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 last few sessions

Here's a quick recap of the last few weeks of me surfing...

Monday July 30th (2012) Torrance 1-2':
I took a good look at the surf but with the rising tide it just wasn't worth it. Although if I had an Alaia I would have gone out... I need to make one.

Tuesday July 31st (2012) El Porto 1-3':
Small but super fun. I rode my 7'10" noserider and had a blast on these little waves.

Wednesday August 1st (2012) El Porto 1-2:
Dumpy and closing out...Not as good as yesterday, but I got free parking so I took out my 6'10" first then traded up to my 7'10" as the tide filled in. It was ok, but just not as good as yesterday.

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!

A few More Days of Surfing...

6-27-12 Wednesday Torrance Beach 1-3’

I decided to head down the street and check out Torrance. I lucked out and found a good parking spot that I managed to squeeze my car into. I know it’s cheesy to say this but I love that turning radius, it’s a million times better than my truck. I did another surf check from the parking lot and it was obviously better than other places. It wasn’t as good as yesterday but it was still doable so I figured I’d go out for a little while. 

Torrance Beach 6-27-12
Photo by Eric Cedeno

I suited up and grabbed my 9’0” longboard and headed down the ramp with my hat on. I figured a hat would cut down the glare a little and it turned out that it did help. There were only four or five others out and most of them had shortboards and had a hard time catching waves. I picked off a few good ones and made the best of the situation. It wasn’t great surf, but it was good practice. I’m looking forward to getting some bigger waves soon and if bigger waves are not around then I’ll be in search of a longer wave. I might have to make a field trip down south to O’fre or Cardiff to catch a longer wave. Maybe next week I’ll do a road trip….

6-26-12 Tuesday Torrance Beach 1-3’

I was hoping to get Sapphire all to myself again, but it just didn’t turn out that way. There was a flock of people out in the water and it was apparent that most of the people out were just learning.  I have to admit that the surf and weather was great for beginners. It just seemed a little too small and crowded for me to join in the chaos. So I headed down to Torrance in hopes of finding some less crowded conditions.  

Torrance Beach 6-26-12
Photo by Eric Cedeno

I guessed wrong. At the end of the Torrance Parking lot was a film crew and cops and a bunch of trailers. Must be shooting a movie or something, but I wasn’t interested in that. Actually I was hoping that all the action was in the parking lot which might leave the surf more open and empty. I guessed wrong again. It was more crowded than other spots.  I just didn’t want to deal with more people so I left and went home.  Maybe tomorrow will be better…

Friday 6-22-12 Torrance Beach with the Riviera Wave Riders

Friday 6-22-12 Torrance Beach 2'-3':

Surfer: Eric Cedeno
Torrance Beach 6-22-12

I looked at the surf for a lot longer than I normally do and I almost decided not to go out at all, but I figured I'm here so might as well make the best of it. I grabbed my 6'10" and headed down the ramp at Torrance beach. I saw a few of the Riviera Wave Riders out there already in the water and I said high  to Topaz Mike (Lifeguard) before paddling out. The waves were pretty walled and most of them were closing out. I knew I would have to be picky on my wave selection. I managed to get some good ones. I even got a few big sets that held up all the way in and those Riviera Wave Riders are a pretty cool bunch of people. Three of them told me "nice wave" after I pulled into a big left and actually made it back out past the shoulder.  I paddled back out to the peak and a big right came up and the older guy on the red board let me have the wave even though he was in the right spot, that kind of made my day. One of these day I'll get a picture of me surfing on their website... One day...

My goals of surfing are (#1) to have fun, (#2) stand up on each wave, (#3) ride the wave without falling and (#4) ride bigger waves.

I usually decide not to paddle out in surf in the 10 ft (3.048 M) to 15 ft (4.572 M) range or larger. I'd like to get more comfortable in that bigger surf range, but it takes training and practice. I found a cool short video of a group of surfers on the north West coast of USA charging big waves in cold water. Maybe one day I'll be able to ride big waves like these guys (in warmer water).

GoPro Big-Wave Addicts Episode 4

6-9-12 Saturday Ave A / Knob Hill 3-5’ (6’-10’+ faces):

I could tell the tide was still pretty high from the top of the hill at Avenue A overlooking the surf. The surf was breaking a little rolly and a little close to shore. As usual I had my choice of three different boards to pick from in my car. I chose my 9’0” longboard and suited up. I figured my longboard would do well in the rolly high tide surf, plus I could always change boards. There was no one else out in the surf and I tried to pick the best break as I walked down the ramp. I headed between Ave A and knob hill to a consistent right break. The surf was a lot bigger than it looked from on top of the hill and I took my time walking over to the spot that I picked to paddle out. I put my leash on and waited for the sets to pass and then I waited for another cycle of sets to pass.  I made the paddle out look easy and I think I didn’t even get my hair wet as I timed it just right.

