4-12-13 - Friday Late Morning Session at Torrance

I heard burnout might be fun so I headed down to the beach. I did look pretty fun, a little fast and there was only a few guys surfing in the area. I looked for the usual free parking and couldn't find anything close so I drove south to Torrance Beach.

Burnout 4-12-13 Photo by Eric Cedeno

It was less crowded and looked like it would be fun on a longboard. I got good free parking near the top of the ramp and snapped a quick picture before heading down to the water.

Torrance Beach 4-12-13 Photo by Eric Cedeno

The surf was around head high but was tricky to catch. You really had to commit in the right spot and have the right board to catch the waves. For the most part it was just me and one other longboarder catching all the waves. Every now and then a few others would paddle out but I don't remember them catching any of the good sets. I surfed for about two hours and came in. The shore pound was real heavy and I had to time the waves just right to get back on the sand safely.

Torrance Beach 4-12-13 Photo by Eric Cedeno

This guy didn't time it right and broke his board in half. I felt bad for him even though he was still smiling. I could tell he was new to surfing and this was just one of many lessons that he'd have to learn. 

The Hustle and Flow of the South Bay

7-2-12 Tuesday surf check Torrance Beach 1-3’

I decided to head down the street and check out Torrance. I really lucked out and found a good parking spot that I managed to squeeze my Honda Element into. It was pure chaos in the parking lot and I was sure the beach would be black-balled (No surfing allowed). 

Torrance Parking Lot 7-2-12 by Eric Cedeno

I guess Junior Lifeguards just got out and all the parent came by at the exact same time to pick up their kids. Which meant that since it was so late in the day that soon the lifeguards might remove the back-ball flags and allow surfing again.

Torrance Beach 7-2-12 by Eric Cedeno

My first glance at the water verified my guess about the back-ball... No one out in the water over here. I'd have to make the walk south to get some waves.

Torrance Beach 7-2-12 by Eric Cedeno

There were only a few heads out and I figured that I might as well join the crowd and get a few waves before the tide totally kills it. I suited up and grabbed my 7'10" noserider and jogged down to the second lifeguard tower on the left. It was small and a little rolly, but it sure beats being at work so I paddled out in front of the "swim that way/surf this way" sign. I picked off a few quick noserides while some guy and friend took a few pictures of the action. I kept a close eye on the other lifeguard tower and as soon I I noticed that the back-ball flagged dropped I made my way a little north to the better peak. I had it all to myself for about an hour. It a funny thing surfing by myself on days that seem so crowded everywhere else, on the streets, parking lots and the strand. I guess I can still find a little peace and quiet in the middle of the hustle and flow of the South Bay.

The Best Surf Shots of Me This Summer...

6-30-12 Saturday Torrance Beach 1-3'+

My sister called me around 8:00 am and asked if I could watch my nephew X-Man for the day. "Sure-Sure no problem" I said. Then My friend Dust called me up and wanted to surf "Sure-Sure no problem, but have to pick up X-man first" I said. We were all a little hungry for breakfast so we picked up X-man and then we loaded up Dust's truck and headed for Eat at Joes in Redondo for Breakfast. I got my usual two eggs over medium, home fries and a side of biscuits and gravy. Back in high school I used to go to Eat at Joes for breakfast like four times a week, often enough that the waitresses would loan me money so I could get a bigger breakfast when I was short on cash.

After breakfast we cruised over to DiveNSurf so I could get X-man a spring suit, after all the water is still pretty chilly (even for a kid). I figured it would be easiest to go straight to Torrance and I'd pay for parking instead of waisting time trying to find on a spot on a weekend during summer, which everyone who lives around the beach knows is almost impossible at this time. I paid the $7 bucks for parking and we got a good spot next to the big ramp at the end of the lot. I brought a few cameras with me just in case I could talk Dust into taking some shot of me surfing (and he agreed to take a few shots). X-man and I suited up and we were ready to catch a few waves on the inside. X-man is still really new to surfing and has only been out a few times so we stayed on the inside where it was only about waist deep (chest deep if you are 10 years old). I pushed him into a few waves on my 7'10" noserider and we were both stoked. 

Eric Cedeno and X-Man Torrance Beach 6-30-12 by Dustin F. Meyer

Even with a spring suit on he was getting pretty cold so he decided to warm up on the sand and I went out to get a few waves. It was a little tricky out there but I made the best of it. Dust stayed on shore with my Canon EOS 20D on a tripod to take pictures and I was trying not to waste his time. Most of the waves just closed out, but every now and then a little wave would peak up and stay pretty clean. Dust got the best sequence shots of me that I have ever seen! Check it out-

Eric Cedeno Torrance Beach 6-30-12 by Dustin F. Meyer

Eric Cedeno Torrance Beach 6-30-12 by Dustin F. Meyer

Eric Cedeno Torrance Beach 6-30-12 by Dustin F. Meyer

I'm now hoping to get him to take pictures again when it's big out this winter. Stoked!