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In loving memory of my beautiful niece Rebecca Jeanne Gore about Rebecca
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South Padre Island Surfing Pictures by SeaGypsy
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Overhead and offshore at Boca on Saturday Jan 5, water temp in the 50's and air in the 40's.
Winter finally arrives on SPI on New Years Day. 2013 starts with a weeklong run of rain, cold gusty north winds and rough surf. Water temps will be dropping into the 50's. For those of us that love winter surf, it also means more offshore mornings and big clean cold surf on the way.
Christmas Day Swell - perfect surf with light offshores and warm sunny weather!Click4picEven better surf on the mornings of the 28th and 31st with light SW offshores, overhead sets, clear blue water and good barrels breaking on the best shallow sandbar in years on the outside!
Isla Blanca Sand Project - over and out - one big swell and the sandbank vanished, much less sand was pumped than in previous years - check out this picture from 11-3
Hurricane Sandy - surf videos and pictures - click here
O'Neill Coldwater Classic Santa Cruz - November 1-11 - Click for live webcastand contest website
HIC Pro Sunset Beach Hawaii - October 29 - Nov 10 - Click for live webcastand contest website
Hurricane Isaac brings great surf to South Padre Island on August 27-29. Light offshore winds each morning and very clean swell, with the biggest waves being ridden by a few lucky surfers near dark Tuesday evening at the end of the jetty at 10-15' and clean (sorry you missed it). The swell peaked overnight Tuesday, and Wednesday saw flawless 5-8' lines with light offshores until vanishing midday.
Billabong Pro Teahupo'o to be completed Sunday and Monday in a building large swell - Live Webcast
- Used Surfboards for Sale - new listing 9' longboard - Click here
Tropical Storm/Hurricane Ernesto surfing pictures are now online at Seagypsyphotographs
Surfing and SUP in the Olympics?? Why isn't surfing in the Olympics when sports like curling are? Well, according to Corky Carroll..... NO! - It seems that every time the Olympics come around, the same old "Should surfing become an Olympic sport?" question pops up. Should it? I don't know. When I was young and an up-and-coming competitor in surfing events, I would have said unquestionably "yes" to that question. But as I have gotten older, my viewpoint has swayed to the other side more than a little bit. The main reason is that surfing just may be way too cool of a thing to be subjected to being bunched in with ballroom dancing and some of the other Olympic "sports."
For a good example, let me remind everybody about the last Winter Games when we were subjected to unending hours of the great and thrilling sport of women's curling. I pretty much swore off ever turning on the television for the Winter Games again after that. I wanted to catch some screaming bobsleds and downhill racing, and if I had to catch a bit of ice skating along the way, so be it. I can flow along with that.
But really, curling? And why, why, oh why, oh why, did they have to have it on nonstop? And now we have the Summer Games, and I can't seem to catch a U.S. men's basketball game without already knowing who won first.
I did get a bit of enjoyment out of watching this massive Russian chick putting the shot the other day, though. After she let the thing fly, she screamed as loud as she could in a shriek that was something between a banshee and a water buffalo death yell. I ran it back about three times just to hear it again and again. That made me laugh, and laughing is entertainment. Curling, NOT.
The Olympics could be a great venue for the stand-up paddleboard people, though. Would fit right in. In fact, just thinking about it, this would be a good time to get a jump on designing some super-skin-tight flaming racing outfits, kind of like all of those weekend bicycle dudes wear when they are cruising down Pacific Coast Highway looking like the umbrellas outside the Italian restaurant.
I am not saying that being in the Olympics is not cool. It is. Especially if you are a swimmer or a runner or on the latest "dream team." But I think of surfing in a different time zone. Yes, competitive surfing could be an Olympic sport if held in a country with surf, or if they had really good indoor wave pools all over the world. But I just don't see surfing, ballroom dancing and curling in the same stratosphere. I guess they are. But not in my version.
The next thing you know, we will have a "Surfing with the Stars" reality show to deal with. It will come on right after "American Surf Idol" and just before my new favorite, "Surf City C.S.I."
Author: Corky Carroll - Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 8 August, 2012 US Open of Surfing - July 28 to August 5 - click for live webcast - Mobile app at "ASPtogo"
ASP Volcom Pro, Tavarua Fiji - June 3-15 pumping swell on the way for the start on Saturday at 3pm local time- Live Webcast - Mobile app at "ASPtogo" *Biggest cleanest waves ever paddled into in surfing history and the contest was called off...
Hurricane Season 2012 begins June 1. Although hurricane season is completely unpredictable, recent extreme weather events hint of an upcoming unusual season. Regardless, the media is sure to come up with entertaining new worst-ever terms for their extreme alarmist rantings such as "Hurri-pocalypse" or "Hurr-maggedon" that keep plenty of Americans glued to their TV. My advice, turn off the TV and check the National Hurricane Center and your local National Weather Service for accurate factual information, then go surfing.
Billabong Pro Rio - May 9-20 - Click for Live Webcast
Nike Lower Trestles Pro - May 1-5 - Click forLive Webcast
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach - April 3-14 - Live Webcast
ASP Drug Aware Pro (hows that for an oxymoron) runs March 19-25 at Margaret River Australia, watch the live webcast here
Best waves on the Island - the beachbreak in front of the Hilton on the north end by Andy Bowie Park (map). This area is an erosion hotspot with deeper dropoffs, shallower sandbars and much hollower waves than the jetty area. Sand is trucked in here occassionally helping create even better sandbars. No crowds. Checkout these pictures from Saturday March 10 - 123456.
Spring Break Texas Week 2012 - March 10-18 - click here for info on Coca-Cola Beach, bikini contests, events and more Man-o-War Jellyfish wash up in massive amounts on Sunday, February 26.
ASP World Tour 2012 February 25 - March 7 (4pm local time) with the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks, Australia. .Snapper Cam and Surf Forecast / Live Webcast
A New Andy Bowie Pier? I recently presented to Pct. 1 County Commissioner Sophia Benavides a plan to build/rebuild a new Gulf pier at Andy Bowie Beach Park at the site of the original pier that was destroyed by Hurricane Allen in 1980. SPI is the only coastal city in Texas, and possibly the entire Gulf Coast that does not have a public pier over the Gulf. The TGLO is building and funding a new Gulf pier on High Island near Galveston, you'd think we might have a chance? While the SPI government continues to build the finest and most modern of facilities for itself, perhaps a pier is not too much to ask for us peasants?
Burleigh Pro - Feb 8-12 - 3pm local time start - Live Webcast
Australian Open of Surfing - Feb 11-19 - Live Webcast
DING REPAIR - Surfboard repair on South Padre Island - call Jimmy at 956-299-1328
Vans Triple Crown of Surfing - North Shore Oahu - Nov 12 through December 20 - Women's World Champ Carissa Moore gets wildcard - Live Webcast
Rip Curl Search San Francisco runs November 1-12 - Live Webcast Support your local surf photographer, downloads are only $2 ea. In Hawaii or Cal surf photogs charge $30-40 ea. Checkout your pics of the last swell!SeaGypsy's Photographs
Rip Curl Pro Portugal - October 15-24 - Live Webcast
Quik Pro France - October 4-13 - Live Webcast Hurley Pro begins Sunday Sept 18-24 at Trestles California - Live Webcast
Quik Pro New York may score epic hurricane swell this week from Hurricane Katia! Live Webcast Sept 5-15
Tropical Storm Lee sends 2 days of perfect surf with overhead sets and light offshores at Boca Chica and South Padre - Hurricane Center
In these "modern" surfing times, the worn out word "Legend" applies to virtually everyone that owned a surfboard before 1970. Read this short feature on a true legend, Edward Ryan Makua Hanai Aikau.
Plastic Pollution Texas Photo Challenge, a statewide photo competition. The competition will center around pictures of pollution in Texas waterways.
South Padre Island is now recycling plastic, aluminum, cardboard, newspaper and tin every Saturday from 9 – 12 at 108 West Retama.
10 year old Micah Gore from South Padre Island makes the semi-finals at Makaha on a borrowed board (thanks Buttons!) at the Rell Sunn Menehune Championships!
Quiksilver Pro New York - Sept 4-15, 2011 $1 million dollar purse. ASP story
Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational - not big enough to run Thursday - Live Webcast
Billabong ASP World Junior Championships - North Narrabeen, Sydney Australia
January 8-16 Live Webcast
Hawaiian Triple Crown of Surfing - Nov 12 to Dec 20. Mens and Womens events held at Haleiwa, Sunset Beach and Pipeline. Watch the live webcast at all events.
ASP Rip Curl Search Puerto Rico - the most unforgettably Triumphant and Tragic surf contest in history. Event website
King Kelly's Last Stand - The Greatest Athlete of All Time Don't miss the biggest moment in surfing and all sports history when Kelly Slater clinches his historic 10th World Title.
Andy Irons, 3x World Champion died in Dallas on his way home from the Rip Curl Search Puerto Rico. Incredibly tragic day in surfing. Slideshow tribute. ASP website
Tropical Storm Richard in the NW Caribbean headed for the southern Gulf, but again no swell.
Hurricane Paula in the NW Caribbean, but no swell for the Gulf... Hurricane Center
ASP Men and Women Rip Curl Pro Portugal - Starts Thursday October 7-18 Live Webcast(2am local time start)
Quiksilver Pro France - Sept 25 to Oct 5Results and videos As you can see, if you haven't surfed France, you are really missing out!!! September-October is the best time of year for surf there.
