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Showing posts from November, 2021

A Tangram Tuesday Surf & Culture Report

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Lost Boys & Co... T he ghastly crumb foggies this morning (#1) with less than a quarter mile visibility and all surfaces wet to the touch.  Winds were offshore and unkindly perfect given the atmospheric conditions.  The air temperature was 49.0º and the water is a reluctant 61.9 (probably embarrassed that it's not a full 62.)  High tide was at 5:54am +5.6' and low tide would be at 12:27pm +0.7'.  It's a west swell out of 265º at 2.0' and it was 2' to 3' but not fabulous enough to lure us out...  Maybe mañana... S o deep in the heart of Texas, we find our crew deep in the heart of this freshwater, man-made tube (#2).  But we do not take these things lightly, despite our snobbish tendencies to imagine only surfing on the ocean is really surfing.  That might have all ended when people started surfing the web.  Like Vonnegut says, "So it goes..." B ut since we can't leave things hanging like that, let's head down to what we imagine Nicarag

Monday Morning Quarterback Surf & Culture Report

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Lost Boys & Co... I f Botticelli had seen Jah Morgan flying along this wave on the nose, he might have had a totally different take on the "Birth of Venus."  We took this from the Barahona site, so if any one in the familia knows who took it, we'd like to give them credit.  Also Jah, Christian and Gabe left this morning for Waco to surf some fresh water tubes!  Maybe we'll get some news from the Lone Star state...  S ome creeping foggies this morning, with sometimes less than a quarter mile visibility.  Winds were offshore by 3 to 4kts and the sea surface was smooth.  The air temperature was 49.0º and the water is 61.9º  High tide was at 5:28am +5.0' and low tide will be at 11:42am +1.6'.  We have a WSW swell out of 250º at 2.6' and it was 3' with some 4' outsides, but steep and a bit walled...  Quite like Hermosa... W eekend Thanksgiving crew with Burnsy, Christian, Jah Morgan, Cameron, Chris and the Professor.  Do tattoos really keep you that

Black Friday Friday Surf & Culture Report

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Lost Boys & Co... P hoto #1 about sums up the conditions this morning.  Cloudless skies with a bit of smog on the horizon.  Offshore winds at 3 to 5kts were brushing the manes of the small waves.  The air was a chilly 48.5º and the water was 62.2º.  Low tide was at 7:50am +3.6' and high tide was at 1:00pm +4.3', with not much of a tidal disparity.  We have a west swell out of 261º at 2.0' and that's probably why things were a bit walled up even as the tide filled in... L ike daughter, like father (#2), SeaWolf made an appearance this morning on his legendary "Fire Woman" Takayama Model T.  SeaWolf was one of the founding members of the Lost Boys Surf & Culture Club and was present for some of the early forays into mainland Mex.  He's currently living in Washington and he was happy to be in some water that didn't have ice floating around in it.  Great to see him in the water... W hat are we Thankful for?  One of the things would be the crew at B

Stilted Adherence To Convention Wednesday Surf & Culture Report

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Lost Boys & Co... L ana has once again baked her way into the hearts, minds and stomachs of the Pier crew.  Shown here (#1) is one of her brownies.  It is allegedly gluten free, vegan and hypo-allergenic.  You could not prove this by us, because it tasted too good to be any one of those things.  It was creamy, chocolaty and delicious.  She also baked some pumpkin muffins that were out of this world.  They were quickly gobbled up before we could document them, so you'll just have to take our word... A nother beautiful summer day here in the South Bay!  Never mind that it's November 24th, skies were blue and 20+ miles visibility.Winds were offshore by 3 to 4kts and the sea surface was glassy.  The air was a brisk 53.3º, but warmed quickly and the water is 61.3º.  High tide was at 10:47am +5.1' and low tide is at 7:03pm +0.5'.  We have a SW swell out of 215º at 2.3' and it was just that and a bit more to 3'...  Fun and Funner...  AND there were brownies! W e ha

Box Of Broken Toys Tuesday Surf & Culture Report

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Lost Boys & Co... D idn't get a chance to post a photo of the Redondo finalists yesterday, but here they are in all their glory!  (L to R)  Zac Siegel, 2nd Men's Longboard, Dane Acosta, 5th Men's Shortboard, Taylor Brocoum, 4th Women's Shortboard, Bridget Swift, 5th Women's Longboard and Riley Friedman, 3rd Women's Longboard.  Really have to send a shout out to Dickie O'Reilly and his group of judges who did magnificent work over the course of the contest! A nother day with 20+ miles visibility and mostly clear skies.  Winds were light out of the SW to 3kts and the sea surface had a light roll to it.  The air temperature was 53.9º and the water is holding at 61.2º.  High tide was at 10:08am +5.4' and low tide follows at 6:05pm +0.3'.  We have a weak SSW swell out of 203º at 1.3' and it was 1' and we swept and paddled our way into some knee slappers... M aybe one of the most photographed sunsets of the year (#2) this one last night really

