressure is building over the Four Corners region and is expanding westward. The low clouds/fog should be confined to only the early mornings/late nights and temps at the beaches may hit 80. And our good friends in the Death Valley will hit 120+. Awesome. We also have some slight monsoonal (aka tropical) moisture coming in from the south the next few days and our humidity will increase slightly. Looks like Friday is the day to skip work- some fun little waves and some great weather. Not that I condone calling in sick or anything.

Further out on the horizon, the models are showing a solid storm forming in the southern hemisphere. It's moving a little east to west unfortunately but we still should get some overhead waves from it. Hopefully towards the end of the month if everything pulls together. We should also have a little NW windswell forming again as high pressure is forecasted to back off early next week and the winds in our outer waters will increase the low clouds/fog eddy circulation. And what's going on in the tropics you ask? Nothing. Not even some organized clouds or anything.y next week

I do though want to give a shout out to our east coast friends- be wary of Irene as she may hit category 4 status (135mph winds) before hitting land- potentially the Carolina's in a few days. Get some surf while you can then head out of town ASAP.

THE Surf Report 8/19/11

Holding pattern.

SURF:

Had some fun surf mid-week (despite the June Gloom in August) from a SW/NW swell combo. Today we have more of the same as the SW has held and the NW has picked up slightly. Most spots are waist to chest high with maybe a shoulder high sets on the best SW sets. Lots of peaks out there today; looks fun.

Currently we have a strong eddy circulation off our coast so the wind was blowing out of the SSE early this morning around 5mph. Shouldn’t get too blown today and may glass off this evening. Those swells hold into tomorrow with maybe a another foot out of the NW (south SD may see chest high waves from it) then the swells drop off slightly on Sunday. Hurricane Greg hit our swell window yesterday with winds at 90mph- then promptly dropped to tropical storm status this morning with 65mph winds. He wasn’t a big storm and he was headed due west, so I don’t expect any real swell from him. He’ll probably keep SD in waist high+ waves on Sunday with chest high sets in the OC- you pretty much won’t notice a change from the current SW swell. We’ve got some waves this weekend so I can’t complain. BUT… the sun’s not really out, the water isn’t above 70, and the surf isn’t that big. Sheesh, I sound like Debbie Downer. Anyway, there will be some fun little waves around town, just not that exciting. Tides the next few days are 2’ at sunrise, 5’ at 3pm, back to 3’ at sunset. Water temps are holding around 68; they’d be warmer if the sun was out. Make sure to keep up to date on the swells and conditions at Twitter/North County Surf.

FORECAST:

Nothing really exciting but the southern hemisphere and tropics haven’t been exactly flat either. After the little swells this weekend, we get another small SW for the beginning of the work week- probably waist to chest high in far north SD and the OC. High pressure is forecast to build towards Monday so it should shut off our NW windswell pipeline unfortunately.

We also have another area of clouds forming off Mex and it’s a long way from becoming a hurricane but if it does, I’d assume it would hit our window towards Monday and maybe get some surf towards Wednesday- if everything goes according to plan. All in all, a little bit of surf next week with the emphasis on the word little.

WEATHER:

Kind of over this June Gloom in August. Normally we get low clouds/fog in May/June/July then by August it clears up with warm air and water temps. But it’s been consistently cloudy now at the beaches for almost 2 weeks and our water temps are hovering in the high 60’s. Wearing trunks is not an option! Models are hoping for high pressure over the Four Corners to build towards Monday and maybe by mid-week we could have nice weather with some high tropical clouds overhead. But that was the forecast a couple weeks ago and it never materialized so I’m taking it with a grain of salt. Long story short- look for cool overcast conditions at the beaches this weekend with maybe some sun next week.

BEST BET:

Looks like the SW will be biggest today but the NW biggest tomorrow. So the best bet is… If you live in the OC, surf today as the SW is biggest. And if you live in SD, surf tomorrow as the NW will be biggest!
 

NEWS OF THE WEEK:

This day in weather history!!!!!!
1997: Hurricane Ignacio produced 20 foot+ surf at the Wedge.
1983: The lowest maximum temperature on record of 74° in Riverside remarkably occurred on the same day as the highest minimum temperature of 70° for this day.
1986: Santa Ana hit 96 degrees.
1961: Thunderstorms hit Barstow, Redlands and Calimesa. Roads and highways were eroded. A few homes in Redlands were sitting in two to three feet of water.
1959: It was 31° in Idyllwild, making this the earliest date in the season to reach freezing temperatures.
1945: What is believed to be a decaying tropical storm hit the region. 1.75 inches of rain fell in Escondido on this day, the greatest daily amount on record for August.
1906: A tropical storm came up into the Gulf of California and the southwestern United States, giving the mountains and deserts heavy rainfall . Needles received 5.66 inches of rain, twice the normal of seasonal rainfall. This occurred during the El Niño of 1905-06.

