"We do get people from all over the world, and they run right in because they are just excited to be here.”
The entire eastern seaboard of the United States of America is either already receiving, or will soon receive, swell from Hurricane Erin, which is still huffing and puffing offshore. Surfers in many wave-starved regions are “stoked” and “frothy” though officials are busily worrying about ignorant and lame regular beachgoers, and especially in Florida where the two groups are being pitted against one another.
Brandon Andrews, supervisor for Palm Beach County Ocean Rescue North, poured fuel on the conflict by telling surfers, “This should be a proper swell. All indicators are pointing toward ideal conditions.”
James Wieland, a meteorologist for WPTV Channel 5 but also a surfer, added, “This is a great scenario for several days of a classic pumping hurricane swell all up and down the east coast. Expect lots of closeouts, but there will be some gems rolling through at the right break.”
“A closeout is when a wave curls and crashes all at once — sending a surfer tumbling or shooting straight into the beach — instead of crumbling uniformly north or south like a coat being unzipped, keeping the face of the wave open and ridable,” The Palm Beach Daily News explains.
Meanwhile, the aforementioned basic sunbathers are being told an entirely different message. Sammy Hadi, an NWS meteorologist based in Miami, shared, “One of the biggest problems for us is trying to message a threat that’s offshore and not readily seen. It’s a beautiful day, it’s hot, and it seems like it’s great for a swim but under the water can be very deadly.”
Palm Beach is forecasted to see 8-10ft surf with surfers, once again, encouraged to enjoy. Goofy ignorant beach fun, though, frowned upon. “Swimming is not advised for the next couple of days,” Andrews emphasized after hyping the swell. “We do get people from all over the world, and they run right in because they are just excited to be here.”
In other words, if you don’t surf, don’t start.
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Wieland is a reporter now? I thought he was dead…
Love me a good Barney.
They’re mostly harmless.
Hurricane Erin is coming. Next season.
Been lame. Over hyped. Shit winds. The hurricane swell equivalent of JSC’s new “book.”
They should move the final 5 to the outer banks. How long do these hurricane swells last? always thought this was a here and gone kinda situation but seems like this has been going for a week now
Hurricane swells are basically gambling. A textbook example of intermittent reinforcement/variable rewards. You either score or you get skunked. Very little in between.
One of the best taglines from back in the “heyday” of surf advertising! Kuddos to the gangsters at Gotcha for that one.
The reef ads were the pinnacle and it’s no coincidence that as soon as they stopped making them, the industry went to shit.
Hahaha! I remember being at ASR trade shows and Reef having girls on a makeshift stage in bikinis the entire show. So many groms would hang out by that booth.
Words to live by right there