StokeReport User Surf Reports

Rincon. Looking fun. [video]

sandcastle — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:28:08 -0700

fair surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:47:58 -0700

Mediocre maintenance session. Got one nice, long, waist-high right. The rest was pretty meh. But still, not windy, easy paddle, and better than going to the gym.

(Submitted via the Web)

El Cap looking sweet. [video]

sandcastle — Sat, 12 May 2012 10:39:09 -0700

poor surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:04:25 -0700

Meh. Sunny and an easy paddle. That's about it.

(Submitted via the Web)

fair surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:19:01 -0700

Modest little sunset sesh. Easy paddle, warmer water, mellow vibe, somewhat adequate waves. And that friggin sunset! Good lord. Stoked.

(Submitted via the Web)

poor surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:38:13 -0700

Mmm, well, uh, it was sunny? And an easy paddle? And the water is a little warmer? And that's about it. No one getting much of anything.

(Submitted via the Web)

Surfrider Beach Clean-up next Sunday

sandcastle — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 10:08:00 -0700

Earth Day (Sunday, April 22nd) event sponsored by local brewery Trumer Pils. Beach cleanup at Stairwell 17 at Ocean Beach early in the day (10am-12pm) then a FREE block party in front of the Riptide at 3639 ###### Street (12-6pm) with a beer garden, food trucks, live music (The Mermen), surfboard raffle (eco board shaped by Stretch), bike raffle, kids games, etc. Should be an awesome day!

poor surfing conditions at Marin - Bolinas

sandcastle — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:57:55 -0700

Poor because, well, it was poor. Plus because I got a few mush burgers and got my fat a$$ back in the water. It had been almost a month!

(Submitted via the Web)

fair surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:40:25 -0700

The outer, OUTER bars are waking up. Time to tighten my suspenders. Conditions look pretty junky but look at the size of those things!

(Submitted via the Web)

Magic Telephone Poles on Great Highway?

sandcastle — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:52:12 -0800

For the second time in a week I have seen a man talking passionately with a telephone pole on Great Highway. Tonight he seems to be very attached to her. His friend is trying to pry him away but he won't let go.

fair surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:53:02 -0800

Double session today. Definitely ass cold this morning. Hood, gloves, the whole shebang. Very wonky and hard to line up. But there was some size and power moving out there. Got one HH+ right and had to go to work. Grabbed a sunset session and paid a heavy entry fee. Took 30 mins to get out. Same story as this morning. Wonky and crossed up but some shapely HH+ shoulders rolling through. Again with one nice right and called it good. Better than poor because I made it out and caught a couple.

(Submitted via the Web)

fair surfing conditions at Santa Cruz - Other

sandcastle — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:51:32 -0800

Took the drive down with my brand new, custom made board from Sunset Shapers. Amazing how different the surfing experience is there. No shore break at all, long peeling rights (if a little mushy), and concentrated take off zone. Took awhile to get lined up. Eventually got some of the longest rides I've ever had. Not bad. Not bad at all.

(Submitted via the Web)

Wow. I never even heard of this before. [video]

sandcastle — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 10:36:38 -0800

fair surfing conditions at San Mateo - Half Moon Bay

sandcastle — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:06:17 -0800

secret spot with no parking. lots of boats in the water and cameras on the bluff. biggish (15 - 18 maybe) but very inconsistent. only saw three rides while i was there. then the marine layer came down and the show was over. fun to watch for a few.

(Submitted via the Mobile Web)

Great Highway - Weird Surfing.

sandcastle — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 19:44:04 -0800

Mav's Highlights from Powerlines. Gulp. [video]

sandcastle — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:44:00 -0800

Yes. He made it.

sandcastle — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:52:52 -0800

OB December 20.

fair surfing conditions at San Francisco - Other

sandcastle — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:20:54 -0800

Surfed "Other" for the first time today. Easy to get in. Getting out is another matter. Really weird wave. Would take some getting used to. Did OK but not in a hurry to go back.

(Submitted via the Web)

good surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 17:39:38 -0800

I'll call it "good" on account of the waves were good+. Where I was I had a brutal paddle. Then I had a one man crowd get in my way on my first two waves. Gave him a little stink eye and he moved off. Ended up catching one big, perfect right and one big, perfect left. My next big takeoff resulted in me getting pitched and my dam leash came off! Got to love that long swim. By the time I got in I was too tired to get back out. Called it a day. Those two bombs were worth the effort, though.

