Pre-Surf

I normally post about my experiences surfing, trying to keep a log of what works and what doesn't work. This time I'm doing it different by posting something before I go surf. Tomorrow has good potential for several spots and I'm a bit overwhelmed by the possibilities. Of course this is a good problem to have, and one that I hope to have again. In addition to not knowing where is my best bet for surfing, I also can't decide which board would be the best bet. Part of the problem is I've opened my eyes to the other surf spots that I had written off for various reasons, but I've recently found to be worthwhile. But the waves at those spots are quite different from what I'm familiar with, and I'm not sure what to expect and what to bring to handle the conditions. Alas, this is a problem with the whole concept of "surf quiver" and proves that there are not simple black and white decisions in life. I love having options and being able to mix it up, but without fail I have anxiety when I'm packing my car. Just for sake of an example, I'll go over just some of the options I'm considering.

1) Rock

    a) Tree Hugger with which one of 5 fin combinations I have on my mind.

2) Cove

    a) Again, Tree Hugger + fin decision, See 1) a)

3) Waddell

    a) See 1) a)

    b) Hess semi-gun, funboard, quad-fish, mini-quad fish (depending on where along the reef I choose.

4) Scott

    a) Tree Hugger and try Stage 6 again

    b) Tree Hugger and one of the other 4 fin combinations.

    c) Hess semi-gun, funboard, quad-fish, mini-quad fish.

5) Rim

    a) See "Scott" options above.

6) That other spot next to it.

    a) ??? Doesn't matter because I've never surfed it so no matter what I chose I'll learn something.

7) 4-Mile

    a) See 1) a) above

    b) Hess quad-fish (Pacheco)

    c) Hess mini quad-fish

8) Natural

    a) See 5) above.

9) Mitchel

    a) See 1) a) above

    b) Hess quad-fish

    c) Hess mini-gun if it's working around the corner.

The numerous combinations are often narrowed down by conditions and/or my mood. But as I said, conditions look good for all these spots and more. (At least I know I won't be longboarding.) I usually allow myself two boards because I'll sometimes carry two down to the beach, and if I don't, I only risk loosing one if my car gets broken into. But with the options I've identified, I have five to choose from.

...

Okay, I'll most likely bring the Tree Hugger because it's been fun to ride lately and I'm still experimenting with it. It overlaps the most with the Hess funboard, so that means I need to decide between the remaining three as my alternate. Although the TH also overlaps with the Pacheco, they are enough different that I wouldn't consider them interchangeable for a lot of conditions. The Pacheco is also the shape that fits the best with the kind of surfer I am. But the mini-quad fish has been on my mind and would work for several of the "dream waves" I imagine I'll see. Being mini, it needs a good wave for me to even catch, but isn't that what I expect tomorrow? 

Oh god, this is what it sounds like inside my head sometimes!

POST SURF EDIT on Wednesday

Oh the irony. The forecast was a bust and the swell arrived late, after I got home. The swell was small, and I ended up a Scott riding the Tree Hugger with the Stage 6 fin and side fins. It was similar to the prior session, but smaller. Funky shifty but otherwise clean. I had fun catching waves but didn't feel like I caught enough. I was out for 2 hours and got tired and came in. I checked down the coast and saw rim was unsurfable, the next reef was sorta surfable, while Davenprt was really good. Not only good, but crowded. Like "in-town" type crowds. I was surprised, but this isn't an area I'm familiar with so maybe it wasn't unusual.
The day as a whole got me thinking of the SUP to waves idea, now with the option of bringing a surfboard. I've spent a few hours researching on the web since Saturday and it looks like it wouldn't be too hard and would be fun. Saturday would have been a great day for it with small swell and no wind. I'll keep an eye out for another similar day to give it a try.

On my way home I stopped by JB's place to check out his updated quiver. In one month he ordered a Lost Smooth Operator, a CI-Mid, and a Modern "Classic" longboard. The two mid-lengths have less volume than my Tree Hugger and look like they would be fun. JB has gotten them into waves and says they're both great. He's never ridden a longboard much, so his one session on that was not great. But he already likes how easy it is to catch waves. He gave me a 6-in center fin to try in my Tree Hugger. It's very close to the 6.5 bonzer fin I've already tried, but I'll still try it the next time I want to feel the thruster type feeling under my feet. In fact, I think the next time I try Scott I should swap to a thruster setup.

Keeping with the forward looking blogging, next weekend looks like a difficult combination of small swell, larger wind-swell, and onshore winds. The wind forecasts have been predicting winds higher than what I've been seeing, so hopefully there will be a window of opportunity first thing in the morning. Even without wind, the big wind-swell will make north coast spots messy. I'll have to take a look at the buoy and make a decision at the last minute.