Hurricane Karl, 4th storm in the southern Gulf this season. Karl will bring some fun size E to SE swell for the weekend, nothing big but several days or more worth of up to 6-8' surf, it should help ease the pain of missing epic east and west coast swells. Giant storm swell from Hurricane Igor for the East Coast this weekend, and a bomb south swell for Mexico and California this weekend. Time for a frequent flyer miles check... ASP Hurley Pro - Lower Trestles California September 12-18 2010. Big south swell on the way for the rest of the event beginning Thursday! CONGRATS to my boy Micah for winning the Hurley "Who's in First" contest, be sure to try your luck, its running for the remainder of the event. Hurley Pro Website and live webcast
Tropical Storm Hermine sends nice overhead swell with SW offshores September 7, take a look at this pic and see how many lefts and rights are peeling off unridden.
Hermine also sends the Mexican shrimping fleet running for safe harbor at the port of Brownsville, but several boats washed up on the beach. pic
First cool front of the season and a weak low in the Gulf brings some rare offshores and fun surf in late August.
5th consecutive month of all-time record sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic, and latest Hurricane Center forecasts 14-20 named storms for the upcoming peak of hurricane season. National Hurricane Center.
Local surfer and SPI Beach Patrol member Stefan Lewis needs emergency surgery to save his vision after a surfing accident, click here to learn more or donate. Quiksilver Pro Puerto Escondido July 16-23 live webcast
ASP Billabong Pro J-Bay South Africa starts July 15-25. Watch the live webcast here. (+7 hours = 1am local time to 9am)
Tropical Depression #2 made landfall on South Padre Island with surf building to around 8'+, checkout SeaGypsy's Pictures.
Cameron County Commissioners Court has approved a beach guest trash bag return pilot program for access #5 and #6 for the remainder of the summer. You will be required to pay an additional $5 fee at these beach access points, given a trash bag, and if you return the bag with trash in it you get your $5 back!
Hurricane Alex caused no damage to South Padre Island, and the surf was very choppy. In general, any tropical storm or hurricane making landfall south of here or along the Texas coast will not be good for surfing, for good hurricane surf must make landfall from Louisiana eastward.
Island of Praise - Isla Blanca Saturday June 12 - 4 stages and 37 performers from noon until 10pm. Website
Texas Gulf Surfing Association State Championships - On call for this weekend June 12-13 Isla Blanca website
Satellite Tracking of "Will" a Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle (endangered, hopefully not soon to be extinct species endemic to the Gulf). Notice how Will's eastward migration (similar to Smartie) was suddently halted off the central Louisiana coast, and appears to be back-tracking towards Galveston. Could Will be at the leading edge of underwater plumes? Hurricane Season 2010 - starts June 1 to November 30. Pray for no storms in the Gulf this year.National Hurricane Center
Billabong Pro Brazil results live webcast runs through May 2
ASP Women Beachley Classic Finals will run Sunday evening. Watch the best women surfers in the world live from Australia.
Ex-Texas surfer and Kauai resident Jim Rawlinson attacked by 14 foot Tiger shark, lands on top of the massive shark, swims to shore, then swims BACK OUT to get his chomped board, and continues surfing?! Nuts. Read the breaking news story in Honolulu Advertiser.Jim took me out for my first session at Sunset Beach, woke me up at dawn and said its 6-8' and good, pulled up and it looked like 15-20 to me!! I paddled out a half hour later, he goes "where have you been?" I said "... waxing my board ". Tiny Tim says "there's a new sheriff in town boys, no more dropping in..." pic
Surfrider Beach Cleanup Saturday April 24, 9-12 at Dolphin Cove. General meeting April 25 7pm at Brewing Co. to discuss SPI's new "noone can park on my street" ordinance.Link
Recommended Reading: Rusty explains Rocker... it's all subjective and heavily dependent on the waves you ride... My 2 cents- Remember that one "magic" board you had?? If you ever are so lucky as to own a "magic" board, record every dimension in detail and guage all your future boards off of it.
Big E swell Friday and Saturday April 16-17. When's the last time you heard the bell ring on the buoy at the end of the jetty? Check back for pics... Here's one picture you'll like, check out the spray coming off this guys face! Hows those urchins in your butt? And the barnacle rash? If you can't paddle out you don't belong out.
Atlantic Sea Surface Temperatures are at an all-time record high, an ominous sign for hurricane season 2010. Click here for more. Check out the new Texas Gulf Coast Surfing Magazine available at your local surf shop. You can even submit pictures or video of yourself schralping! New online version coming in May. ASP Women Pro New Zealand April 10-16 - Live webcast
WCT Rip Curl Pro 2010 Bells Beach Australia. March 30 - April 10. Live webcast Spring Break Texas Week is March 13-20, with most schools out on the same week so expect heavy traffic on the bridge in the evenings, especially Fri and Sat. Click here for schedule, events, Coca Cola Beach info and more.
WQS 6* Margaret River Drug Aware Pro live webcast in the evenings March 16-21, giant swell on the way by Friday for the finals. 2010 World Tour begins Feb 26-March 10 with Quiksilver Pro and the Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks, Australia
Used Surfboard Sale - longboards, shortboards, quads, jr pro, kneeboard.Click here
Mavericks Big Wave Contest is on for Saturday Feb 13, watch the live webcast here.
Beach Cleanup Saturday Feb 13, 9a-12pm at Dolphin Cove by Junior Leadership Laguna Madre Class VI at Port Isabel High School Surfrider Shindig - Saturday Feb 6 Louie's Backyard. Check Rob Nixon's Blog for more.
Friday January 29 Surf - a few water shots:1234567891011
Volcom Pipeline Pro - Jan 23 - Feb 5. Live webcast and contest website 12pm-8pm local time. 1-17-10 Sunday Morning Glass - leftover swell with perfect form and only a few lucky surfers out. Checkout Seagypsy's pics
1-15-10: Overhead and straight offshore all day Friday, surf was biggest by far at the end of the day with solid overhead sets breaking at the end of the jetty with near double-overhead peaks and straight offshore winds at 10-15, really nice surf! Inside had some nice drops and barrels. Buoys peaking were peaking at near 12-14' ESE with 9-10 second interval. Check out Seagypsy's pics from the morning and midday (no evening pics from the end of the jetty peak of the swell though)
Australians Rule! Laura Enever wins the Billabong Jr World Championships. Aussies win nearly every title in 09/10 including the Mens World Title and top 4 placings in the world, PipeMasters, Triple Crown, Sunset World Cup, Womens World Title and Womens Triple Crown. Strong low pressure forming in the Gulf this week, with an overhead SE/E swell building for Friday. Latest forecasts indicating a SE to not so desireable NE wind on Friday due to the low being south of us, but with heavy rain forecast conditions are likely to change through the day with variable winds. Saturday looking good for Boca but NW wind may be strong. Small clean leftover swell for Sunday. Winter/spring 2010 is looking to be very active wave-wise with a strengthening El Nino. Billabong World Junior Surfing Championships - North Narrabeen, Sydney Australia.
Watch the live webcast starting January 9-17 (4pm local time start). Pre-frontal perfection - Thursday Jan 7 - Great surf with light offshore winds in the morning before the arctic blast. If you don't own a 4/3, booties hood and gloves then you won't be surfing Texas for a while. An arctic front with several nights of freezing temps along the Texas coast from Jan 7-9 will drop water temps to near 50 in SPI and likely in the 40's on the upper coast. Good news is... its still better than red tide! Don't forget to fill a couple of gallons of hot water jugs for the after-surf thaw so your fingers will move enough to open your car!Click here for some Alaska surfing pictures Our precious Melia's recent California trip included ROXY fashion, runway and catalog shoots, a coldwater surf at Huntington Pier, snowboarding at Mammoth with the Roxy crew and a hula performance at the new Quiksilver flagship store at Mammoth Mountain. Click for more on Roxy's blog! "Mass Texodus to Mexico" - Multitudes of Texas surfers headed to Mex for Christmas holidays. Check out the Pacific wave model.
NW offshores and overhead perfection at Bob Hall Pier on
Saturday Nov 21 - photos by Jon Steele
Check out the new Surfline feature of Hurricane Ida on Texas and the EC.
Click photo for a large image of surf during Hurricane Ida. More to come...
The current issue of Surfers Journal has a 10 page spread of Texas by Jon Steele, there's quite a few Texas surfers that are going to be really stoked!
SPI Artificial Reef Update: Texas General Land Office announces plans for artificial reef on South Padre Island. Click here for PDF file (Page 5 Project #1459). Also check project #1453 for Isla Blanca. Although not designed as a surfing reef, it is designed to trap sand in the surf zone creating some type of sand point/reef. The project must be completed in 2 years. Surfside Beach will also soon have a new renourished beach after Ida's surge destroyed 2 homes that were causing the state to hold back on rebuilding the beach. Story
WQS 6* O'Neill Coldwater Classic results pics and videos here.
Cold fronts, offshore winds and perfect surf. Central Coast got really good while SPI gets blown out sideshores on October 30-31. Sometimes you gotta go north!
ASP Rip Curl Pro Search Portugal - Men & Women - October 19-30.
