I just realized my recent posts have all been about the kids which is a sure sign that there haven't been decent waves for a while. That's Florida for you... what you gonna do?
Looks like there's a system moving north that could have some decent waves rolling in later this week. Here's hoping.
Stay stoked,
DH
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
My son's first Big Wave
Last year toward the end of summer my son caught his first big wave. Now big is a relative term but for a 7 year old I'm sure the thick wedgy 6-7 foot wave I put him into registered as epic on his scale.
I had just bought him his current board and the summer was ending and I really wanted get him into a good wave before the water turned cold. My wife and daughter were busy so I decided to take my son to the beach and give it a go. I left my board on the beach, put my swim fins on and towed him out to the outer break (a sandbar maybe 40 yards out) on his board. These big wedgy crumbly waves were rolling in and after about 10 minutes of waiting (impatiently on his part) I was able to put him into a good one. Holding his board at the front I positioned myself under it laying on my back. Kicking as hard as I could as the wave overtook us I pulled him forward with one arm and watched him disappear into a 5 foot mass of crumbling whitewash.
The wave rolled on and I hung behind looking for him. 10 feet away, 20, 30 feet away and still I didn't see him and I started to get worried. Finally as the last of the wave dissolved I saw him and he turned around and waved to me, half smiling and unafraid but looking very grateful to see me. I swam over to him and he told me a little nervously that he wanted to go back to the beach. He played in the sand the rest of the day uninterested in the waves and I didn't pressure him for any more, but I was proud as I could be for the one he caught.
I'm not sure if he'll remember that wave when he grows up but I promise I'll never forget it.
Stay Stoked,
DH
I had just bought him his current board and the summer was ending and I really wanted get him into a good wave before the water turned cold. My wife and daughter were busy so I decided to take my son to the beach and give it a go. I left my board on the beach, put my swim fins on and towed him out to the outer break (a sandbar maybe 40 yards out) on his board. These big wedgy crumbly waves were rolling in and after about 10 minutes of waiting (impatiently on his part) I was able to put him into a good one. Holding his board at the front I positioned myself under it laying on my back. Kicking as hard as I could as the wave overtook us I pulled him forward with one arm and watched him disappear into a 5 foot mass of crumbling whitewash.
The wave rolled on and I hung behind looking for him. 10 feet away, 20, 30 feet away and still I didn't see him and I started to get worried. Finally as the last of the wave dissolved I saw him and he turned around and waved to me, half smiling and unafraid but looking very grateful to see me. I swam over to him and he told me a little nervously that he wanted to go back to the beach. He played in the sand the rest of the day uninterested in the waves and I didn't pressure him for any more, but I was proud as I could be for the one he caught.
I'm not sure if he'll remember that wave when he grows up but I promise I'll never forget it.
Stay Stoked,
DH
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Two Foot Waves, Bodyboarding and Hermit Crabs
I had a fun session with my son Monday evening. The waves were small but clean, breaking consistently in about 3 feet of water and they were perfect for him to launch himself into. We drifted from 18th street to the castle (a house about a half mile away that looks a little like a castle) and then walked back three times. I was really proud of him.
Believe it or not I got quite a work out. My son went for nearly every wave and I went for nearly every wave he went for. We were going pretty much non stop the whole time. About the only break I got were a couple of times that my son found large clumps of seaweed and we both went to shore for an inspection.
These tangled masses, which contain not only seaweed and marsh grass but also fishing line, hair scrunchies and other debris, also invariable contain hundreds of hermit crabs. My son found one clump that as we shook out that had enough hermit crabs to thickly cover not only his entire board but also the sand all around it. I'd estimate somewhere between 600 and 800 crabs, some so small that you can barely see them.
This was me and my sons first solo session and I gotta tell you I had a blast. I can't wait to get him some fins and have him out with me on a little bigger waves.
Stay Stoked,
DH
Believe it or not I got quite a work out. My son went for nearly every wave and I went for nearly every wave he went for. We were going pretty much non stop the whole time. About the only break I got were a couple of times that my son found large clumps of seaweed and we both went to shore for an inspection.
These tangled masses, which contain not only seaweed and marsh grass but also fishing line, hair scrunchies and other debris, also invariable contain hundreds of hermit crabs. My son found one clump that as we shook out that had enough hermit crabs to thickly cover not only his entire board but also the sand all around it. I'd estimate somewhere between 600 and 800 crabs, some so small that you can barely see them.
This was me and my sons first solo session and I gotta tell you I had a blast. I can't wait to get him some fins and have him out with me on a little bigger waves.
Stay Stoked,
DH
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Micklers Beach Bodyboarding for the Kids
The other week I had the kids bodyboarding at Micklers at high tide for the first time. There was a 3 foot shore-break dumping hard in about a foot of water and I was launching the kids (cautiously) into the waves. The whitewash was exploding around them and shooting them up onto 10 feet up onto the shore at phenomenal speeds.
Unfortunately a thunderstorm rolled in within about 30 minutes of us getting there. As lighting stuck nearby and the crack of thunder startled everyone and cleared the remaining people from the water I told the kids we had to go. "But Daddy!" said my six year old daughter, "this beach is FUN!!!".
In consolation for their ruined fun I told the kids we'd drive south and catch another beach. We passed Guana River, and the Gate station as storm was still too close and ended up at a little beach just north of Vilano (the one where the wooden foot bridge crosses over the road). The waves were a little less punchy, and probably safer, but they spat the kids out up onto the sand just the same. Awesome day at the beach.
Stay Stoked,
DH
Unfortunately a thunderstorm rolled in within about 30 minutes of us getting there. As lighting stuck nearby and the crack of thunder startled everyone and cleared the remaining people from the water I told the kids we had to go. "But Daddy!" said my six year old daughter, "this beach is FUN!!!".
In consolation for their ruined fun I told the kids we'd drive south and catch another beach. We passed Guana River, and the Gate station as storm was still too close and ended up at a little beach just north of Vilano (the one where the wooden foot bridge crosses over the road). The waves were a little less punchy, and probably safer, but they spat the kids out up onto the sand just the same. Awesome day at the beach.
Stay Stoked,
DH
Saturday, June 12, 2010
A new approach to Bodyboarding with the Kids
When the waves are small, an evening at the beach with the kids usually consists of me launching them into wave after wave and not riding any myself, but I took a new approach today. Normally the kids disappear behind the wave after I launch them and I don't see them till they hit the shore but today decided to try pulling them into waves with me (me on my board and them beside me on theirs) and it worked perfectly.
I held onto the front of my board with one hand and onto their leash string with the other. Once we were in (and I was sure they wouldn't pearl) I'd let go of their bodyboard and ride the wave in with them. There's a whole new level of stoke that comes with sharing a wave with your kids. For once I got to see every smile and laugh and watch them enjoy the waves. Too cool!
Stay Stoked,
DH
I held onto the front of my board with one hand and onto their leash string with the other. Once we were in (and I was sure they wouldn't pearl) I'd let go of their bodyboard and ride the wave in with them. There's a whole new level of stoke that comes with sharing a wave with your kids. For once I got to see every smile and laugh and watch them enjoy the waves. Too cool!
Stay Stoked,
DH
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