Today Is The Kind Of Day People Imagine California Looks Like All The Time Monday Surf & Culture Report

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Lost Boys & Co... Y es, today was one of those Chamber of Commerce days (#1) that brought millions of folks out to California.  Since, for the most part, they didn't surf, it didn't make any difference to them that it looked like this. S o, it was 20+ miles visibility with a few little clouds tumbling along the corners.  Winds were light offshore from the northeast and the sea surface was glassy.  The air temperature at checkout was 56.9º warming to the low 80's and the water is 61.2º and not getting appreciably any warmer.  High tide was at 9:35am +5.7' and low tide will be at 5:17pm +0.1'.  We have a SSW swell out of 202º at 1.6' and it was half of that and barely surfable, unless you were Morgan and even then it couldn't have been easy... S unday was the Finals of the South Bay Scholastic Surf League.  The Redondo team had a credible showing with Dane Acosta finishing 5th overall!  If that wasn't enough, Women's shortboarder Taylor Brocoum cam

Your Hypothalamus Thursday Surf & Culture Report

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Lost Boys & Co... T he Scala de Turchi or Turkish Steps (#1) is a cliff consisting of limestone and brilliant white marl.  It's a fascinating outcropping rather unlike anything we've ever seen before.  In this area were several of the beaches where we were told was some rideable surf and since that was our stated objective, we hugged the coast and found several spots with excellent potential... T his morning was the second round of the South Bay Surf League Kickoff Classic.  It was gray and the wind was light onshore all of the morning, never really roughing up the conditions.  The air was a cool 54.5º and the water is still holding around 62º.  High tide was at 7:54am +6.0' and low tide bottoms out at 2:51pm -0.1'.  We had a south swell out of 190º, shifting westerly through the day.  The swell was 2.6' and the surf was 2' to 3'.  The shortboarders struggled, but the longboarders made the best of the mushy surf. T his spot off the road near Realmonte (#

Wharf Rat Wednesday Surf & Culture Report

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Lost Boys & Co... NO !  They didn't REALLY bury the Pride Tower (#1)!  We just took this snap to scare Baccallao! T his was breakfast in Ragusa (#2).  4 kinds of jelly/jam, 2 varieties of chocolate pastries, 2 cheeses, 2 breakfast meats and your choice of coffee with macaroons.  Our host was Jucy (Like Lucy with a "J") and yes I'll have another latté... O vercast this morning with less than 10 miles visibility.  Winds were light offshore and the sea surface was smooth to glassy.  Air 54.3º, water 62.1º.  High tide 7:30am +6.0' and low tide 2:19pm +0.1'.  Swell is oscillating between the south and west at 3.3' and it was 2' to 3' and fun longboarding surf... N ear Agrigento in the Valley of the Temples this is the Temple of Concordia (#3).  Built in 435 BC, this is one of the best preserved Greek temples anywhere including Greece.  In 597 AD it was turned into a Christian church and was a church for almost 1200 years.  Around the time of Napole

Tycoon Tuesday Surf & Culture Report

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Lost Boys & Co... H ello there!  It's Tuesday, November 16, 2021 and the great city of Hermosa Beach has, as a signal to all who visit the Pier Plaza, has installed it's annual Christmas tree (#1).  Do we think it's a little early?  Yeah, kinda.  At least they waited until Halloween scared the shit out of us and well before Black Friday froze our intestines.  If you're a Christmas lover, this is good news.  If not... C old and gray this morning, less than 5 miles visibility, but at least there was a light offshore wind blowing.  The sea surface was smooth, but the burrito wind came up around 9am and sent everyone into the showers.  The air temperature was 55.6º and the water is 62.2º.  High tide was at 7:08am +5.8' and low tide was at 1:47pm +0.4'.  We have a SSW swell out of 202º at 3.0' and it was a high tide driven 2' to 3'.  Chilly, but fun... R agusa is a city built on two hills (#2).  Since the hills are not equal in height, you have lower