Checkout the round 3 and quarterfinal carnage on Heats on Demand
Overhead and offshore surf on Thursday Oct 22... with red tide. Click 4 pic
Seagypsy's pics here
NEW ARTIFICIAL REEF / NEW SURF BREAK coming to South Padre Island! City approves underwater geotube reef on the north end near La Quinta close to the site of the old Andy Bowie Pier. Read more
ASP Billabong Pro Mundaka: Adriano DeSouza wins, Slater 3rd - 800 pts behind Fanning for the Title. Oct 5-17 Heats on Demand (+7hrs)
October is finally here, and the longest flat spell in Texas surfing history is finally over. An early season cold front at the end of September brought 2 fun days of clean 4-5' surf at Boca and Mansfield with offshore NW winds, and the southerlies have kicked back in for what looks like an early active fall/winter pattern with a week-long south swell and more strong early season fronts. Checkout Seagypsy's Photos of last week's swell.
Quiksilver Pro France Sept 23 - Oct 4ASP World Tour Event #7 Results & Video
ASP World Tour Event #6 Hurley Pro at Trestles runs Sunday September 13-19. Results and video.
Isla Blanca's litter crisis -When will anyone (you?) do anything about it?Its your beach. Check out the Roxy Team Blog with Melia Goreripping in South Padre Island! Hurricane season 2009: El Nino means a more active tropical Pacific season and an obviously less active Atlantic season. But, its likely to mean a much more productive winter with cooler wetter conditions and stronger fronts with more surf, especially compared to winter 2008.
Tropical info: National Hurricane Center NWS Brownsville Tropical Weather
Quiksilver Pro Puerto Escondido results, pics and video Huge surf for the U.S. Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach with the largest prize in surfing history, $100,000 for 1st place. Watch the live webcast finals Sunday starting at 10am-6pm local time.PICTURES
Win a Free Custom Surfboard! - To enter, simply show us your link to SPadre.com on your website, myspace, facebook, blog etc. contest starts July 1 and ends September 5. Winner will be selected by random drawing, and will receive a free custom shaped South Padre Surf Co. surfboard by Gene Gore. Click here to enter.
ASP Billabong Pro J Bay - STARTS SUNDAY NITE. Watch the world's best surfers on one of the best right points in the world. Unfortunately they are running the "new format" with top seeds not surfing until round 2, but a large swell is forecast to arrive by then. World Tour event #5 runs July 9-19. Time zone is +7 hours so its an all-night LIVE WEBCAST starting by 1am-9am local time.In a major coup for surf fans world wide, this year at the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay spectators can watch a LIVE webcast of 80's superstars Tom Curren and Mark Occhilupo as they re-ignite their intense rivalry in the world's best right hand point wave, going head to head for the first time in over two decades. Each has won eight of their 16 previous encounters and the Clash of the Icons will provide yet another chapter in their 26 year rivalry. Don't miss the OCCY VS. CURREN duel! ASP Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro - Kelly Slater wins. World tour event #4 Saturday June 27 through July 5. Watch the live webcast daily from 6am to 3pm local time.
Hawaii's Next World Champ - want to see some really polished surfing? Check out 16 year old Keanu Asing absolutely dominating the NSSA Nationals at Lowers. ROXY Weekend in Galveston June 27-28 - new surf movie "Dear and Yonder" premiere(watch trailer) (CHECK THE LIVE STRAND CAM AT 8:30pm SATURDAY) Meet Roxy's top exec and waterwoman Cedar Carter, Roxy's top model and pro surfer Kassia Meador, Roxy's Teenie Wahine model and youngest team rider 6 year old Melia Gore, and Roxy's Texas team riders Morgan Faulkner and Brittany Tupaj. Autograph signings at these locations Saturday: Latitude 29 Surf Shop in Crystal Beach 11am-12, 2-3pm Jammin Sportswear on the Strand, 3-4pm at Surf Styles on the Strand. "Dear and Yonder" free surf movie premiere outdoors on the Strand at Saengerfest Park from 8:30-9:30pm. Sunday will be a free Roxy surf camp at Galveston State Park 9-1pm. Be sure to stop by the Crystal Beach store during Roxy's visit, there will be free giveaways as well. Latitude 29 Surf in Crystal Beach was destroyed by Hurricane Ike last year, and is partially reopened. Here is a quick story from the owner on their experience with Ike:
"We never imaged that we would ever be able to re-open the store...it was devastating! The pictures do not do it justice!! However, with lots of work and faith we managed to open 1/3 of the building on March 15th (6 months after Ike!). Everyone has their story...ours, we had actually driven to Orlando, Florida on Tuesday for the Surf Expo. On Wednesday, everyone from Crystal Beach was calling us in a panic...we were confused because the news in Florida was still showing the storm heading toward Corpus Christi and only a Cat 2. Anyway, we decided Wednesday evening that we needed to return to Crystal Beach to get our 4 dogs! We drove all night and made it to CB around 9:30 AM Thursday Morning. We boarded up, had the cars loaded down with plans of leaving early Friday morning. Exhausted, we went to sleep at 6PM and awakened at 3AM Friday Morning. It was too LATE!!!...the ocean was already taken over our neighborhood and our store!! So long story short, we were helicoptered off the peninsula in a Black Hawk with 10 other humans, 6 dogs and 3 cats!!! We were forturnate to have our lives (and we our loving dogs)! Presently, it is wonderful...the community is coming back strong!! There is so much work being done, so many houses being rebuilt!! It looks so, so much better now!! " Russell Standridge, Latitude 29 Surf Shop
Surf Polo - Sunday May 31, 12-2pm at the jetty. Open invite, boards provided, just show up.If you're not sure what surf polo is, its simply water polo on surfboards, 2 inflatable goals anchored in the water... water polo rules would apply except our version is that we don't really have any rules, we like to call it surf rugby.About the most fun you could have on a flat day.Picture
New Cams, New Website: check out the all new SPadre.com high definition webcams, with the highest resolution available anywhere, and FREE as always. South Padre Surf Cam and South Padre Beach Cam are now located closer to the surf and beach. Also the most powerful live streaming cam ever made which we are installing now, mini mobile pages for your iPhone, cell or Blackberry, RSS feed Beach and Surf Report, interactive buoy map, discount coupons for Island businesses and hotels, free stickers and more.
Surf Etiquette 101. Summer is here, time for the annual "open your eyes when you paddle" reminder. Longboarders, shortboarders, SUP... drop in on this article by Surfline.
Texas State Surfing Championships - TGSA (board members) have moved the longest running and most prestigious surf contest with the best surf in the state from SPI to Corpus Christi. In the process, they missed out on the best swell of the year Memorial Day Weekend!
Early Season Storm Surf - a low pressure system in the eastern Gulf the week of 5/18 sent 5 days of solid E to ENE groundswell, with several days of offshore winds, clear blue warm water and perfect conditions. Check out Seagypsys Photos and WWD for pics. For comparison, take a look at what the east coast got on the same swell...
Billabong Pro Teahupoo - Bobby Martinez wins. Check out highlights. Runs May 9 - 20. Event runs live local time from approx 1pm until 9pm daily. Website and live webcast.
Hurricane Season 2009 is just a few weeks away. Historically there is a tropical storm forming in the first weeks of June nearly every year in the Gulf of Mexico. Check out the National Hurricane Center website for important changes to this year's forecasts, 2009 storm names and more. Check out the new Texas Hurricane Guide by NWS Brownsville.
“Blues on the Hill” is sponsored by City of Harlingen each year at McKelvey Park, 6-10 PM this Saturday. Food and drinks available, free admission. Family oriented.
Surf Movie - The Present at the Rice University Theater on Friday, May 8th at 7pm.View trailer at http://www.trimyourlifeaway.com/Also, BIG Surfrider Foundation party May 16 at the St. Arnold Brewery in Houston celebrating 10 years of Surfrider Foundation in Texas.
Cams are back up, will try to keep doing daily photos by popular demand at least when there is swell. Look for a brand new website coming soon, with new cams including the latest most powerful streaming cam ever built, free stickers and more...
"Texas Paradise" Check out this original Island music by local surfer Zeke Aguilar. "I have been an Elementary Music Teacher for ten years and now am focusing on my career as a songwriter. I am trying to share a song I've written about Padre.The song is located here: www.zekesong.infoIt's a free download. Take a listen and if you like the song, then I would appreciate any help you could give me in passing it along.Between school (working on Masters) and work in the studio, I have not been able to surf this swell. I'm finally going to get wet today. Yeah! I hope you enjoy the music,"
Take care,
Zeke Aguilar
zekesax@yahoo.com
956-238-7166
Non-Stop Surf! Weeks of pumping surf through the end of April with no end in sight, water temps in the upper 70's, thousands of unridden waves and light pre-summer crowds. There's no place like Padre....
Archives:
1st Annual Jetties Trash Roundup (spearheaded by Surfrider Foundation South Texas Chapter)
Saturday, May 2, 2009 – 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at North Jetties inside Isla Blanca Park. Free Admission to Isla Blanca Park for all Volunteers plus gloves, bags and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. 1st 50 volunteers get a commemorative t-shirt and 1st 100 receive a free chicken plate following clean-up! For more information contact Rob Nixon at 956.433.1472
Spring swells - back to back weekends of great surf with more on the way! SeaGypsy finally got a new camera, check out her new high res surf shots of the action. Don't forget to download your $2 picture (Hawaiian Water Shots charges $35), support your local surf photog.
