Test Driving My New 6’10” Mini-longboard

Rat Point and Haggs 3-5+ surf check Saturday 4-14-12

I did a quick drive along the Esplanade to check the surf before my nephew’s baseball game. It was breaking about 100 yards past the usual areas. I think there were no one out along the avenues and one guy at Rat Point. It was windy and cold out and I didn't have enough time to paddle out, but at least I got to take a look at what was out there.

2-4 on Sunday 4-15-12

I had spent most of Sunday cruising about with my 10 year old nephew. We went to the tide pools in San Pedro at low tide and gave him an oceanography lesson as we looked for treasure in the tide pools. Later I gave him a guitar lesson and a ukulele lesson. He’s a talented kid and I’m looking forward to this summer and taking him out for more surf lessons. Late afternoon I decided to go out for a quick session on my new 6’10” min-longboard. I had it all waxed up and ready to try out for about a week, but this was my first chance to finally get it wet. I figured I’d just make the best of it and at least give it a try for a little while. I suited up and headed down to the water. There were two other guys out just a little farther down the way, but they never made it all the way over to me. The waves were actually really fun. Don’t be fooled, there were some sneaker sets out there and I was lucky enough get on a few. I wished I had this board years ago, I’m sure it would’ve changed my life.

Solo Session 2-4+ on Monday 4-16-12

The tide was getting higher and it was beginning to slow things down a little. The shore break was almost head-high when I arrived and there were only a few other people farther south surfing straight from the Torrance ramp. There a was nice hole that was breaking a consistent right just a little north of the drain at Burn-outs and with the rising tide I knew my time out in the water might be limited if the tide fills in too much. From the parking lot it looked a little small but had good shape so I was happy to give it a try. The waves were bigger than it looked from up at the parking lot, rolly with a fast take off and then a slow shoulder. I caught wave after wave and my new board reacted even better than I thought on the take-offs, wrap-around turns and floaters. A few people even sat on the sand and watched me catch some waves. After about an hour the tide was really slowing the waves down and they just weren’t breaking on the outside as much as earlier. Then the fog briefly rolled in and then disappeared like the people on the beach after just a few minutes. I caught a few more and had a hard time making it back to land thru the big shore pound. It was all worth it. As over crowded as surfing in California can be it is nice to know that I can still manage to get a some time surfing all to my self.

Torrance Beach 2-3 Tuesday 4-17-12

I checked it out at Burn out but it didn’t have the juice like the day before and I remembered see some heads out at Torrance so I figured I take a closer look. Straight from the ramp there was a hole that a framed up and made machine waves, both lefts and rights. I could see about eight kids out and it looked a little too crowded to add me in the mix. I watch for at least a half hour before deciding to call it a day and let my scabby neck rash heal for a day.

Torrance Beach 3-4+ Wednesday 4-18-12

I checked out Manhattan 26^th Street after work and although it was bigger it just didn’t compare to the shape that I saw at Torrance the day before so I headed south. There was lots of street parking next to the big parking lot at Torrance for a change and I took advantage. I hopped down the ivy and made my way across the lot for my first look of Torrance for the day. It was like looking at a different country. The surf was bigger than yesterday and there were two holes on fire in the water. I suited up and put on a rash guard to help save my neck and ran down the lift guard tower at the bottom of the ramp. The hole on the left was the same one from yesterday and a new hole had opened up on the right with only two heads on the peak. I paddled out to the right (less people). It was breaking farther out than it usually does and the shape was awesome. It was a lot like burnout the other day but with longer rides. I was already dialed in before catching my first wave. I was a wave magnet. I even let the others guys have a few and they gave me a few waves too. It was a blast. My new board could catch the outside waves; make it thru the speedy first section and onto the soft shoulder with ease. Eventually the high tide started to slow things down more, but it didn’t bother me, I was too stoked. I stayed out for over two and half hours and just had a blast. It was the best session I’d had in years. It’s probably the best break in all of the South Bay on Wednesday.  Every day the swell, tides, wind, ocean bottom (sand, rock, coral, ect) and who knows what other factors come into place when choosing a spot to surf. For Wednesday it was Torrance, tomorrow could be somewhere else. I’m looking forward to finding out.

Torrance Beach 2-3 Thursday 4-19-12

I didn't waste any time getting to the ramp at Torrance. It looked about half the size as the day before so I decided to take the Pepsi challenge and take out my longboard. There was only one other longboarder out there and he was off to the far right. It also looked like the same group of kids out in the line up that have been there all week. I managed to get most of the bigger sets and had a good time hanging five and landing big floaters. On of the kids had a GoPro camera with him and I thing he may have caught some footage of me on a nice big right. I'll have to keep an eye out on YouTube. I stayed out for a few hours and when the tide pretty much shut things down I got out.