BEST OF THE BLOG:

Deals, waves, big airs, and development. What do all of these have in common? Nothing really, except you can find all of these topics on the North County Surf blog this week. From rock bottom deals on Spy sunnies to mid-week surf checks. From Kolohe, Evan, and Conner going big in Indo to the Ecke family trying to sell off more land in Encinitas. All of that intensive reading at in the blog below!

PIC OF THE WEEK:

It’s hurricane season and we’ve had some activity on both coasts this past week. Two summer time magnets for progressive surfing, girls, and good waves are Lowers on the west coast and Sebastian Inlet on the east coast. With barrels like these at Sebastian, you wish it was summer all the time (except of course for black ball, crowds, sunburned tourits, and sting rays). For more east coast dreaminess, check out the kings of the east coast at ESM

Keep Surfing,

Michael W. Glenn

Rich and Famous
Bachmann Campaign Manager
Lost to Skeletor, Terminator, and Glue Foot in Semis of ’86 Malibu PSAA

North County Business News: Ecke Expansion

Seems as though the Irvine Company is at it again, developing more land in Orange Cou... err, I mean Carltas, the Ecke land development company from Encinitas. Ever notice that big piece of land that houses a bunch of run down greenhouses on the east side of Saxony Road (a couple doors down from the YMCA)? The one that Ecke said he wouldn't develop into homes IF he'd let the city and voters let him develop Encinitas Ranch and the golf course instead? The one a few years ago he said he needed to sell for capital to stay competitive in the floral growing business but voters shot it down in Prop A? The one that's zoned for 1 home per 10 acres? That one. The original plan in Prop A was to sell 38 of the 68 acres and make 101 homes (that's about 1 home per a 15k square foot lot- 1/3 of an acre- not too shabby). Looks like they want to now divide it up basically into 5 parcels and sell 3 of them (a total of 36 acres). What's not entirely understood is if these new parcels (roughly 13, 12, and 10 acres) would create a loophole and houses could be built on them- i.e. more than 1 home on 10 acres. Since the 3 small parcels aren't technically being sold as a bigger chunk of land, voters don't have a say in what happens with the sale- as they did with Prop A. I guess you could call this new deal for Ecke Plan B. Now here's my take: I have two views on development. If it looks like this:

DON'T TOUCH IT

And if it looks like the current Ecke greenhouses:

DO SOMETHING WITH IT

Now I'm not claiming we should pave over the greenhouses with strip malls, Sam's Clubs, and put 10 people per home. But some nice single family homes and some landscaping (like Poinsettia Park across the street)

sure beats graffiti, chain link fence, rats, and concrete bunkers. And it sure as heck doesn't hurt the value of the area the way the current land does. 









Clip of the Day: The Kids Are Alright 2

Hopefully you've seen the new TransWorld SURF by now. Big article on Red Bull packing their team up (Bruce, Adriano, Cristobol, Kolohe, Conner, Evan, JOB, and Ian) and sending them off on their 'Minor Threat' trip to Indo aboard the Indies Trader IV. They got some amazing rippable waves. Like this clip here- (I'm taking a guess and saying it's Macaroni's)- which is like Lower's Left on steroids. Full video game stuff here. Makes me want to call in sick today!

Surf Check 8/16/11

We've got a little more surf today from the SSW and it's being joined by a tiny NW. Unfortunately the NW isn't peaking up the SSW that much and it's pretty lined up. You may get a fast corner here and there though at the beach breaks but your best bet is a jetty, reef, or pier. Sets look to be shoulder high in north county SD and head high in the OC.

Could be a fun day of surf- if you don't mind overcast conditions. Models a few days ago predicted nice weather at the beaches but it hasn't materialized- the gloom is sticking like peanut butter at the coast. That unfortunately looks to hang around for maybe another week. Ouch.

Wind is already blowing lightly from the W. The water temps are also a little cooler than usual with all these clouds and light W wind we've been having. It would be nice to have water temps in the low 70's but we're holding steady at 67. Without the sun overhead it's hard to put trunks on for a summer shred session.

The southern hemisphere has had a little activity this past week but nothing great. After our current SSW swell hits it's peak tomorrow we get a slight reinforcement for the weekend with chest high sets- kind of similar to the surf this past weekend. Nothing great but it keeps our streak of rideable days in August alive. NW windswell from central CA also looks to be continuing the next few days- no real size- probably knee high- but it may help peak up the south lines a little bit.