Expression Session surf contest to be held this Sunday April 26 in yet another of the recent back to back solid spring swells. .
TGSA Galveston Open is on this weekend, April 25-26, then a 2 week break until Texas State Surfing Championships on South Padre Island May 16-17 surf permitting. TGSA website
Click picture above for a shot of Galveston longboard stylist Lauren Kenney on this Saturday morning.
Surfrider Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup will be this Saturday, April 25 from 9AM-12PM! We will be meeting at Dolphin Cove at our adopted beach at 8:45 but of course anytime anyone can make it would be much appreciated. As always, gloves, bags and drinks will be provided. Hope to see everyone there! General meeting on Sunday, April 26 at 6:30PM upstairs at the Padre Island Brewing Company.
ASP World Tour Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach Australia mens and women round 1 complete, check out the highlight video. Men's Round 2 through finals on call for large building surf by midweek, 5PM start local time. Rip Curl Pro website and live webcast
100 foot wave surfed off the coast of Chile! Picture and story on Surfer Mag
WQS 6 Star Margaret River Pro runs now through April 5, watch thelive webcast starting around 7pm local time.
Spring swell - after a long inconsistent winter of surf, and a rowdy but surfless Spring Break Texas Week, we finally got a great week-long spring swell to end the month of March! Check out SEAGYPSY'S pictures of the swell. A late winter weather pattern could mean a good spring.
Jon Steele and John Olvey Art and Lifestyle Show at the Brew Pub, Friday March 27 at 7pm. $5 cover. Flyer
Friday at 7pm at the South Padre Brewing Company Jon Steele and John Olvey will be premiering a new surf movie and incredible Surf Art. Many of you may be unfamiliar with these names, but I guarantee you will have a great time. Supporting art and culture on South Padre Island is part of Gypsy Productions goal and YOU are HOW that happens. Cover is $5 and greatly appreciated as these events are allotted in our area only via our support!
Also, please look for our next email as we are proud to announce our next music production in April!
See you there!!
Aarin Hartwell and Matt Fockler
Gypsy Productions
South Padre Island, Tx
Hurricane Season 2009: The National Hurricane Center will implement important changes in some of its text and graphical products. It will also make some additions to its Web site and experimental products. This is part of a continuing effort at the National Hurricane Center to expand and enhance its level of service. Click here for a PDF description of the changes. The 2009 hurricane season early forecast indicates an above average season with a strengthening La Nina along with existing above average water temperatures.
Joel Parkinson wins the Quiksilver Pro at Kirra in pumping hurricane surf. Pics, videos and stories: ASPSurflineTransworldSurferSurfing
Next event is the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach April 7-18
ASP World Tour 2009 has begun! Quiksilver Pro semis and final to run today at Kirra in pumping hurricane surf with Joel, Taj, Mick and Adriano, 4pm possible start but likely to be later in the best possible conditions, don't miss it!! LIVE WEBCAST
The Mens Quiksilver Pro and Womens Roxy Pro runs Feb 28 through March 11 at Snapper Rocks Australia. Watch the live webcast daily (4pm start local time)
Check the surf report and live cam on CoastalWatch.
TGSA Port Aransas Open likely to be called on for this weekend, March 7-8. Click here for Texas Gulf Surfing Association website, schedule and more information.
Jet Ski hits surfer. Surfline pics FYI, Texas law prohibits PWC operation within 50 feet of any non-motorized vessel, swimmer, surfer etc. (including tow-ins through the lineup at Dolphin Cove). Simply call Coast Guard and they will ticket or confiscate the PWC.
High Surf Jet Ski Rescue Training Looking for up to 4 people to attend this class which will be held on the North Shore of Oahu in April. If you are a surfer looking to improve your big wave riding or tow-in skills, or interested in a career in any nationwide ocean safety team, this top level extreme PWC training and hazard management course is held by the worlds top ocean safety experts and lifeguards in Hawaii. Tuition fee is only $400 for a 2-3 day class. Must be able to swim 500 meters in 10 minutes or less, and be in top physical shape as training will be held in the highest possible surf conditions on the North Shore. Airfare mid-April from Houston to Honolulu is currently as low as $387rt, and accomodations are extra. For more information contact Gene
Spring Break 2009 Texas Week March 14-21. Time for a surf trip, check out some surf travel destinations
South Padre Island spring break pictures
Big Brotha Urban Sk8 Fest Saturday Feb 21 12noon - 10pm. Live bands, skate contest, b-ball tourney, paintball and more. Don't miss it this Saturday at the Brownsville SK8 center. Flyer
Surfrider Foundation South Texas Chapter events: ~ Wednesday Feb 18 3:30pm the South Padre Island Board of Aldermen will be holding a joint workshop with the SPI Planning and Zoning Committee and the Beach and Dune Task Force to discuss public beach access and dune protection plans for the town's ETJ north of the town's limits. There will be a presentation by Fred McCutchon who is the Chair of the Nueces County Beach Management Advisory Committee. The meeting will be in the new City Hall on the second floor in the boardroom. ~ Saturday Feb 21 the Surfrider Foundation South Texas Chapter will be holding its winter cleanup at our adopted beach at Dolphin Cove in Isla Blanca Park. The cleanup will begin at 10AM and end at 12PM. We will provide drinks, gloves and bags. ~ Also on Saturday we will be participating in a Dune Vegetation Harvesting at 1PM. We will be meeting at Wanna Wanna and drinks and tools will all be provided as well. Afterward there wil be a potting event at 3PM at the UTB greenhouse so that we can start propagating the plants for future dune revegetations. To get to the UTB Greenhouse, take International Blvd to Elizabeth St., turn left on Elizabeth St., turn Right on Ringgold St (First Right), turn Left on Neale Dr. (at end of road), the greenhouse is just ahead on the left.
South Padre Island Beach Patrol Tryouts
12pm Feb 9-10 at the Brownsville Aquatic Center
Starting March 1 through summer, $10/hour, 8 part time positions open.
Contact Jim Pigg at the SPI Fire Dept for more information. Download application
Seagypsy's Photos - $2 Digital Downloads Great price considering most photogs charge up to $40 a pic
Check out the last swell to see if your shot made the cut
Surfing Ecomomic Impact Study Click here to fill out a quick online survey and help preserve your local break.
Surfrider South Texas Meeting
The Surfrider Foundation South Texas Chapter will be holding their next general meeting on Tuesday, Feb.3 at 6:30PM upstairs at the Padre Island Brewing Company.
Bowl Jam Brownsville SK8 Park
Saturday Jan 31 150 picture slide show Wade Dunkin Gallery
New Beach, New Sandbars
Checkout the beach renourishment project on the north end of Gulf Blvd. Looks like some nice new sandbars in the area.
Send in your Surf Trip Pictures
Been to Nicaragua, Mexico, Costa Rica or anywhere else lately? share your pics here. "When making reservations with an individual or a hotel/motel, be sure to get a copy of the agreement and the signature of the principle in charge of where you plan to stay. During the first 2 weeks of February, some friends and I made arrangements to stay at Chuck's house near Maderas beach in Nicaragua. The charge was $150 per person for a 2 week stay. Upon arrival, Chuck bumps up the rent by $60 per person! Very shady tactics! In addiition, bring your wet-suits as the water is ice cold! This is because the offshores ( which blow at gale force most of the time) blow the warm top water out to sea and the upwelling is ice cold! Also, the good spots are privately owned with no access, except by boat, which is not cheap! Signed: Mike Behrens. "
Spring Break 2009
Texas Week is March 14-21
Well
known as the best surf in Texas, South Padre Island
has the biggest, most powerful, most consistent and
best shaped waves by far than anywhere else on the Texas
Gulf Coast (***see below!). Fun surf year-round, with
clear water and lots of empty waves make South Padre
the #1 surfing destination for Texas surfers. If you want to catch the best and biggest surf in Texas here at
South Padre Island, Spadre.com live surf cams and updated
surf report gives you the up-to-the-minute report on
conditions, and surf outlook for 3-5 days out.
(***
It's a mathematical fact that South Padre Island
has MORE surf than Hawaii, and probably anywhere
in the world! Here's why... our waves are short interval
swells with an average 6-8 second period between waves,
compared with Pacific Ocean waves that average 15 second
interval or more. Sets of waves come very rapidly as well,
as frequent as every 1-2 minutes, compared to 5-15 minutes
or more in ocean swells which travel much further therefore
are spaced much further apart. So, in a day, we may see
several thousand or more set waves breaking versus only
a few hundred in Mexico, California or Hawaii... not to mention the fact that
there are less surfers here than probably anywhere in the
USA!)
Surf
Spotson
South Padre Island
Listed below are the 10 most popular breaks, with pictures
and information
on how and when they break best. Wind and tides have
major effects on the surf conditions, check Spadre.com's
live surf cam, report and forecast before you come so
you'll know just when and where to surf, as conditions
change frequently. Getting here when its good is up
to you!