The sets were much bigger than it looked from shore, easily 10 foot faces, some bigger. I reminded myself as I sat alone outside that I can swim under or over any big bad wave that might try and crush me. I caught a big set and found the waves were breaking faster than I thought but paddled back out for more. A few more waves and I was feeling pretty good about being out there. A few waves later I decided to change boards and take out my 6’10” mini-log. It was a good change as I could now duck-dive and still take off on the outside sets. I picked off a few good rights and found myself in the right spot for some good lefts. I took off on a macker and felt more like I was in Hawaii than in the South Bay. I made the big drop and flew down the line. Just as I was about to make it to the shoulder my board started to pearl and I quickly over adjusted and my back foot slipped off my board. I skimmed the hard water surface with my body without penetrating to safety while my left foot stuck on my board. The wave finally grabbed me and took me down. It was a relief to be held under without my left leg getting stretched even more in the wrong direction. 

I was in the impact zone and didn’t have much time to whine about my hip socket. After two more waves passed over me I grabbed my board and headed back out to the line-up. I caught a few more waves but was very aware that my hip socket was feeling some soreness and I didn’t want to cause more injury so I got out. I survived the session with only minor discomfort and decided to take it easy for the rest of the weekend. I felt like I had made some progress at getting a little more comfortable in larger surf, it was a good day after all.

I found a video of the morning surf at Torrance beach for 6-9-12... The tide was lower and the surf was a little smaller, but at least it'll give you an idea of how it was earlier in the day.

Don't believe the surf report on Surfline.com

As a general rule I don't believe everything I read, most importantly when it come to the surf report. Here's a few examples. Yesterday I surf Torrance Beach from around six pm until sunset (8pm). Surfline.com posted the following surf report for Torrance Beach:

Observed Surf Report by Chris on 5-22-12

SURF:

1-2 ft

ankle to knee high

POOR CONDITIONS

Hey, this is Chris with the report for Tuesday afternoon

Afternoon Update; Some bump on mushy little windswell peaks/sections. 

This morning's dawn patrol: Clean little low tide crumbly windswell peaks/sections. Tide push helps a bit.

WEATHER:

Sunny skies with 7-11kt+ SW winds in the early afternoon.

Here's what I would've called it at Torrance Beach:

Observed Surf Report by Eric Cedeno on 5-22-12

SURF:

1-3/2-3 ft

ankle to shoulder high

POOR CONDITIONS

Hey, this is Eric with the report for Tuesday afternoon

Afternoon Update; It's glassy out so bring a hat if you have one. The High Tide push helps with the size, but also make the surf a little soft. Plenty of corners out there on  the three main peaks, a bigger board will help.

WEATHER:

Sunny skies with hardly any wind in the late afternoon.

Eric Cedeno's 6'10" at Torrance Beach, Tuesday 5-22-12

Ok so that seems pretty close, all in all. There should be only minor complaints here and there...But let's take a look at one more for Torrance Beach...

Observed Surf Report by Chris on 5-23-12

SURF:

1-3 ft

ankle to waist high

POOR CONDITIONS

Hey, this is Chris with the report for Wednesday afternoon

Afternoon Update; Some bump on mushy little windswell peaks/sections. 

This morning's dawn patrol: Clean little low tide crumbly windswell peaks/sections. Tide push helps a bit.

WEATHER:

Sunny skies with 7-11kt+ SW winds in the early afternoon.

Here's what I would've called it at Torrance Beach:

Observed Surf Report by Eric Cedeno on 5-23-12

SURF:

(1-3 ft from the moon)

4-6 and Building

Head high to almost double overhead

POOR CONDITIONS

Hey, this is Eric with the report for Wednesday afternoon

Afternoon Update; The small waves are head high and the big waves are almost double that. Some bump and a little closed out with pick and choose corners. It's a building swell so use caution. Surf is very consistent and powerful. 

WEATHER:

Sunny skies with 7-11kt+ SW winds in the early afternoon.

I know what you're thinking... "That Eric guy must be exaggerating, it can't be that big out." So for you non-believers out there... here are a few pictures from today.

Photo by Eric Cedeno
Torrance Beach Wednesday 5-23-12

This was my first glance at the surf... Doesn't look that big, but then again it could've been in between sets....

Photo by Eric Cedeno
Torrance Beach Wednesday 5-23-12

Ok.. It's looking a bit bigger now... I'm pretty sure that it is not Ankle to waist high...

Photo by Eric Cedeno
Torrance Beach Wednesday 5-23-12

Still looks do-able but the sets never really let up to make it an easy paddle out.

Photo by Eric Cedeno
Torrance Beach Wednesday 5-23-12

 More sets on the horizon...

Photo by Eric Cedeno
Torrance Beach Wednesday 5-23-12

The waves just kept coming. I got hit by a twenty wave set and got dragged all the way back to the beach... Yes, it was very humbling.

Photo by Eric Cedeno
Rat Point Wednesday 5-23-12

I ended up making the long walk from the Torrance Beach ramp down to Rat Point. No one was out and it was an even longer paddle out. The water was very murky and there were lots of sneaker sets looking to crush whatever was in its path. I managed to get three waves and decided not to push my luck and got out. 