(Submitted via the Web)

good surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:05:19 -0800

Fun sesh today late morning. SH+. A little inconsistent. Some waves were kind of soft and needed a late takeoff. Some waves were a little punchier. Easy paddle, no current, no crowds, sunny, dolphins. High wave count. Stoked.

(Submitted via the Web)

Pipe Master Highlights [video]

sandcastle — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:57:13 -0800

Love the meltdown at 0:48!

House Swap in Kauai?

sandcastle — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:33:54 -0800

Looking for a house swap in Kauai this February. We have a sweet flat on Great Highway with an unobstructed white water view.

poor surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 07:49:15 -0800

Friggin looks like Lindamar out there. Little bitty closeouts all up and down the line. Hit snooze.

(Submitted via the Web)

Coast Guard Action?

sandcastle — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:45:19 -0800

A chopper and two boats hovering around the middle. Anyone know what's up?

fair surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:18:26 -0800

9:30 - 11:00 it was SH and shifty. Occasional outside HH set would come through but really they were just decoys. The real action was on the inside. Surprisingly punchy little burger flippers happening.

(Submitted via the Web)

Good Surfing

sandcastle — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:48:33 -0800

You know how when it's SH and kinda mushy but you paddle out anyway just because? And it's not crowded and the current is quiet? And it turns out you're in the groove and catching everything you paddle for and catch a million waves? That's what I call "Good" surfing.

fair surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:19:10 -0800

the small end was actually not that small this afternoon. and lordy, it's a whole lot snappier than the bigger end. serious, bitchy little shorebreak kept me on my toes. got sent back in three times. fortunately, patience and perseverance paid off. scored a few HH+ tasties. no crowd to speak of.

(Submitted via the Web)

fair surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:58:24 -0800

I'm giving it a fair this time. Clean & glassy with long waits in between sets. SH but fairly steep and racy. Had the wrong board. Was at the small end and the lineup was a bit crowded. Got dropped in on and blocked out a few times. Frustrating. Plus, I just wasn't on my game today. Listen to me complaining about surfing. Geez, what a grump!

(Submitted via the Web)

good surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 17:39:15 -0800

well, kids, i guess i got lucky again today! first off, we drove up & down this morning looking for a likely spot. decided to give it a pass and wait for the tide to turn around. by 3:00 it had cleaned up some and the shore break looked a little more manageable so we paddled out. was CH or so and decent. then, at about 3:30 - 3:45 (wasn't wearing a watch) the swell jacked up. 6 - 8 on the biggest set waves. it got good and it got crowded. fortunately i managed to pick off a few sweet rights and lefts without any traffic problems. some nice late drops and open faces. even got hooted on my last wave, which is a rarity for an old dude longboarder like myself. super fun. glad to be a sfob surfer.

(Submitted via the Web)

great surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:39:45 -0800

OMFG!
woke up at 6:30 to waist high dribbles. By high tide it was 8 - 10 foot peeling A-frames. At least it was where I went out. Absolutely epic.

(Submitted via the Web)

good surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:56:32 -0800

small, yes. but super clean, super easy, and super fun. great way to start the day.

(Submitted via the Mobile Web)

good surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:02:02 -0800

Yes, yes. Good surfing to be sure. Was out from about 2 - 3:30. Did not choose my paddle out spot well. It took two tries and about 40 minutes. It's a real bitch dragging a longboard out through this shorebreak. But I made it and was well rewarded. Many woots were wooted! HH+ and super clean. Very fun.

(Submitted via the Web)

Ocean Beach - Big Beautiful Waves. Zero Rides

sandcastle — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:39:05 -0700

I watched today off and on for about an hour and a half. Not at the contest site but further down toward the big end. In the early afternoon, when I had time to surf, there was just no way I could have gotten out. Didn't have time to drive anywhere. So I just watched. The three or four hardy souls I saw who did make it out never caught a single wave.

Big Sur. Fair + Surfing

sandcastle — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 20:34:47 -0700

Big Sur for the weekend. Small surf but lots of waves. Clean water and no crowds. Super mellow. Super stoked.

good surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:44:04 -0700

11:30 - 12:30 lunch break. got better as the tide went out. cleaner and a bit smaller. HH+ on the sets. been riding as a single fin all summer. as of this week it is definitely time to put the side fins back in! got a couple of nice ones anyway. good times.