1) Isla
Blanca Beach Park - The Jetties on the
south end of the Island is home to the premiere surfing wave
of the Texas Gulf Coast, with its clear clean emerald-turquoise
water and long peeling waves. Deep water just offshore, and
east facing beach exposed to any nearly any swell direction
makes it by far the most consistent wave on the coast. The
first parking lot as you drive up to the beach is the gathering
place of Texas surfers. The "inside" sandbar is
less than a hundred yards from shore with fast lined up waves,
it can hold surf up to 8-10'. The outside sandbar starts to
break when waves reach 6-8' and it is not uncommon to see
12-15' surf or bigger in tropical storms. Paddle outs can
be rather difficult on bigger days. Best on E or SE swells,
wind from the SE to S is common and good, SW to W wind is
offshore and perfect. Take a right on Park Road 100 immediately
after crossing the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway, entry
to Isla Blanca Beach Park is $4/vehicle/day or annual passes
are available for $38. Map of
Isla Blanca Beach Park
2) Second Lot - Just
a few hundred yards further north from the jetty, the second
parking lot (Second Lot) is best on Southerly swells that
miss the jetty area. A fast-breaking wave, can get nice and
hollow with offshore winds. Subject to longshore currents.
3) Dolphin Cove - A legendary big wave spot located inside the channel
on the Padre side, a clean powerful left that only appears
on the biggest of swells, very rare. Paddle out from small
sandy beach on the bay side of Dolphin Cove restaurant, it
is very dangerous to attempt to jump off the jetty into the
channel. Also, the jetties are heavily infested with urchins,
climbing onto the rocks can be a very painful experience! Be
aware of extremely strong currents during high surf.
4) Barracuda Cove - Also located inside the
channel on the Boca Chica side, this long peeling right has
a powerful shorebreak as well. Breaks more consistently now
on big E to NE swells, the sandbar is becoming better formed
due to recent tropical storms. Seas must be 12' or more, and
the tide must be outgoing for it to turn on. You can paddle
across the channel to surf it but the currents in the channel
can be extreme.
5) Boca Chica - Across the channel, the south jetty at Boca Chica Beach is
mainly a winter surf spot, also handles tropical storm and
hurricane surf very well. A 1 hour, 45 mile drive through
Brownsville and back up the beach. Go back over the bridge,
turn left at Walmart on Hwy 48 then left on 511 at Port of
Brownsville, then left on Hwy 4 to the beach, turn left and
drive on the sand for 5 miles. It is much faster to paddle
across the channel but the swift currents in the channel can
take you for a ride! The inside is best on medium size swells
and incoming tide, outside can get very big with an easy paddle
out next to the jetty. Long, long lined up lefts and often
clean bowling rights near the jetty. Best on N, NE or E swells.
NW to N winds are best.
6) Town Beachbreaks - There are many free public beach access points
along the stretch of high-rise hotels and condos on South
Padre Island, leading to miles of unsurfed powerful beachbreak
sandbars. Drift sessions are the call as longshore currents
can be strong. Offshore winds can turn these town beachbreaks
into gaping board-snapping tubes with only you and your friends
out. Definitely worth a check on most swells. Good on most
swell directions, but offshore winds from the NW, W or SW
are best. The beachbreak in front of
the Tiki is currently the best.
Port Mansfield Jetties:
A completely undeveloped secluded beach nearly
30 miles north, (although the pristine beauty is heavily
trashed by disgusting disrespectful local fishermen, beware
of thousands of broken beer bottles. Take Fish - Leave Trash
is their motto.) with two jetties and a small boat channel
dividing South Padre Island from the Padre Island National
Seashore, the channel cuts across the Laguna Madre to the
town of Port Mansfield. There are no roads, no facilities,
it can only be reached by 4-wheel drive on the sand or by
boat up the Laguna Madre or from the village of Port Mansfield.
There is safe anchorage just inside the channel. One of the
last places in the U.S. where you can find undeveloped beach,
huge sand dunes and quality surf with noone for miles, a fine
destination for a surfari. Bring a shovel, water, food and
anything else you might need.
7) The
Dunes - Driving north up the beach towards Port
Mansfield jetties you will pass some of the largest sand dunes
on the coast, approximately 12 miles from the last beach access
road. Some of these dunes are very close to the water's edge
and have an obvious effect on the beach contour and sandbars.
This area can be the biggest surf around on small days, and
some of the hollowest tubes, keep a close eye on the surf
as you are on the way, if it looks good... its always better
than it looks!
8) North
Jetty - Solitude and perfection. One of Texas'
great surfing secrets, the north jetty is an excellent surf
spot from small to well overhead. Long lined up rights with
an easy paddle out next to the jetty. Best on E or SE swells
with SE, S or SW wind. N or NE wind makes for choppy conditions.
More recent pictures: 12
9) South
Jetty - A much shorter jetty than the north side
due to accretion of the beach, a fun hollow right and long
left peels of the end of the jetty with a short easy paddle
out next to the rocks. Best on small to medium
size winter days with N, NE or
E swells and N to NW wind. On big north swells it will be
closed out, go to Boca Chica. Picture
10) Mansfield Channel - Few people know, but now you do... the Mansfield
channel is breaking better than it ever has! Recent tropical
storms have caused large amounts of sand to shift into the
channel, and it now breaks very consistently. A very long
peeling wave, best for longboards but can get powerful on
bigger swells. Paddle in and out from the small sand cove
just inside the jetty, or jump off the jetty. Check the current,
it is usually moving quickly either in or out with the tide,
best to catch it on a standing tide. Best on E to NE swells
with N to NW wind. Sharks.
Climate
and Seasons
The
surf in Texas varies in form and consistency with the
seasons:
Summer - Summer
is the least consistent time of year for surf, but there
are fun playful waves nearly every day that are great
for beginners. June is typically fairly consistent month
for surf with strong, hot S to SE winds. Air temps on
the Island are usually in the 90's, with water temps very
comfortable near 80. The surf tends to be small from July
through August, except for the occasional tropical storm
or hurricane which can create really incredible surf.
The water temperatures at South Padre stay a few degrees
cooler than the upper coast due to the deep water just
offshore, but the sun and sand can get blistering hot.
Fall - Fall
can be the best season of the year for consistent, warm
surf. September and October are
the peak of hurricane season, and early cool fronts begin
making their way down by October. A springsuit or vest
may be needed after a cool front, fullsuits usually aren't
needed until December.
Winter - South
Padre has fairly mild winters, with a few arctic blasts
each winter. A full collection of wetsuits may be needed
to take advantage of the powerful winter surf, but many
days are also warm and sunny. Winter swells are often
much bigger than the rest of the year.
Spring - As
the days warm, strong south winds return with consistent
spring swells. Coastal fog is common due to the cool water
and warm air. Don't forget, South Padre Island is a major
spring break destination with massive crowds and hotels
completely booked during most of March.
Monthly
Water Temperature Average
at South Padre Island
Jan
- 58
Feb
- 60
Mar
- 64
Apr
- 70
May
- 77
Jun
- 79
Jul
- 79
Aug
- 80
Sep
- 83
Oct
- 78
Nov
- 71
Dec
- 64
Local
water temps can fluctuate from these averages by 3-5
degrees or more.
Tides
and Buoys
Buoys
- One of the best surf indicators are the many National
Data Buoy Center buoys offshore in the Gulf of Mexico
that are accessible on the internet and by weather-radio.
The hourly data obtained from these buoys is amazing,
windswell and groundswell are separated into charts with
wave interval, direction, sea surface temps, barometric
pressure and wind speed and direction. Learn to "read"
the buoy data charts and you'll be on top of every swell.
Tides - The tide has a fairly major effect
on wave quality as well. A moving tide, either incoming
or outgoing is usually best. The tide range, or distance
between high and low, is usually only 1-2 feet on the
Texas coast. Always check the tides when you are planning
your day at the beach. Today's
Tide Chart
Surfboards
and Accessories
Choosing
the Right Surfboard
Having the right board for the conditions and for your ability
will make the difference in whether you have an enjoyable
session or don't catch any waves at all. Start out on a longboard
thick enough to float you so that you can paddle out comfortably.
Remember, if you can't catch waves you aren't having any fun,
so consider a larger board regardless of what looks cool.
As your skills progress you can move down to shorter boards,
but most days in Texas are better suited for fuller template
shapes, meaning thicker longer and wider. Softboards are the
best choice for kids, they are safe and easy to learn on.
If you have any questions or need assistance in picking the
right surfboard for you, feel free to
contact us.
Accessories
Along with your surfboard you'll need a few other essentials:
Leash - get one the same length as your
board, but don't substitute your leash for swimming ability.
Extra fins - try to get a board with removable
fins, you can drastically alter the performance of your
board to fit the surf conditions or your surfing style by
either moving or changing fins.
Board Bag - Keep your board out of the sun when
you arenot riding it by using either or
board sock or padded travel bag.
Racks - hard racks are more expensive than soft
racks but much stronger and dependable, make sure they are
securely tightened.
Wax - before every session you'll need to wax your
board, or use a wax comb to roughen your existing coat.
There are several different formulas of wax to be used in
different water temperatures, make sure you have the right
one.
Sunscreen - Summer or winter you should always
use waterproof total sunblock.Skin cancer
kills.
Wetsuits - If you want to take advantage of the
best surf, which often is in the winter, you'll need to
invest in a wetsuit. A lycra rashguard is good for keeping
the sun off your shoulders and back. A springsuit for fall
and spring days, and a fullsuit with booties are necessary
in the mid-winter. A neoprene hood is a big help in keeping
warm, since most heat is lost through your head from wind
chill.