Two Days at Torrance

Torrance Beach 2-3+ Thursday 5-17-12:

I was pretty lucky to get off work a little early and so I did a quick surf check online. Surfline.com called it 1-3’ and mushy, Swellmagnet.com wasn’t much different but had a nice cam on burnouts. I grabbed two boards and headed out. Down at Torrance I was instantly reminded of the good times in April and was already in the zone. 

I pulled out my 6’10” mini-log and was surprised how much the water had warmed up since my last California session. The tide was pushing from low to high and the shape was super fun and clean. There was the usual crowd of high school kids out there some in spring suits some just bare-backed it.

Surfer: Eric Cedeno
Location: Torrance Beach 5-17-12

I managed to pick off some good sets and took my time paddling out around the main peaks. On a few occasions I had to pull out early to avoid running someone over, but I know there will always be more waves so I didn’t let that upset me. A few hours later I got out and went home, but my cheese ball smile stayed with me for the rest of the night and into the next day… Surfing really does make me a happier person; I should go surfing more often.

Torrance Beach 2-4+  Friday 5-18-12:

Torrance Beach Friday 5-18-12

It's hard for even me to believe that I was able to get off work early for two days in a row, but it happened. Surfline.com called it 2-3 ft knee to waist high for the Afternoon Update: Semi-clean, crumbly, mushy windswell waves with scattered ends mixed in. Sunny with 5-8kt SW winds in the early afternoon. I figured it would be a little bigger then the day before and was happy to find out that it was bigger. I got prime parking and took a quick picture before heading down the ramp. As the sun made its way west the glare on the ocean surface became blinding and that was a big change from the overcast sky from thursday. 

There was only a few people out and the good set waves had solid eight foot faces (four foot backs) with plenty of room to play on. About and hour into the session I became more aware of the rash on my neck. It felt like a zombie with braces was trying its best to slowly grind away the flesh on my neck, but I still didn't want to stop surfing. I stayed out as long as my arm could keep paddling and picked off the biggest sets that were breaking the farthest out. I heard the swell was going to drop over the weekend, down to maybe one foot so I figured I'd let my neck rash heal then. When my arms about fell off I knew then that it was time to finally get out. I took one more picture so you could see the difference in the glare off the ocean. It is actually much worse when you're in the water because there is no escaping it and I still love it.

Torrance Beach Friday 5-18-12

Tuckin' In For A Tube Ride

My shoulder was still not improving even after going thru the punishment of several months of physical therapy. My doctor reluctantly agreed to schedule surgery to clean up my rotator cuff and shave down the bone spur in my left shoulder. The surgery date was set for January 13 (my grandma’s birthday), 2003. At twenty four years old I was pretty sure I was going to die during surgery from some sort of genetically inherited family curse passed on by my father. My Father had his palm read when he was young and the palm reader told him that we would die before he was thirty years old, and he did. 

I have no memory of him because he died when I was two years old. I have a few pictures of my father and I look just like him although my mom says I look slightly better than him. I didn’t tell anyone about my fear of dying before I turned thirty, I didn’t want anyone to worry about me or think I was paranoid.

I figured this day may be the last time I got to go out surfing so I had better make the best of it. Skip and I checked out the avenues and ended up at Burnout. There was only a few heads out and the rights were super clean. The sun was bright and there was only a slight off shore breeze and a few people sat on the big storm sand berm’s to watch the surfers brave the cold water. We paddled out and I was already dialed in after just a few waves. I did a lot of one arm paddling back to line up to limit the stress on my bad shoulder. All the waves barreled and I had a good chance of making it out of most of them. I didn’t mind not making it out of the barrel, because when I did make it out I wondered if I could’ve gotten in deeper. 

Surfer: Eric Cedeno
Location: Burnout, Torrance CA

Between waves I saw a man sitting on the sand berm with a big camera and a very long lens. He must’ve been shooting for a magazine or something and of course I wanted my picture taken so I kept getting barreled. It wasn’t the biggest wave to come by but I could tell it was lining up to be a good one. I made the quick drop and tucked into the pocket. The sun’s reflection off the water was bright and dragged my right hand in the water to slow down just a little. I was surprised the wave held up as long as it did. It’s true, when I’m in the barrel time does slow down. I calmly made it out of the pocket and kicked out over the top of the remaining wave. I paddled back out for more hoping that the guy with the big camera would stick around long enough for me to find out if he got any pictures of me, but he soon left.

Two days later (Thursday November 23, 2002) Skip calls me up and tell me that I have to go buy the news paper. Skip said,” There’s this guy on the second page of the Daily Breeze that you know. Go get one and check it out.” So I did. I opened it up and saw a picture of me surfing Burnout. I knew the exact wave, the precise moment that the picture was taken. I'll never forget it.

Surfer: Eric Cedeno
Location: Burnout, Torrance CA
Published: Daily Breeze
Date: November 23, 2002

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.