a word from stokereport's creator

I rarely post here, but enjoy reading it nearly daily. Thanks John for brightening my day too.

I <3 <3 <3 SR! Sick waves out there today!

Random observation; hopefully it won't result any long rants.

Stokereport very much mirrors reality in one way, at least. Back in October, when the surf was bad, there was a lot of negative energy going around. Then the surf got good, and *poof* it went away. It's been really bad now for a while, and just like those days when it's really inconsistent and there's not enough waves to go around, the paddle battles start and people start paddling over each other to do their thing. Tempers start flaring. People start getting hostile.

I remember an interesting fact from a psychology class. When long periods of bad weather settle in, it's actually common for the TV weatherman to get threats in the mail. Bizarre and rediculous, but people would write letters at home and mail them into the station, as if the guy standing in front of the blue screen actually controlled what was going on out there. What a notion!

I'm not sure the poor weatherman got any thank you notes when the weather was nice for weeks at a time. I'm guessing probably not. That's why I buy you a beer whenever we cross paths, John. I'm thanking you, personally, for the good waves you sent me back in December, and I'm trying to bribe some more out of you, as I know you're the guy in front of the blue screen actually controlling the weather :)

Thanks John. Surfing, music, my family, and the richness of the bay area (diversity of foods/wines, cultures, viewpoints, lifrstyles) are all positive parts of my life. I count SR in there too; I'm happy to participate.

StokeMaster. You rule!
@lee, love your comment.

Here here John! I for one very much appreciate the Nice-ness of SR.

I tune in because the spirit here speaks to our goodness as humans and our celebration of the natural forces we harness. It checks our egos and enhances our perspective. It massages the imagination. It advances us a click.

Keep up the great work!

Hugh
(a fan of algorithms)

Yeah, thanks for all the time, work and stoke you put into this site. Is is much appreciated!

John, you're a gentleman and a scholar, and an awesome surfer and most importantly, dude. Thank you so much for this site. I think so much good has become of it, it's ridiculous. I've met some of the most compelling and interesting people here, who are real San Franciscans, who embody what it's supposed to be like in this great city.
Near as I can tell, the site's always been exactly how you put it. Positive.
Thanks for doing this without any remuneration, and let us all attempt to get John at the minimum, that webby :)

me too. i check the site at least once a day. not just for surf reports but also for super local info and general ocean culture. i have not noticed any increase in crowds and have nothing but good to say about the site.

"stokereport isn't a site that mirrors reality, it doesn't intend to"

As long as the users of this site are aware of this, too, I have no problem with it. But comments like, "This site doesn't effect the crowds." or, "It's the internet; get used to it." Well, yeah, that's clearly not reality either. I just think that people get so much feedback from the other Stokereporters on this site that they can be oblivious to how the rest of the world thinks.

I think what you've done is a genearlly positive thing, too, John. But I think you could put a few rules/guidelines on how people post that would certainly ruffle less feathers. Striving to bring positivity in this world is always a good thing, but you have to be aware of how making some people happy might have the opposite effect on others.

Good time to tell my story, haha!
I am from So-Cal. I grew up down there my first 20 years. I surfed about 8 years and fished all the time when I was young. I was a young beach bum : )
I moved to Nor -Cal at age 20. Got married, divorced, kids moved away and now remarried. I fished for bass (fresh water) for 25 years. At that time I didn't surf. The Bass fishing took a lot of time. The back stabbing and ugly people in that sport and on the sites got old. I would never believe I would turn my back on bass but I did.
So I heard the call to go back to surfing at age 46 haha! I am having the time of my life. Still on the short board and just got my first custom board ever, SO STOKED!
I pick and chose places I like to go to or post. The love and fun here is very cool. I have not paddled out or met anyone but maybe some day it will work out. I don't really have any surf friends but one to paddle out with. I would share more on the report side but I live in the valley (east of SC). By the time I get home the report would be over a day old. I took the name Hodad because when I was a young surf punk I called a few peeps Hodad, so I am paying myself back for it HAHA!
I don't surf north much (HMB, LM or OB) Mostly SC area but it's cool to read the news, storys and reports and even jokes.
I too look about once a day. Keep the place just the way it is.
Thanks for the site, it's cool to come to get some stoke.

@Hodad: you ever get burgers 'n fries after a session @ Hodad's in OB San Diego?

No, But I had lots of Perry's Pizza on Santa Monica beach (it's still there). Worked there even back when. Fun Job, body surf at lunch haha!

I remember when I very first started surfing (which is pretty fresh in my memory, since we're talking August '09 here), and I asked @cryptomail what I could do to stay stoked when I wasn't able to get out, since it seemed kind of important to me to keep spirits up even if I wasn't able to surf daily (which I still can't). He pointed me here.

SR carries me through the dry spells, whether it's due to fierce conditions, not being able to get a ride, business, on-call rotations, or anything else that keeps me from getting wet. And when I do get out, it's helped me make connections with a whole bunch of genuinely awesome people.

So thanks!

I love this site, and check it multiple times per day. I like the rants just as much as the reports. There are some fine people in this little online community, which I am glad to be a part of. Many thanks to its creator!

Also, I'm curious how often are there StokeReport get-togethers at bars or potlucks? It might be a fine way to make the community even more fun!

I don't have anything to add that hasn't already been said much better than I could, but I did want to say "thank you."

I am relatively new to SR, but I greatly appreciate your posts, obvious appreciation for surf, and most of all, your attempts to foster community among local surfers.

I'd also like to say thanks. I have learned so much surfing with folks I've met through stoke report. I've had many days brightened bythe humor and insight of so many positive people.

As a kook surfing alone my first year, I had fun, but all I did was catch waves, go home. Through stoke report I've laughed, I've helped others, I've been able to connect with positive forces in the community, and I've been able to get in touch with local concerns. Many people on this site do great things to make both the ocean community and the sf community stronger.

thanks John, your stoke, your even keel, and your tireless efforts make stoke report a positive part of my life.