Ding Repair- If you get a ding in your
board you should fix it before surfing or water will enter
the board. There are new simple to use sun-cure repair resins
and puttys that cure in just a few minutes, you can even
do a repair on the beach!. Simply dry the board, sand the
ding area lightly, apply the resin (in the shade) and set
in the sun to cure. Sand with 80 grit (rough), then 220
grit (fine) sandpaper, and paddle back out!
OCEAN
SAFETY INFORMATION
For Surfers at South Padre Island
Surfers need to be aware of the surf conditions
and related currents. ALWAYS take a few minutes
before you paddle out to study the waves, noting where the
best waves are breaking, and the strength and direction
of the rip and longshore currents. South Padre Island recently started a new Beach Patrol program in 2009. Although there are not lifeguard towers (yet) the beach patrol is trained to respond to swimmers in distress with jet-skis, rescue board or rescue swimers. Many rescues are performed by local surfers. The
most common surfing injuries are from surfers trying to
jump off the jetty, or from being struck by your own surfboard.
Also on big surf days, beware of the strong rip current
next to the jetty. Before
you jump into the waves, take a few minutes to read this
important water safety information and discuss it with your
family and friends. The surf you've come here to enjoy is
irresistibly beautiful and enjoyable, yet powerful and dangerous
and must be respected.
Surfing
Safety & Etiquette:
1)
THREE SECOND RULE - When
you fall off your board, your first instinct is to immediately
pop up for a breath of air... if you do, your board is
probably going to come down and smack you on your head,
so STAY UNDER WATER FOR 3 SECONDS, AND COME UP WITH YOUR
HANDS PROTECTING YOUR HEAD!! Its not a matter of if your surfboard is going to hit you, its
a matter of when and how hard, so remember the 3-second
rule, it can save your life.
2) JETTY RULE - Never
jump off the jetty. A slight miscalculation
on your jump and you and your board are both gonna have
a really bad day, but more likely you will get washed
off the jetty by a wave (see pictures below). If
you can't paddle out you don't belong out, you
gotta pay your dues. There is also a dangerous rip current
next to the jetty during high surf that can sweep you
out to sea. "I had a pretty bad surfing accident, broke some
bones in my back / neck. After seeing several surgeons
i was told never to surf again , too big of a risk of
becoming paralyzed if I had anymore accidents. I was slammed
into the jetties and broke some bones on the leftside
of the mid section of back , as well I suffered compression
fractures to the C-7 , C-6 vertibraes to right side of
my neck."
Check out these pictures of surfers getting washed off
the jetty. 1234567
3) DON'T DROP IN! - One person per wave, look both
ways before you take off.
4) KNOW BEFORE YOU GO - ALWAYS take a few minutes
to study the waves before you paddle out. If you are new
to the break, or anywhere you may travel to surf, ask
a local surfer or lifeguard about the conditions BEFORE
you paddleout, you may save yourself from an embarrassing
or dangerous situation.Avoid the MULLET
SYNDROME, don't paddle out straight into a pack
of surfers, if you take a few minutes to study the waves
you'll see that most often there are better waves breaking
nearby with noone on it!
5) SWIMMING RULE - Don't paddle out further than you
can swim back in. Eventually your leash will break or
come off. If you really want to improve your surfing and
paddling, spend some time in a pool doing laps on flat
days, or in the ocean.
6) SURFBOARD CONTROL - You are responsible if your
surfboard hits another board or surfer, always maintain
control.
7)SMILE - If you aren't
enjoying your session go home, noone else wants to hear
about it.
8) SHUT UP AND SURF - nothing is more
annoying than a loudmouth in the lineup. You should focus
entirely on getting into the rhythm of the swell. Save
the yapping for the chatrooms, parking lot or night club,
noone wants to hear it in the water. Hooting for good
rides and friendly conversation is great but even then
you'll find yourself out of position and the best waves
either breaking on your head or watching everyone else
riding them.
9) HURRICANE SURF - The surf at South
Padre Island can get very big during hurricanes reaching
heights of 20-30'. Its always much bigger than it looks,
and your board and your leash is probably not right for
big waves.
Most importantly though, few if any surfers have the swimming
ability required to make it to the beach in 20' waves
from 3/4 mile offshore. Remember too that if you need
rescued you are likely to be headlines in the morning
paper, there are no lifeguards here. If you break your
leash and are forced to swim in, you will likely panic
and swim for the jetty where your only hope of surviving
means a thorough thrashing on the rocks. Rip currents
are extreme during storm swells, even the best swimmers
are at risk. Jetty jumping is for kooks, if you can't paddle out AND swim back in, you
don't belong out.
10)RIP CURRENTS - You
better know where they are before you ever enter the ocean
anywhere. Ask a knowledgeable local. Use the rip to your
advantage. Remember at South Padre and anywhere there
is a jetty, pier or reef there will be rip currents, actually
anywhere you find waves there will be rip currents. The
rip by the jetty here is a powerful river flowing out
to sea, the worst place to be if you are in trouble. "Swim
to the side to stay alive."
DANGERS
& HAZARDS
If
the rocks are wet from waves, DO NOT walk any further!
Your Surfboard - The most dangerous thing
about surfing is your own surfboard. You can be seriously
injured or killed from being struck by your board.
Practice the "3-second rule", it may save
your life.
Jetties - Located
at the southern tip of the island in Isla Blanca Park,
the jetties are not designed for public access, although
it is allowed. Neverjump off the jetty. Many surfers and their
boards are swept off the rocks and injured while attempting
to jump off the jetty into the surf. Being washed
up and down barnacle encrusted - urchin infested granite
boulders is humiliating at best. If you can't paddle
out, you shouldn't be out, you will likely find yourself
in a situation that you can't handle, or swept out
to sea in the strong rip next to the jetty.
Rip Currents - The rip current you
need to be concerned about as a surfer is located
next to the jetty. This rip current is the strongest
and most dangerous on the entire Texas coast, and
on big days it can suck you out to the end of the
jetty into the "pit" where the biggest waves
will break, and likely wash you back onto the rocks. If
you get caught in the rip, simply remain
calm and swim or paddle to the side away from the
jetty and the surf will push you back towards
shore. Do not hesitate to call for assistance. Longshore
Currents are simply the current that moves
along the beach, usually in the direction that the
wind is blowing. I there is a north wind, the longshore
current will sweep you towards the jetty where it
will become a rip current sucking out to sea.
BEACH
and OCEAN SAFETY INFORMATION For Visitors
to South Padre Island
Before you jump into the waves, take a few
minutes to read this important water
safety information and discuss it with your
family and friends.
Beachgoers
need to be aware of the surf conditions
and related currents. The
waves you've come here to enjoy are
irresistibly beautiful and enjoyable,
yet powerful and dangerous and must
be respected, even on the days when
the surf is relatively calm. There is now a Beach Patrol on SPI, but many rescues are performed
by local surfers, and
were recognized in 2003 by Cameron
County for the many rescues performed
with a proclamation
of "Surf's Up Week". Taking simple precautions like wearing
a lifejacket can easily avert a tragedy.
Water
Safety Rules
1.
LEARN TO SWIM - WEAR A LIFEJACKET
IF YOU DON’T SWIM WELL
2. BE AWARE OF RIP CURRENTS
3. OBEY WARNING SIGNS AND FLAGS
4. HAVE AN ADULT CHECK CONDITIONS
FIRST
5. DON'T SWIM ALONE
6. STAY IN WAIST DEEP WATER DURING
HIGH SURF
7. NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN UNATTENDED
8. DO NOT SWIM NEAR THE JETTY
9. DON'T RELY ON INFLATABLES
10. DON'T OVERESTIMATE YOUR SWIMMING
ABILITY
Rip
Currents
Rip
currents are common on all South
Padre Island Beaches. Rip currents occur
around the world at "surf"
beaches, including both the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts, the Great Lakes,
and the Gulf of Mexico including
South Padre Island. Rip
currents are also the #1 cause of
drownings. If you
are caught in one, how you respond
could make the difference between
life and death. Unlike undertows,
rip currents are shallow water processes
that do not pull a person under.
They form when water, piled against
the shore, begins to return to deeper
water. Typically, strong wind and
swell waves push water over a sandbar
allowing excess water to collect.
Eventually, the excess water starts
to return seaward through low areas
in the sandbar, "ripping"
an opening. Rip currents can be
readily seen from the shore. You
can spot a rip current by looking
for objects or foam moving steadily
seaward. Wave heights are also lower
and choppier in rip currents. Since
rip currents are NOT undertows, you can be pulled away from
the shore but not pulled under the
water.The most
common mistake drowning victims
make is to panic and try to swim
directly toward the shore. Even
the best Olympic swimmers are not
able to successfully swim toward
shore in the strongest rip currents.If caught in a rip current, simply
remain calm and swim or paddle to
the side and the surf will push
you back towards shore. Do not hesitate
to call for assistance.
Rip
Currents are common, be
aware!
Rip Current Index
Rip Current Outlooks use the following,
three-tiered set of qualifiers:
Low
Risk- Wave
Heights 0-2' and/or Wind Speed
less than 10 kts.
Wind and/or wave conditions
are not expected to support
the development of rip currents; however, rip currents
can sometimes occur,
especially in the vicinity of
groins, jetties, and piers.
Moderate Risk- Wave Heights 3-5'
and/or Wind Speed 10-20 kts.
Wind and/or wave conditions
support stronger or more frequent
rip currents. Only experienced
surf swimmers should enter the
water. Use a lifejacket, bodyboard
or flotation device.
