Surfline, save us!

The old chestnut “be careful what you wish for, it might just come true” has never meant more to California’s surfers who suffered through one of worst summer/autumn dry spells in recorded history are now entering their tenth consecutive day of mega swell. Shorelines being lit right up. From Santa Cruz’s Steamer Lane to Ventura’s Rincon all the way down to La Jolla’s Blacks, ten days of big and bigger surf and counting.

Early “stoke” and “glee” has given way to an overwhelming sense of dread as Golden State sliders check the forecast and see phrases like “new NW energy moves in” or “swell in water being reinforced,” wondering if shoulders can take any more. If marriages, family well-being, employment can take any more too.

A brutal run that, currently, has no end in sight.

California, recognizing an impending collapse, has urged residents to “stop going to the beach” though surfers, as is their wont, are not listening very well.

But do you live here?

Are your shoulders sore?

Is marriage failing?

More importantly, what have you been riding?

Share, please.

Blood alcohol level of at least 0.03 to be met with stiff fine.

It’s the day after Christmas, in America and Europe. The day after Boxing Day in Australia. Surfers in all lands attempting to rinse off the holiday overindulgences. A few martinis too many, or extra three bottles of wine, leading to a painful morning. The flickering hope, though, that maybe just maybe some saltwater and wave wiggles will help chase the poison away and return the body and mind to its stasis.

The tried and true hangover session.

Alas, come 2025, Korean surfers will have to tend to their delirium tremens in some other way as the proud peninsula is officially moving to ban boozed surfing. Starting on June 21, any boardrider on high-performance shortboard, single-finned glider or Steve Lis fish who is found to be in the lineup with a blood alcohol level of at least 0.03 will be fined 1 million won, or $685 USD.

The same penalty dished out to those who refuse the sobriety test.

Kim Jong-wook, head of the Coast Guard, told The Korea Times, “With the revision of the law, we will continue to identify unreasonable rules with regard to public safety and strengthen penalties realistically.”

Tipsy jet-skiing has been banned for years.

Now, if you were a surfer living in Land of the Morning Calm, would this specter be enough for a considered move north to the Democratic People’s Republic? Beloved YouTubber Ben Gravy explored that coastline a few years back though is famously sober so will have nothing to worry about in South Korea come summer.

While I have never, personally, visited either Koreas, I rank the national cuisine in my top five. Bulgogi, bibimbap, galbi, samgyeopsal, chimaek, tteobokki, jjambbong, doenjang jjigae, chuncheon dakgalbi, nakji bokkeum kimchi stew… I could go on and on, here.

Anyhow, did you have an enjoyable Christmas? Any New Year’s plans?

Share, please.