Surfing Waves

Ok so I live in NE Florida and Hurricane/Tropical Storm Fay is in the area, it changes between hurricane and tropical storm and seems to not be much of a danger as long as people execute common sense. My question is anyone have experience surfing during/after a hurricane? Right now there are some head+ high waves out there but it is VERY choppy, but I anticipate as the wind changes to an onshore wind the waves should glass over a bit, although they will still be pretty big. I have been surfing for about 2 months on a 6ft foamie and feel as if I have a pretty good feel for the waves.

Any suggestions on surfing in these conditions or just catching waves that are 2-3x larger than normal

Thanks,

Tom

Your gonna want an offshore breeze for it to glass out. Onshore will make it just as bad as you have now.

I went out today and WOW that was one heck of a workout, little scary on the bigger waves when you know you are in the wrong spot when paddling out, my foamie is a little to boyant for me to be able to get to go underwater for a duckdive so that made things interesting. Got one amazing ride down to what to me was a monster, after that I broke my leash twice trying to get out but it was a blast overall.

shouldn't break a leash twice... if it breaks once replace it!
i'll leave it to your own common sense but i'd be inclined to think 2 months in you'd be best to avoid the storm surf... very hard to be in control out there with all that movement of water it can get very rippy and hard to stay in control.

at least you made out alot better than this guy
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/weathe ... arder.wfor

I agree garbarrage, I made a repair before my leash snapped a second time, the fact that the board was to boyant to duckdive made it so I was ditching a ton (there was no one in the water within 500yards).

It was a somewhat intimidating day out without a doubt, as a former collegiate swimmer I definitely felt a lot more comfortable out there especially the two times I lost my board, if anyone else is considering it I would of course advise caution. If you do go out make sure to take a break after you ride a set in, being tired with the constant breaks can get pretty scary and I would not recommend it.

As far as the above link I hope that kiteboarder is alright, although with the wind we had today I could not imagine flying any kind of kite, more less one of that degree.

Overall I spend about 3 hours swimming/paddling out, I had one amazing ride early in the day. After a good month of being frustrated by only ankle high waves this is definitely a big change and while I am grateful for this amazing display of mother nature I do hope that people stay safe and that the storm does not increase in size.

not worth it, I'll save my energy for after this storm leaves our region. Should be some pretty decent surf

Wow, I can't believe you went out in that stuff! I went out Monday, but I'm waiting for it to calm.

Don't get me wrong I am definitely going out after Fay takes off, but I could not resist going out today. I am hoping the Amelia Island area does not get hit to hard tomorrow and I will be out ASAP for some big surf fun, after preparing my foamie that is

I'm checking it out at 7AM tomorrow. Dunno if I'll go out or not, depends. Have a friend I'm gonna go with if I do.

I am up at Amelia and we are supposedly getting slammed late tonight and tomorrow morning, so I might be ducking and covering then but let us know how it looks. Need to get out a bit and meet some people to surf with here as I am new to the area, while I was comfortable in the water today its nice to have someone around if my head finds its way to my board =).

We are getting slammed right now. And yeah, surfing bigger waves alone sucks.

Despite what the weather men have said it looks like Fay has not moved yet, or very little since yesterday, I am hoping people south of me do not get to much rain/wind. That being said I may head out again today to get some of the prestorm waves, then again after she has moved through.

We are getting some swell from her up here......of course I'm taking off for the mountains for good tomorrow.....


Eh. Sorta

I was going to go out again today despite it being very windy, but I saw 2-3 trees being washed in by the surf and decided against it, I can deal with the giant waves but call it quits when I see 20ft trees getting flipped end over end out there =).

I live in Pensacola and I am deffinitly heading out today

i had a scary one at hells mouth a while back,storm surf...but i reconed i could see something worth having,got a proper battering,swalloed water...i remeber thinking thank god the leash didnt snap.......it did a few weeks later in 2 ft of surf...........carefull out there people!

man how can you NOT surf the storm swell? We live off that shiz all summer on the east coast. Wouldn't recommend going out with a foam board, those aren't responsive enough with the powerful storm surges, but if your a strong swimmer it shouldn't be death defying

im gulf coast of florida n i went out during fay
it was NICEEEEEEE
8 footers
dangerous tho as the sea bed was jumbled rocks n jellyfish!

last time i surfed a hurricane i got thrown onto a jetty and almost drowned. but im looking forward to the next one still, lake atlantic has been driving me insane.