High Risk - Wave Heights
6'+ and/or Wind Speed greater
than 20kts.
Wind and/or wave conditions
support dangerous rip currents.
Rip currents are life-threatening
to anyone entering the surf.
Stay in waist deep water or
less!
-Rip
currents are NOT undertows,
you can be pulled away from
the shore but not pulled
under the water.
-If
caught in a rip current, simply
remain calm and swim or
paddle to the
side and the surf will push
you back towards shore.
Absence
of flag does not assure safe
water
La ausencia de banderas no
asume
condiciones de agua segura
Dial
911 for emergency
Marque el 911 para urgencias
As
you enter any County beaches you will notice the Flag Advisory
signs. There is no flag system
on City beaches
Holes,
Sandbars and Dropoffs
The
waves may SEEM calm
at times and the ocean look safe,
but the bottom is irregular and uneven
with quick dropoffs and deep holes.
These conditions change daily. When
you step off the beach, in just a
few steps you can be in 5-7' of water,
this is very dangerous for children
and non-swimmers. After this first
trough, the first sandbar is around
50 feet out and can be a shallow as
1-2' on a low tide or much deeper
on a high tide. There are many deep
holes, even in shallow water. You
may be wading in 2' of water and take
one step and be in 6' of water. This
is very common in the first trough
close to shore.
Longshore
Currents
Longshore
Currents are simply the current
that moves along the beach, usually
in the direction that the wind is
blowing or the waves are breaking.
You will notice the longshore current
as you enter the water, causing you
to drift along the beach. These currents
can run as fast as 3mph. Not a hazard
for swimmers, unless there is a north
wind, the longshore current will sweep
you towards the jetty where it will
become a rip current sucking out to
sea.
Tides
The
tide plays an important factor in
water depths in the surf. The tide
range, or difference between high
and low tide varies between 1 to 3
feet. High tide will cause more powerful
waves to break closer to shore and
deeper water near shore. A
low or outgoing tide can greatly increase
the rip current risk.
If
the rocks are wet from waves,
DO NOT walk any further!
Jetties - Located
at the southern tip of the island
in Isla Blanca Park, the jetties are
not designed for public access, although
it is allowed. Neverswim near the jetty.
Many people have been swept off the
rocks and injured or swept out to
sea in the strong rip next to the
jetty while attempting to walk out
the jetty during high surf. The granite
boulders are barnacle encrusted and
urchin infested. Always bring some type of flotation
device to be used for rescue in case
someone falls into the surf. There
is a strong rip current located next
to the jetty. This rip current is
the strongest and most dangerous on
the entire Texas coast, and on big
days it can suck you out to the end
of the jetty into the "pit"
where the biggest waves will break,
and likely wash you back onto the
rocks. If you get caught in the rip, simply remain calm
and swim or paddle to the side away
from the jetty and the surf will
push you back towards shore. Do not
hesitate to call for assistance.
Surf
Rescue
If
you notice a swimmer in
distress in the surf, first
have someonecall 911.
Then, before you ever attempt
a rescue, be sure to take
some type of floating object such as a bodyboard or inflatable
float or you are very likely
to also be a drowning victim.
As you approach the victim,
present the float to the
victim, keeping the float
BETWEEN you and the victim,
and continually reassure
the victim and make your
way towards shore. If you
happen to be caught in a
rip current with the victim,
remember to paddle across
the current, then back towards
the beach.
Undertow
Undertow
is a concern mostly for weak
swimmers or the unfortunate
non-swimmer. An undertow occurs
when a wave is about to break
on a shallow sandbar where
a swimmer might be standing.
The water will suck underneath
the wave as it breaks. This
"undertow" can sweep
a weak swimmer off of their
feet and into deeper water,
and he may panic as the wave
crashes over his head. The undertow disperses almost
immediately until the next
wave approaches, then the
cycle starts again. An undertow
can drown a person just feet
from safety.
Stingray
Stingray
are occasionally found
in shallow surf and have
a sharp barb at the base
of their tail that leaves
a small puncture wound,
and injects a very painful
venom. The pain will travel
up the legs to the groin
and armpits. APPLY HEAT
IMMEDIATELY (never ice)
directly to the wound.
It is advisable to seek
follow-up medical attention.
Infection rate is 100%
Jellyfish
Whenever
a blue advisory flag
is flying, stinging
jellyfish are likely
in the surf. Reactions
vary in individuals.
Rinse with fresh water,
in most cases the sting
may be treated with
vinegar and unseasoned
meat tenderizer mixed
in a paste, applied
directly to the sting.
NO GLASS BOTTLES ARE ALLOWED ON
THE BEACH.
DON'T LITTER. PICK UP SOME TRASH THAT ISN'T
YOURS.
Local
Emergency Numbers
CALL
911 first for any emergency.
South Padre Island EMS (956) 761-5454
Cameron County Park System (956) 761-5494
U.S. Coast Guard Station South Padre
Island (956) 761-2668
Cameron County Parks Police (956)
761-5283
(This
Water Safety Information was written by
local Ocean Safety expert Gene Gore with
the purpose of educating visitors to
South Padre Island in the hope of preventing
drownings. For additional questions or comments
feel free to email
Gene. )
As your experience in the surf grows, so will your knowledge
of the wind, the source of the waves we ride. You may be miles
from the coast one day, you feel a stiff breeze and look up
at a flag or tree, a cloud... a sign. You don't need the internet
to tell you, you know that's a south wind, blowing for two
days now... trees bending and whistling, flags whipping, low
clouds whisking by... it means one thing, a new south swell
is building!
The Texas coast is entirely unique in the way that the local
weather affects the waves. Our coast is mostly dependent on
wind-driven surf rather than ocean swell. While most coastal
weather patterns elsewhere only affect the general texture
of the ocean's surface they will have little impact on swell
generated thousands of miles away (groundswell). The Gulf
on the other hand, being roughly less than 1000 miles wide
is almost entirely affected by passing weather systems.
Another surprising fact about Texas surf: Texas (especially
South Padre Island) has more surf than anywhere else on Earth! It is a mathematical fact, you'll discover when you are paddling
out... you sure get pounded by a LOT of waves on the way out!
Our waves are short interval, mostly 6-8 seconds between waves
versus 12 to 15 to 20 second intervals on other coasts. Our
waves are nearly constant as well, while say in Hawaii you
can wait 20 minutes for a set. So, in a 1 hour period at South
Padre there may be over 600 waves breaking, while in Hawaii
you may only see a few dozen. And since there will be dozens
of surfers in Hawaii competing for those few waves, and sometimes
only a few surfers out in Texas picking the best waves, if
you want to catch more waves then surf Texas!
Wind generates waves, and when there is a storm system in
or near the Gulf the winds begin to blow and the wave-making
process begins, forming windswell. In Texas, on stormy windy
days when no normal person would even think of going to the
beach, this is when you'll find the avid Texas surfer waxing
up. This is also what makes Texas surfers a unique crew; stoked,
appreciative and dedicated to riding whatever Old Man Gulf
will hand out, no matter what the conditions.
Waves are created by the wind, wind is caused by differing
atmospheric pressures between high and low pressure systems. Onshore winds (SE, E or NE) are winds that blow towards
shore. Onshores cause the waves to build but make for choppy
conditions. Offshore winds (NW, W or SW) are winds
that blow from land towards the surf. Offshores cause the
waves to be perfect and hollow, but also causes Texas surf
to go flat. Sideshore winds (N or S) are winds that
blow directly up or down the beach, and can cause extreme
longshore currents. If the wind is blowing from the south,
you want to surf on the north side of the jetty, the conditions
will be much better. If the wind is from the north, then surf
the south side. The wind is labeled by the direction from
which it originates: a south wind comes from the south.
High pressure usually means nice weather but the surf is likely
to be small or flat. The wind rotates around a high in a clockwise
rotation. Low pressure systems are the source of most swells.
The more intense the low is, the stronger the winds become,
building the surf as they intensify. Low pressure systems
have a counter-clockwise rotation. The wind is measured by
an anemometer, air pressure is measured by a barometer. Barometric
pressure is a very important measurement used to predict weather
and surf. On a weather map, you can see little white lines
in swirling patterns called isobars. These are lines of equal
air pressure. The more isobars and the closer they are together,
the stronger the wind will be. The wind roughly follows the
direction of the isobars. In time, one quick glance at a weather
map and you'll know just how big the surf will be and where!
The
Three Keys
There are three factors that determine how
large and how well-formed the waves will be, and how long
they will last:
Fetch - The distance or area over which a
sustained wind blows over the water is called the fetch. Study
the buoys across the Gulf to see the effect of a short or
long fetch. Duration - How long the wind blows over the
water in a sustained direction. The direction of the prevailing
wind flow determines the dominant direction of the swell,
and each surf spot breaks differently on differing swell directions.
The longer the duration, the larger and better-formed the
surf becomes. Velocity - Of course, the speed and strength
of the wind will determine the size of the swell, but this
is dependent on the fetch and duaration.
Learn to understand and "read" the wind, it is the
key to predicting surf on the Texas Gulf Coast.
Tropical
Storms and Hurricanes
Texas surfers live
for hurricanes! While the approach of a hurricane signals
evacuation, boarding up windows and panic shopping for most
people, for the Texas surfer it means one thing... Big Surf!
