Sunny Sunday at San Onofre: 8-12-12... By Eric Cedeno

On  Saturday my friend Roland called me up and we made plans to meet for an early morning Ofre session. He knew he had other obligations Sunday afternoon so we took separate cars. I Lucked out and My friend Skip said I could use his Annual State Beach Parking Pass (the one that cost $195 bucks) as long as he joined me since he too had the day off. Skip picked me up at we headed south on the 405.

Photo by Eric Cedeno

Traffic was very light and we made really good time getting down to San Clemente. Roland got there before us and said he'd meet us in the water. No problem.

San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Eric Cedeno

We got in line around 6:20 am and Skip and I were pretty sure we would make to the parking lot before they reached maximum capacity. Sure enough we made it in and the surf looked super fun!

San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Eric Cedeno 

San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Eric Cedeno

Skip and I really lucked out and found our usual parking spot between Old Mans and the Point. I grabbed my Canon G10 and took a few pictures before paddling out on my 9'0" longboard.

San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Eric Cedeno 

San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Eric Cedeno

San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Eric Cedeno

San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Eric Cedeno

San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Eric Cedeno

I was in the groove in no time. I'd sit about 30 yards closer to shore than the farthest guys out and caught a lot of waves that they missed. I did get run over by some blonde kid but me and my board came through with any damage. The kid was just learning so I tried not to let it ruin my session, it didn't. After a few hour of surfing it was time to head back to the car and rehydrate and snack. I brought enough food for both Skip and I and we ate and watch the surf. A few cars came and went here and there. Some older guy and his kids parked next to us and I could tell his kids were just learning to surf. A group of younger guys and gals parked on the other side of him and also behind him.

San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Eric Cedeno

Thats when thing started to get interesting. There had to have been about ten of them and they piled out of at least three cars. They pulled out a pop up canopy and put it right in front of the guy's car next me and not in front of their car. Skip and I were cracking up because the guy's face was priceless.

San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Eric Cedeno

At Ofre it's not a rule, but its more of a custom to put your stuff in front of your car and not someone else's. They started to unpack a big white plastic screen to attach to the canopy and I had to put my foot down. I said "please don't put that up, it'll block our view of the surf." They all looked confused. One of the girls ask if we were leaving and I said they we were staying all day. Then they put the screen away.

Here a picture I took as we were leaving to give you and idea of how bad it was to be the guy that had his kids next to us.

San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Eric Cedeno

It was getting to be a little lame with the squatters next door so Skip decided to go back out for a second session. I told skip that I would take pictures of him surfing with my Canon EOS 20D on my tripod if he agreed to take of few of me when he got out. He said no problem. Here are some of the pictures that I took of Skip surfing.

San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Eric Cedeno
Those kids crack me up!

Skip surfing San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Eric Cedeno

Skip surfing San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Eric Cedeno

Skip surfing San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Eric Cedeno

Skip surfing San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Eric Cedeno

Skip surfing San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Eric Cedeno

Here are some of the pictures that Skip took of me surfing:

Eric Cedeno surfing San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Skip

Eric Cedeno surfing San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Skip

Eric Cedeno surfing San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Skip

Eric Cedeno surfing San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Skip

Eric Cedeno surfing San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Skip

Eric Cedeno surfing San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Skip

We packed up and left shortly after I got out from my second session. I took a few more pictures on our way to go eat.

San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Eric Cedeno

San Onofre 8-12-12 Photo by Eric Cedeno

There was a big line to get into the parking lot when we left. Skip and I made our way to the mexican food place next to Carls JR and grinded on breakfast burritos and coffee- so good!

8-12-12 Photo by Eric Cedeno

 After eating it was back to the free way and traffic. I noticed a dog in the back of someones truck on the freeway and at first I thought "sucks to be that dog." Then when we got closer the smile on that dogs face was priceless. That lucky dog was loving life. I guess ever dog does have its day afterall.

8-12-12 Photo by Eric Cedeno

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!