(Submitted via the Web)

good surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 11:28:34 -0700

another woot, woot for today. smaller than yesterday but more consistent. much more crowded but the drift and the high wave count kept things pretty mellow. got it from 9:30 - 11:00. stoked again!

(Submitted via the Web)

good surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:13:27 -0700

woot! woot!
got it from 8:00 - 10:00. voluptuous HH+ lefts & rights. easy paddle. dolphin party. everything but smurfs and rainbows. looks very shut down right now. backed off, mushy and the wind is on it. i caught it at the right time. stoked!

(Submitted via the Web)

good surfing conditions at San Mateo - Linda Mar

sandcastle — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:05:51 -0700

yeah, you heard me. good. the end of the beach that wasn't closing out was producing a steady stream of CH - SH rights and lefts. big bonus points for the fact that i was able to paddle out, unlike at sfob. i got many more waves than i do in most sessions. also, i was one of the better surfers in the lineup (as opposed to yesterday at ob where i was one of the worst). kinda makes an old dude feel good. :-)

(Submitted via the Web)

good surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:35:47 -0700

i guess it is good - if you can get outside. the outer bar is waking up. bring yer huevos. gonna try at the small end.

(Submitted via the Web)

good surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:17:36 -0700

Yeah, super fun from 2:00 - 3:00. That is, until my leash broke. I happened to be in the middle of a massive rip tide, which made things a lot more interesting. After about 20 minutes I got to the left of the rip and started making progress in. Some noble soul stood watch over my beached board and kept an eye on me until I got in past the shore break. Then, as soon as I could stand up and walk in he casually eased off. Whoever that was, thanks. The moral support came in handy.

(Submitted via the Web)

fair surfing conditions at San Mateo - Other

sandcastle — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 16:29:47 -0700

not bad after two weeks in no-surf countries. i bit slow and back-offish on the takeoff but rideable. water was relatively warm and not too, too crowded. i'll take it gladly.

(Submitted via the Web)

"Shark" sighting at Swami's

sandcastle — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 08:49:36 -0700

good surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 12:55:46 -0700

compared to the last few weeks today was very good. HH lefts and some rights. strong current. i got out and walked back three times. super fun.

(Submitted via the Web)

fair surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 12:34:21 -0700

better than it looked. but definitely a "right time, right place" kind of a session. better than nothing.

(Submitted via the Web)

fair surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 10:53:24 -0700

super small and crumbly. however, the conditions are such that you can literally walk out to the break. the water is less agitated than normal so visibility is better. i saw lots of crabs and sand dollars on the bottom. the dolphins came through and the vibe was mellow. i'll give it a solid fair.

(Submitted via the Web)

poor surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:02:24 -0700

sloppy, choppy, wishy, washy from 10:00 - 11:130 today. there was definite swell in the water - CH - SH. but i'd have to say it was barely worth the paddle. one and done.

(Submitted via the Web)

Monday night Yoga at Aqua Surf on Sloat

sandcastle — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:52:42 -0700

Had a great yoga session (fully clothed) this evening at Aqua. Roughly geared for surfers. I like this class a lot. It's every Monday from 6:30 - 8:00 and it's only $8. Highly recommend it.

fair surfing conditions at San Francisco - Ocean Beach

sandcastle — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:49:51 -0700

small but fun ws had today from 12:00 to 1:30. i'd say the conditions were fair but i'll give it a + because i was in the groove. oh, and the sun came out and a pod of porpoise came by for a visit. so yeah, fair+ for sure.

(Submitted via the Web)

Yoga On the Beach This Sunday

sandcastle — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 23:18:35 -0700

I found out about a yoga class on the beach this Sunday at N0riega. It is from 10:30 - 12:00. I've taken classes with this instructor several times and highly recommend him. He has been teaching surf-focused yoga classes locally. The beach class on sunday is free but donations are accepted.

First Real Barrel - With a Witness

sandcastle — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:59:38 -0700

It finally happened. After years and years of surfing I got in to (and out of) the tube. It was at a strange break I had never surfed before. It was on a borrowed board I had never surfed before. There was a major toilet bowl motion in effect. Nobody else out.