Looking further out, we have some activity in the tropics with tropical storm Fernanda holding steady with 40mph winds and headed W towards Hawaii. Looks like Fernanda won't get that big and may top out at with winds around 60mph on Thursday but it should send head high surf to the Big Island if you happen to be over there or visiting this weekend (I wish). Unfortunately for us here on the mainland, Fernanda is moving due W (away from us) and isn't even a hurricane so we won't see any surf from him.

Good news is that we have two more areas of clouds behind him off Mexico and 1 of them looks like it may become a hurricane in the next couple of days. If all goes according to plan, we may see surf late in the weekend from this system.

Deal Alert! Spy Sunnies For Summer!

I swear the sun will come out again this summer. And when it does, I'm going to be prepared with some new sunnies from Spy. The crew at Seshday have loaded up their inventory with shades from $37-$69 (which is good since you'll just lose them anyway and you'll be bummed if you paid $100).

They've got all kinds of styles- some funky stuff, some stuff for your lady friend, some laid back 'don't bother me I'm sleeping behind these sunglasses' look, you name it.

Worn by super groms John John, Conner, and Marzo as well as pro surfer (or model?) Alana Blanchard; you're guaranteed to rip like a pro after wearing these. Ok- no guarantee but it can't hurt.

Make sure to head over to Seshday asap as they're already selling out!

THE Surf Report 8/12/11

Come and get it.

SURF:

The week started off right with leftover hurricane Eugene swell with small NW windswell making shoulder high peaks at the best combo spots. The sun was even out too. Then everything started to turn for the worse as the swells dropped off and June Gloom made a surprise visit to August. Luckily we had a new small SW show up yesterday and it’s peaking today with better weather this afternoon. Most spots in north county SD are chest high with shoulder high+ sets the closer you get to the OC. Look for that swell to hold into tomorrow morning then back off slightly on Sunday. Looks like the nice weather may hold this weekend so get it while you can. Should be a fun summer weekend of waves and weather. We’ve also had SW winds blowing the past week so our water temps have warmed up about 1 degree every day- from 60 degrees last Friday to 67 today. That trend should continue and I’m hoping we finally hit 70 again this weekend. Along with the sun coming out earlier every day, it may be time to wear trunks again. It is summer, isn’t it? Tides the next few days are 1’ at sunrise, 5’ at 10am, back to 1’ at 4pm, and up to 4’ at sunset. Make sure to keep up to date on the swells and conditions at Twitter/North County Surf! 

FORECAST:

After a little weekend of waves, we get a slight bump again out of the SW towards Monday. Nothing big again but it should give us chest high sets in the OC/SD. Tuesday should hold and yet another small bump arrives mid-week from the SW that will last into Thursday. Kind of a funny upcoming week- nothing good nothing bad but we’ll have rideable waves most every day. The weather unfortunately won’t cooperate (more on that below) but considering last summer had bad weather AND no waves, I have no complaints.

WEATHER:

The unfortunate gloomy weather the past few days really didn’t help the small surf look appealing. Luckily we have some surf today and tomorrow along with sunnier conditions. I guess if the surf is going to be small you might as well have ugly conditions. Save the warm weather for the waves! Looks like the Gods are smiling upon us this weekend and we have a little break in the overcast conditions. For a few days we should have less clouds at the coast and slightly warmer temperatures; beach weather may finally be on tap. And then it gets a little more overcast and cooler next week as another weak trough passes by to the north. It’s nice to have crummy conditions during the workweek and sunny days on the weekend. Feels like everything is finally in order in this world- except the stock market of course.

BEST BET:

Good weather on tap today and tomorrow along with some fun SW swell so I’m placing my bet on today with tomorrow a close second. Next week should have some waves too of course but the low clouds may hang around a bit longer at the beaches during the day unfortunately…

NEWS OF THE WEEK:

Even though THE Surf Report is primarily based on SD/OC waves and weather, I don’t mind giving a shout out to the east coast when they have some good news. Like the current hurricane season out there. NOAA updated their hurricane forecast last week to say it’s going to be more active than originally forecasted. Now the downside of course is the potential for structural damage along the coast with all these storms- but if the storms send some waves AND stay offshore- then I don’t think there’s any complaints from the east coast surfing contingent. Here’s the official statement:

“The atmosphere and Atlantic Ocean are primed for high hurricane activity during August through October,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at the Climate Prediction Center.  “Storms through October will form more frequently and become more intense than we’ve seen so far this season.” Key climate factors predicted in May continue to support an active season. These include: the tropical multi-decadal signal, which since 1995 has brought favorable ocean and atmospheric conditions, leading to more active seasons; exceptionally warm Atlantic Ocean temperatures (the third warmest on record); and the possible redevelopment of La Niña.  Reduced vertical wind shear and lower air pressure across the tropical Atlantic also favor an active season. Based on these conditions and on climate model forecasts, the confidence for an above-normal season has increased from 65 percent in May to 85 percent. Also, the expected number of named storms has increased from 12-18 in May to 14-19, and the expected number of hurricanes has increased from 6-10 in May to 7-10.  Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the whole season – June 1 to November 30 – NOAA’s updated seasonal outlook projects, with a 70 percent probability, a total of:

