Howzit boys…thanks for the props… I was on a 7’5", which was about right for this old guy given the conditions. Much bigger and the board gets hard for me to duck dive. Pretty sure Tim’s orange board is an 8’5", although both are reasonably similar shapes.
I’ve tried riding short boards there in previous years and found it frustrating… maybe at willow, but at sand dollar the extra length helps a lot, both for positioning, fighting the rips to stay there, and catching up to the big ones.
It is impossible to set a date far in advance for any random weekend and positively have it coincide with good surfing conditions. This past weekend had the full mix with small days and larger unruly days. The tides were extreme with the full moon.
Sand Dollar isn't really on anyone's map as a legitimate big wave spot. In spite of Bank Wright's claims that it "never" closes out, most of us know otherwise. It typically has a shifty line up with a high close-out percentage on bigger swells.
FWIW...
Predictions for next week are for a smaller longer period swell which might provide better conditions than we've typically had for a Swaylocks weekend. Wednesday is predicted to have a 3 to 5 feet swell with 19-21 second interval and Thursday is predicted to peak at 4 to 6 feet with a 16-18 second interval. This swell is going to be from Tropical Storm Maliksi which is winding it's way towards Japan and will be approaching the Gulf Of Alaska before too long.
It sounds like the sort of swell which could bring classic fall conditions to much of the California Coast.... Sand Dollar Beach included.
Definitely could have used some more length out there.
If nothing else, at least for motoring around the lineup chasing down corners…
As far as the surf is concerned. The last 2 years we got A+ surf.
Even though the surf this year was ok. It was still a great trip!
I hate my life sometimes. I wish I could have been there..but work gets in the way 70-85% of the time now.
Nothing make me smile more than to be in a line up getting crushed with my buddies......missed opportunity again.
It bring me great joy hearing a bunch of you talking about "more board". With age come more wisdom, with wisdom comes board length.
Sit out the back, don't get picked off by the sneaker set.....catch the sneaker set.
I'll see you guys next year,
J
Yeah, you were missed. Racoons decided to raid my camp site in your absence.
I may come armed with a “Sand Dollar Special” next year.
You were missed J
Already looking forward to NEXT YEAR!
Jay and Keith have it dialed…big(ger) boards and not getting lured inside.
CJ does really well on a smaller board.
My 8’6" hull has been the only thing that is consistently functional out there…I invariably wind up regretting it when I don’t use it, but then I always want to try something different.
Tyler, you were missed too!
cheers for the photos , Ray !
...ARE you allowed to tell us who all these people ARE , please ? [because 99 % of us have NO IDEA !]
[only the people who go there know , I guess...]
cheers
keep the pics coming !
[ on behalf of the 18 000 plus people who couldn't make it there ....]
ben fins tinkerer , west oz
cheers for the photos , Ray !
...ARE you allowed to tell us who all these people ARE , please ? [because 99 % of us have NO IDEA !]
[only the people who go there know , I guess...]
cheers
keep the pics coming !
[ on behalf of the 18 000 plus other people who couldn't make it there ....]
ben fins tinkerer , west oz
Nice pictures Ray!
The funny looking guy holding CJ’s green squiggle 5-fin step up board & the picture of that guy holding the GG modfish and step-up cork and balsa board is me.
I think most boards that I really like don’t go so good at Sand Dollar. Gutless take off to close out. The trick is to find the one in ten ok waves. Then you need to have enough paddle power to be in the right spot and get a lot of speed quickly. You guys just need to ride mean crappy waves all year like me so it seems like a good spot.
My vote is a board like CJ’s 7ish GG style 5-finner, at 50lbs less than me this should be plenty big for you.
I’m thinking we need to make another run to Plaskett. More experimentation is in order.
"...ARE you allowed to tell us who all these people ARE , please ? [because 99 % of us have NO IDEA !]"
Louie, Dewy, Sidewinder, Topcat, Hector, Felix, and Alfonzo........The dog would not tell me her name.
I also keep an extensive data base of Sway members personal information so if you need a shoe size, cell phone number or an ex girlfriends address let me know.....
Stingray
That’s me in the blue sweatshirt standing next to Lavarat.
I’ll let everyone else call themselves out.
Thanks for the pics Ray.
BTW, my shoe size is 10 1/2.
For those who want to know…
Is that a recent pic Ian?
[quote="$1"]
That's me in the blue sweatshirt standing next to Lavarat.
I'll let everyone else call themselves out.
Thanks for the pics Ray.
BTW, my shoe size is 10 1/2.
For those who want to know...
[/quote]
10 1/2 shoe size....I guess that explains the twin fin in big waves.
I know who all of you is.. I has yo computer as me slave.
we are trying to sell to your outfit…I dialed in to the conference call with my half-face respirator on and exclaimed that I eat 233+ for breakfast…
they had a hard time understanding me through the organic vapor cartridges.
Get with the program AFOAF… the new 3M full face respirator “ultimato” has a built in cell phone.
And, the green tape is for LUNCH. Brown (original 233) is for breakfast (higher in fiber!).
