Category Archives: Waves

December 4, 2020

Good to Epic. December 2020

Bottom Turn. December 2020

Today would have been one of those days where you’ll call in sick because you woke feeling symptoms of epic wave syndrome thus preventing any kind of work to get done. I can’t remember the last time I saw “Good to Epic” on the Surfline report; I checked and it was back in 2013! Also a first, “Epic” on the forecast. I’ve never seen such a crowd at Noriega. There must have been at least three dozen photographers, for good reason. I wasn’t expecting it to be this good considering yesterday started off with some morning sickness. Even when the swell and wind lines up, the tide rarely would cooperate. The tide didn’t seem to be an issue this morning though. I looked out my living room window at dawn and saw clean, offshore, peeling a-frames and some of the longest left barrels I’ve ever seen. Being able to work from home allowed me to squeeze in a good bit photos before the first conference call. By mid-day I would have expected it to decrease in quality, but it kept on pumping, and pumping, through sunset and into the night. 

A classic winter day at Ocean Beach, in all its glory. 

February 15, 2020

I had a choice this weekend, stay comfortably at home, or go somewhere. I had three days off but no particular location in mind. The forecast called for light winds and sunny skies. I told myself there had to be some clear water somewhere along the coast. I’ve never driven past Big Creek in Big Sur, so I thought I’d take a road trip down the 1 and visit a friend at UC Santa Barbara. There was still a moderate NW wind from Monterey to Bixby Bridge, but around the bend at Partington Cove, only a very mellow breeze. I could see the boulders and kelp through the emerald blue green waters.

The drive didn’t feel lengthy at all, partly because I was stopping at almost every turnout and checking out the view. Some of the notable stops were Sand Dollar Beach, Elephant Seal Vista Point, and Morro Rock. I made it to Goleta right in time for sunset, stopping at the Vista Point off the highway. Driving down the coast made me realize how much of my own backyard I haven’t even explored yet.

February 9, 2020

The NWS issued a gale warning with NNE winds forecasted to gust 45+ mph. While others would probably try and stay indoors for the day, I thought of two south facing coastal regions that might be groomed offshore. I worried it may be too offshore, similar to the day in October, but you never know unless you go. As I pulled up late morning to my favorite spot in Santa Cruz, I was delighted with the sight of decent size lines and every wave was the epitome of a green room. The wind gusts were strong enough to shake my SUV at times. As I suited up and climbed down to the beach, I unexpectedly saw my old bodyboarding buddies, who were also getting ready to paddle out as well. We all had a couple hours of fun, I met some new folks out in the lineup and was able to send them photos afterward. These are the days I live for.

California Coast 2016

California Coast
2016

Perfect Peak. Santa Cruz, California (2016)

Afterburn. February 2016

Teal Wall. April 2016

Mountain Yew. July 2016

Mountain Yew 2. July 2016

Mountain Yew 3. July 2016

Baby Got Back. July 2016

Midnight Barrels. July 2016

The one that got away. July 2016

Boardwalk. September 2016

Slabs by the Bridge. October 2016

Under the Bridge. October 2016

15 Minutes. November 2016

Pyramid Scheme. September 2016

Untitled. June 2016

Iguana. November 2016

Water Works. November 2016

Spin Wheel. November 2016

C for Curl. November 2016

Green Apple Jello. October 2016

Mini Lips. May 2016

Walls of Death. October 2016

Vertical. September 2016

Evening Keg. September 2016

Candy Lip. June 2016

Glass Night. February 2016

Cowells Night. April 2016

Untitled. June 2016

Bird Walk. September 2016

Untitled. April 2016

Midterms. February 2016

Curvature. October 2016

Purple Gold. September 2016

Starry Night. April 2016

Inferno. May 2016

Untitled. April 2016

Brush Strokes. November 2016

Powder Keg. July 2016

Deep Inside. October 2016

Reflections. October 2016

Earthy Tones. June 2016

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OB 2019

Ocean Beach
Winter 2019

Wintergreen. November 2019

Stacked. January 2020

Morning Glory. January 2020

Top of the Hill. January 2020

Looking North. January 2020

Slider. November 2019

 

Classic Morning. February 2020

A Peak. January 2020

The Paddle Out. February 2020

Fire Clouds. October 2019

Too Offshore. October 2019

Dolphin! January 2020

Wind Advisory. October 2019

North Farallons. January 2020

Untitled. January 2020

Nuclear. January 2020

Untitled. November 2019

Winter Days. November 2019

Untitled. January 2020

Untitled. November 2019

Moody Mornings. January 2020

Untitled. January 2020

Mirage. January 2020

Hint of Sun. January 2020

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OB 2017

Ocean Beach
Winter 2017

Pink Hues. January 2018

Red Sun. December 2017

Dawn Patrol. December 2017

Afterglow Glass. December 2017

OB 2015

Ocean Beach
Winter 2015

City and Sea. December 2015

Offshore Days. November 2015

Outer Outer Bar. December 2015

Outside Set. December 2015

Split Peak. November 2015

Bombing Left. November 2015

Weekend Gift. November 2015

Triples. November 2015

A on Canvas. December 2015

Untitled. November 2015

Untitled. November 2015

Moonset. November 2015

Untitled. November 2015

Over the Shoulder. January 2016

Inside Bar. January 2016

Nat Young. January 2016

OB 2014

Ocean Beach
Winter 2014

Perfect A. January 2015

Sunset Peak. January 2015

Fishing for Waves. November 2014

5 Layers of Whitewater. December 2014

Scraping the Tops. January 2105

Blue and Orange. January 2015

Untitled. January 2015

A Frame 2. January 2015

Untitled. January 2015

Power Lines. January 2015

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OB 2018

Ocean Beach
Fall/Winter 2018

Dolphin Days. December 2018

Stacked. December 2018

Evening Groom. December 2018

Dolphin Days. December 2018

Sun Burn. November 2018

Birds Eye View. November 2018

Untitled. December 2018

Bombing Left. November 2018

Lines. December 2018

Out The Back. December 2018

Overview. November 2018

Incoming Lines. December 2018

Canvas. December 2018

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