There are few spots (and few surfers) on the coast that can
handle the really big waves that major hurricanes produce,
the wind is almost always a major factor in the surf conditions.
Remember that hurricane surf can be very dangerous, with heavy
currents and huge waves washing up the beach pulling debris
out into the surf. Wear a strong leash, and realize that if
you do lose your board you may get sucked out beyond the 1/2
mile long jetty by our infamous rip currents here at South
Padre Island next to the jetty. Hurricane season runs from
June 1st to November 30th, with the most active period being
mid-September through October. Hurricanes can produce massive
surf of 20 feet or more, challenging the best surfers to not
only ride them, but to even make it out! The immense size
of hurricanes compared to the Gulf of Mexico usually creates
a common dilemma for Texas surfers... too much wind. Most
often winds will be N to NE causing poor conditions, but when
storms are in the eastern Gulf we are not hardly affected
by the winds, only receiving clean groundswell. Storms that
move north from the southern Gulf, as they pass by the winds
will become offshore, sucking into the storm, causing classic
conditions. Smaller tropical storms can often produce the
better waves, with less wind and they tend to hang around
in the Gulf a bit longer.
Coastal
Environment
South Padre Island
is fortunate to have the most beautiful, well-kept beaches
on the coast. A strong sand renourishment program is keeping
check with erosion, there are no refineries to pollute the
air, no big city nearby to contribute to runoff pollution,
strict dune and beach protection policies, and regular trash
pickup. However, litter is always a problem at any beach,
take a minute and pick up any trash you see. It may not be
yours, but its your beach. South Padre Surf Co. is the State
Adopt-a-Beach sponsor for Isla Blanca Beach Park and the South
Padre Island jetties. Beach cleanups are held 3 times each
year, contact us if you would like to get involved. We are
also on the General Land Office Coastal Texas 2020 Advisory
Committee, giving a voice to area surfers, fishermen and beachgoers
in the coastal management processes, please contact us if
you have any comments. We are also long time supporters of
the Surfrider Foundation, the Texas Coast's leading advocate
for public beaches. Contact Surfider through their link below
to learn more.
Learn
to Surf!
If
you or someone you know would like to learn to surf,
we'll make your first experience a great one at South Padre
Island! South Padre Surf Company offers professional Surfing
Lessons year-round and fun day Surf Camps.
Surfers Village News
Surfing News Agency, we provide surfers all the news, Contest Reports, Big Wave Events, Airshows, Image Galleries, Shapers, Schools and Camps directories, Surfing magazine, Learning tips
ASP Billabong Rip Pro - 
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach - 
Quik Pro Highlight Humor Video - 
Quiksilver Pro Snapper - 
Volcom Pipeline Pro 2013 - 
New Gulf Pier to be built at South Padre Island! 
SPI Beach Patrol now hiring 
Overhead and offshore 
Christmas Day Swell - 
PIPELINE MASTERS - - 
Hawaiian Triple Crown of Surfing - 
Isla Blanca Sand Project - over and out - 
Hurricane Sandy -
O'Neill Coldwater Classic Santa Cruz - 
HIC Pro Sunset Beach Hawaii - 
ASP Quiksilver Pro France - 
ASP Hurley Pro Trestles
Hurricane Isaac 
Billabong Pro Teahupo'o to be completed Sunday and Monday in a building large swell - 
Tropical Storm Helene possibly forming in the Gulf. 
US Open of Surfing - July 28 to August 5 - 
ASP Volcom Pro, Tavarua Fiji - June 3-15 pumping swell on the way for the start on Saturday at 3pm local time- 
Billabong Pro Rio - May 9-20 - Click for 
Nike Lower Trestles Pro - May 1-5 - Click for 
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach - April 3-14 - 
ASP Drug Aware Pro (hows that for an oxymoron) runs March 19-25 at Margaret River Australia, watch the 
Spring Break Texas Week 2012 - March 10-18 - 
ASP World Tour 2012 February 25 - March 7 (4pm local time) with the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks, Australia. . 
A New Andy Bowie Pier? I recently presented to Pct. 1 County Commissioner Sophia Benavides a plan to build/rebuild a new Gulf pier at Andy Bowie Beach Park at the site of the original pier that was destroyed by Hurricane Allen in 1980. SPI is the only coastal city in Texas, and possibly the entire Gulf Coast that does not have a public pier over the Gulf. The TGLO is building and funding a new Gulf pier on High Island near Galveston, you'd think we might have a chance? While the SPI government continues to build the finest and most modern of facilities for itself, perhaps a pier is not too much to ask for us peasants?
Burleigh Pro - Feb 8-12 - 3pm local time start - 
Australian Open of Surfing - Feb 11-19 - 
Volcom Pipeline Pro - Jan 23 to Feb 4 - 
Pipeline Masters runs Dec 8-20 - Huge surf on the way for opening day Thursday and Friday. 
Vans Triple Crown of Surfing - North Shore Oahu - Nov 12 through December 20 - Women's World Champ Carissa Moore gets wildcard - 
Rip Curl Search San Francisco runs November 1-12 - 
Rip Curl Pro Portugal - October 15-24 - 
Quik Pro France - October 4-13 - 
Hurley Pro begins Sunday Sept 18-24 at Trestles California - 
Quik Pro New York may score epic hurricane swell this week from Hurricane Katia!
Tropical Storm Lee sends 2 days of perfect surf with overhead sets and light offshores at Boca Chica and South Padre - 
Billabong Pro 2011 Teahupo'o - August 20-31 -the 
Nike US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach August 1-7. Hurricane Eugene swell on the way for the weekend finals - 
Quiksilver Pro Puerto Escondido - July 21-28 - 
Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro is live now from May 3-7 
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach April 19-30 - ASP World Tour Event #2 
Check out 
Margaret River Pro - April 3-10 
Hurricane Gustav 2008 - 
In these "modern" surfing times, the worn out word "Legend" applies to virtually everyone that owned a surfboard before 1970. 
Plastic Pollution Texas Photo Challenge, a statewide 
South Padre Island is now recycling plastic, aluminum, cardboard, newspaper and tin every Saturday from 9 – 12 at 108 West Retama. 
Volcom Pipeline Pro - 
10 year old Micah Gore from South Padre Island makes the semi-finals at Makaha on a borrowed board (thanks Buttons!) at the Rell Sunn Menehune Championships!
Hawaiian Triple Crown of Surfing - Nov 12 to Dec 20. Mens and Womens events held at Haleiwa, Sunset Beach and Pipeline. Watch the 
Kelly Slater, 10x World Champ! 
ASP Rip Curl Search Puerto Rico - the most unforgettably Triumphant and Tragic surf contest in history. 
- 
Tropical Storm Richard in the NW Caribbean headed for the southern Gulf, but again no swell.
ASP Men and Women Rip Curl Pro Portugal - Starts Thursday October 7-18 
ASP Hurley Pro - Lower Trestles California September 12-18 2010. Big south swell on the way for the rest of the event beginning Thursday! 
5th consecutive month of all-time record sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic, and latest Hurricane Center forecasts 14-20 named storms for the upcoming peak of hurricane season. 
U.S. Open of Surfing - 
Tropical Depression #2 made landfall on South Padre Island with surf building to around 8'+, checkout 
Hurricane 
Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill - 
Island of Praise - Isla Blanca Saturday June 12 - 4 stages and 37 performers from noon until 10pm. 
Texas Gulf Surfing Association State Championships - On call for this weekend June 12-13 Isla Blanca 
Satellite Tracking of "Will" a Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle (endangered, hopefully not soon to be extinct species endemic to the Gulf). Notice how 
Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro 
Billabong Pro Brazil results 
Surfrider Beach Cleanup Saturday April 24, 9-12 at Dolphin Cove. General meeting April 25 7pm at Brewing Co. to discuss SPI's new "noone can park on my street" ordinance. 
Recommended Reading: 
Big E swell Friday and Saturday April 16-17. When's the last time you heard the bell ring on the buoy at the end of the jetty? Check back for pics... 
Atlantic Sea Surface Temperatures are at an all-time record high, an ominous sign for hurricane season 2010. 
ASP Women Pro New Zealand April 10-16 - 
WQS 6* Margaret River Drug Aware Pro 
Surfrider Shindig - Saturday Feb 6 Louie's Backyard. Check 
Hawaiian Triple Crown of Surfing O'Neill World Cup and Pipeline Masters 
Check out the new 
The current issue of 
WQS 6* O'Neill Coldwater Classic results pics and videos 
ASP Rip Curl Pro Search Portugal - Men & Women - October 19-30.
Epic Mundaka - video on frame 16 of 
ASP Billabong Pro Mundaka: Adriano DeSouza wins, Slater 3rd - 800 pts behind Fanning for the Title. Oct 5-17 
SURFAID Tsunami & Earthquake Relief for Indo & South Pacific Islands. 
Quiksilver Pro France Sept 23 - Oct 4 
Isla Blanca's litter crisis -When will anyone (you?) do anything about it?
Hawaii's Next World Champ - want to see some really polished surfing? Check out 16 year old 
New Cams, New Website: 
Early Season Storm Surf - a low pressure system in the eastern Gulf the week of 5/18 sent 5 days of solid E to ENE groundswell, with several days of offshore winds, clear blue warm water and perfect conditions. Check out 
Archives: 
1st Annual Jetties Trash Roundup
