nwBroweather.com

Gas is expensive. Therefore surfing is expensive. If you live Seattle it’s even more expensive. Have you ever really stopped to add up how much gas you burn surfing?? I know math is hard so here’s a handy table i calc’d that breaks down estimated cost to various surf spots in WA, OR based on fuel economy and the price of gas at $4.50 and $5.00.
We all pretty much knew this but it’s pretty nutz to see it in spreadsheet form. Gas probably isn’t gonna get any cheaper either. Try not to factor in beer, camping fees, food or ammo for your airsoft gun. Ouch.

Here’s an interesting read on other oil related impacts to surfing. Thanks Dax. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25571902

I had the insane opportunity to go on a “work trip” for VholdR Cameras to the Sierras and do some snow camping with Snowboarder Mag and Leeward Cinemas during their shooting of “My Own Two Feet”, a full length feature snowboard film. It’s a Eco conscience film that doesn’t use snowmobiles, chairlifts or heli’s, hence the name ‘My Own Two Feet’. Check out their latest teaser at -http://leewardcinema.com/2feet/. We covered about 28mi in 6 days, all on foot, base camps were usually around a 10,000ft elevation.

Most of the 12 doods were on Splitboards and a few on snowshoes. Splitboards vs. snowshoes is

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The Oahu trip was so fun. I’ve never been to the Northshore before so it was all new to me. Most of the people on the trip (12 dudes) had been there before and/or grew up there so we pretty much had the place on lock.

The one thing that wasn’t on lock though was surfing. Holy shit was that a humbling experience… I don’t think any of us were expecting to get barreled or anything but goddamn surfing on the Northshore is effing gnarly!

I paddled out at Pipe and realized i made a big mistake when i saw a bunch of pro’s that have houses about 100 ft away on the beach. But it wasn’t till i noticed the craggy, shallow rock reef that looked like something out of a Tim Burton movie that the mistake i’d made became completely apparent. The waves were something like 4-6ft Hawaiian which is like head and a half plus to us Warshington surfers. The wave size, shape, speed and the crazy-ass shallow reef all pretty much freaked the hell outta me.

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Well boys and girls, it’s been an amazing winter so far. Tons of pow and epic days in the mountains. So good that surfing has been nowhere on my radar.

I did manage to go surfing a few weeks ago and noticed that i’ve pretty much lost all upper body (more…)

I was lucky enough to go to Mexico for a little surfing last week. The wife and I were staying in Troncones just north of Ixtapa. There was good weather, and good waves. On the third day I went out for an afternoon session. It was smaller, and the take off point was in the shallows. Set came, and I grabbed my first wave. Heading down the line I notice that water is getting really shallow. I start pumping to make the section. It’s then that I realize it’s not going to happen. So I go to jump into wave to land in some deeper water. Things didn’t go according to plan, and I am grabbed by the lip and thrown into the rocks. I make like a starfish, and lay flat trying to avoid anymore collisions with the rocks. This doesn’t happen and left-side is dragged along the rocks. Suddenly I am stopped when my foot jambs into a rock. I get my head above water, and grab my board and paddle my way into the deeper water. Surveying the damage I have some minor scraps on my left side. But my foot is starting to sting. I had hit a sea urchin when my right foot jambed into the rock. Kelly and I head back to the hotel. Where with a needle, tweezers, and some tequila we remove a dozen of the larger spines. After getting the big ones out it’s decided that the rest will have to be removed in the States. Hobble around the rest of the trip and have a good time lounging by the pool.

When I got home I went to the ER. I got six shots of local anesthetic to numb the site. If anyone has had any shots given to them in their foot they would understand that this is the worst thing ever. This was the most painful part of my whole experience. After I was numb it was all good, and the doctor removed the rest of the spines.

Thought I would share my story. Maybe you will think twice about wearing those stupid little reef booties on your next trip south.