-14 to 19 named storms (top winds of 39 mph or higher), including:

-7 to 10 hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or higher), of which:
-3 to 5 could be major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of at least 111 mph)

These ranges are indicative of an active season, and extend well above the long-term seasonal averages of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.  The Atlantic basin has already produced five tropical storms this season: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don and Emily. All eyes this week are on Emily, which continues to develop and move towards the United States. The last hurricane to make landfall in the United States was Ike in 2008. Last year saw above-normal hurricane activity, but none made landfall in the United States. August through October are peak months of the Atlantic hurricane season, and FEMA urges people not to be lured into a false sense of security by the lack of hurricanes so far this year. "It is still early in this hurricane season and we know it can take only one storm to devastate communities and families," said FEMA Deputy Administrator Rich Serino. "Many disasters come without warning, but that’s not the case with hurricanes. This is hurricane season, if you haven't already, now is the time to take a few simple steps to get you and your family prepared. Anyone can visit www.ready.gov to learn more." Be prepared for the hurricane season with important information available online at hurricanes.gov/prepare and at FEMA’s ready.gov.

Considering there are 4 areas of disturbances out in the Atlantic right now, looks like Mendia, Kech, Lopez, Ceej, Hines, Hammer, and the boys are going to get pitted this August!

BEST OF THE BLOG:

Keeping you entertained since ’10. Not that long ago of course, but all kinds of stuff on the site this week. Like boardshorts for under $25 (and I’m not talking Old Navy crap here either). We’re talking Quik, Billy, DC, Analog, and Rusty. Bam! And if you want to hone your ripping skills, check out the clips from Alejo, Julian, and Kolohe. It will make you feel old real fast. Or just check up on the surf. All of those goodies in the blog below!

PIC OF THE WEEK:

One of my all-time favorite waves- that I haven’t ridden yet but it’s on my bucket list- is Mundaka. What’s there not to like? It’s a goofy footer’s paradise- long gurgling double up sandbar barrels. The Basque countryside. Spanish food. Sure the paddle against the current is hellish and don’t even get me started on the crowds or lack of consistent surf. But to get just one of those deep tubes- it makes the $1,000 airfare, drop-ins, and $300 a night hotel rooms worth it. For more worldly pics, check out Casikp blog.

Keep Surfing,

 
Michael W. Glenn
Risque
Fed Chairman
Hans Hedemann’s 1^st Sponsor

Deal Alert! Rock Bottom Boardies!

Summer's in full swing, we've got some SW swell running, the water is finally creeping up to 70 degrees, and the forecast models are showing sun this weekend at the beach! You know what time it is? Cheap boardshort time! The beach is chock full of chicks and they're packed in like sardines. So you need to have a fresh pair of boardies on. But you say the recession, stock market, and gas prices are bleeding you dry? Well that's why North County Surf is here to help. Scouring the world high and low for deals so you don't have to. Here's what we have on tap today:

The legendary DC brand is making boardshorts now (with a little help from parent company Quiksilver) and they've got this good looking piece for around $19. Click here (DC) to grab it asap.

Another parent helping it's child is Burton with their Analog line of surf clothing. Now of course you have to like wild looking boardshorts if you're going to wear these in the water, but for $13, you can't go wrong. Click here (Analog) to snatch a pair.

Surfboard shaper to the stars Rusty Preisendorfer had a boardshort side gig going for awhile (he's since sold the clothing arm of the business so he could spend more time surfing Black's) but the boardies are still looking good and reasonably priced- like these bad boys for $25. Click here (Rusty)to lock and load a pair.

The company that started the boardshort revolution back in the 70's- Quiksilver- has even got some cheap trunks on sale- like these Bob Marley inspired Jamaica jammers. Priced right at $25. Click here (Quiksilver) to rock a pair.

And one of my personal favorite brands (not because of it's team over the years- Taj, Parko, AI R.I.P., Occy, Luke, Rasta, Dorian, etc. etc., etc.) but becuase of it's good looking boardies. Or maybe it is the team. Anyway, $39 may not seem like a deal- especially since full price boardies back in the 80's were just $40- but nowadays it's steal with boardshorts over $100. Crikey. Make sure to click here (Billabong) $39.99 to purchase them.

Now that I've just styled you out for less than a 1/2 a tank of gas, make sure to repay me by letting me catch a set wave the next time we're surfing...