Mr. Pink Monday Surf & Culture Report

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Lost Boys & Co... (#1)  " P ink sky in morning, sailor take warning."  Enjoy the sky and sun.  It's supposed to get foggy mañana... H azy this morning, but little to no wind and a smooth sea surface.  The air temperature was 55.5º and the water is 63.1º.  High tide was at 6:45am +5.6' and low tide will be at 1:11pm +0.8'.  The tides will be swinging wide for the full moon on the 19th.  We have a SSW swell out of 196º at 3.0' and it was a fun 2' to 3' and we worked both sides of the pier despite not having the proper paper work...   T his (#'s 2 & 3) is what is known as "Dionysus' Ear."  Not because it bore any likeness to his external auditory meatus, but because he had a hole drilled in the top so he could hear what his laborers were saying about him.  Awfully thin skinned about his image, he's also the guy who built the amphitheater in Taormina, so we'll give him a bye... W e stopped in this little town called Noto,

Better Than Wake Island Wednesday Surf & Culture Report

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Lost Boys & Co... L ooks like LoLa and the Professor have found their respective nichés (#1 & #2).  These were for decorative elements (statuary, tiles and floral vases) in the Greco-Roman Theater. A beautiful morning with more than the customary 10 miles visibility and sunny skies.  Winds were offshore by 3kts and the sea surface was smooth.  The air temperature at checkout was 57.5º and the water is 61.2º.  Low tide was at 7:03am +3.3' and high tide will be at 1:05pm +5.2'.  We have a west swell out out of 261º at 4.6' and it was 4' to 6' and some big ones in Hermosa.  This made for some exciting rides during the continuation of the prep Kickoff Classic and the contest will continue with the remaining women, longboarders and shortboards in the coming weeks. T his theater (#3) was first built by the Greeks and later redone in it's present configuration by the Romans.  Can you imagine coming to a production and having this sweeping view of the coast, wi

Be True To Your Tuesday Surf & Culture Report

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Lost Boys & Co... M oonset over Cefalu' (#1).  Made this great reflection off the point... M ostly sunny this morning with 10 miles visibility.  Winds were light offshore and the sea surface was glassy.  Actually felt a little oily, maybe some seepage there.  Some folks think this is a sign of pending fault activity, that's okay, as long as it's not our fault.  Air was 56.7º and the water is 61.5º.Low tide was early at 5:20am +3.1' and high tide was at 11:44am +5.8'.  We have a SSW swell out of 193º at 3.6' and it was a fun 3' to 4' and got better as the tide rose... I f you have time mañana, head down to Hermosa where the second part of the South Bay Scholastic Men's shortboard competition will be taking place.  Action starts at 6:45am for the remaining heats.  Some great performances last week and there should be some standouts tomorrow as well. W e snorkeled at Taormina (#2/#3).  Built on a hillside you take a gondola down to the beach where t

Cuckoo For Coco Puffs Monday Surf & Culture Report

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Lost Boys & Co... T his is exactly what happens when you hit the tympani too hard (#1).  The backdrop comes down and you have to start all over from scratch.  From our box in the Palermo Opera House, where Verdi first premiered his Operas.  You'll note he was always light on the tympani section... C loudy this morning with the sun making a valiant effort to break through the overcast.  Winds were offshore (you can ask the sea gulls) and the sea surface was smooth.  The air was 56.7º and the water is holding at 61.3º.  High tide was at 10:44am +6.3' and low tide was at 6:28pm -0.6'.  There's a SSW swell out of 202º at 3.9' and it was 4' to 5' with some really great waves as the tide filled in.  One of those mornings when playing the waiting game scored! T he story of "Jonah and the Whale" as depicted in this porcelain tile from the Palermo Cathedral (#2).  There are incredibly detailed tiles in these Sicilian cathedrals to instruct those who cou

A Falstaffian Friday Surf & Culture Report

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Lost Boys & Co... M aybe it's a Falstaffian Friday because Falstaff was a plus-size individual and we've got some plus-sized surf this morning!  In photo #1 take a look at the distance between the swell and the bottom of the pier in Hermosa.  It's about 6' and would be an easy jump into the outside, if that were legal, that is.  The spray and whitewater were washing the bottom of the pier and in fact a couple of guys actually made it out.  In photo #2 the little dot paddling it's heart out on the left, is one of the guys who barely made it over this macker.  Morning was foggy with about 150yds visibility.  Winds were light out of the south by 2 to 3kts and the sea surface was smooth.  The air was a damp 58.1º and the water is 62.1º.  High tide is at 9:36am +6.9' and is inundating all of the low spots.  Low tide follows at 4:34pm -1.0' and should open up some of the spots that couldn't handle the tide.  It's posted as a west swell (262º) at 5.2