We had to drive South after checking out the end of the street. I mean, come on, how often do we get a solid chest high plus ground swell in the summer in Florida? 🙂 , Don’t get me wrong, J-Ave looked fun, but if we were gonna film a ground swell we might as well film it a couple feet bigger on the face so………………………we headed down to Satellite Beach to my favorite break, we did paddle out late 😦
But we pulled up at 8:45 AM, offshore SW winds 5 mph, a ground swell rated at 3.5 feet at 10 seconds, and we could see plenty of chest high waves (shoulders) with quite a few shoulder high sets.
It was time for a double take, what!!!!!!, NO ONE OUT! So what does any normal person do, they hurry out before the winds change. What a great session, yeah 90% closeouts, so that just meant, you let 8 waves pass you by, and take one close-out for the insane bottom turn and kick-out, and hope the next one will give ya a 100 yard ride or more. But, I confess, there was only a couple of those which is rare under these conditions, but the plentiful 50 to 75 yard plus rides with quick walls made for a great session and day. I only surfed one hour, and then came in to start filming, by then the winds switched out of the South, but still had really clean semi-glass conditions.
Surf Update……….We should have some knee to waist high waves for then next few days Wed thru Friday maybe, with an offshore breeze for a couple hours. This Low Pressure system is kind enough to linger so enjoy it while it lasts 🙂
Hope you enjoy the video, and the surfing by Chad and Luke.
FINAL SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH VIDEOAND THE 747 PIGGYBACK RIDE WITH SHUTTLE TO THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTEplus a little Surfing in it on the same launch day with Scooter and some still shots of Chad on our epic day in April or May of this year (2012, for future readers 🙂
SATURDAY NIGHT 10:30 PM SURF UPDATE FOR SUNDAY MORNING! The winds are supposed to lay down to around 5 mph East in the Am, instead of the 10 to 15 mph that I thought would be here, and the winds may stay light until after lunch. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? Well, this looks like a ground swell, so we could have some lines with nice form and rib high waves at the Cape and chest to shoulder high maybe down South with very nice form.
The music is by the Phenomenal “Jack Johnson” , Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Surfer, Videographer, need I say more about Jack? 🙂 The track is titled “Traffic In The Sky”, and the Insane photo is by the great PhotographerMalia Johnson and her husband Stu Johnson, Photographer, they both live in Fiji and shoot the epic “Cloudbreak” and “Restaurants” surfbreaks in Tavuara, Fiji. I have them mentioned in my Links page on this site.
Coming Surf! For 2 days running, it still appears that Monday is the potential Epic Day with chest high waves down South and maybe bigger sets, and waist high plus at the Cape (from a ground swell), with offshore winds maybe all morning. Today the swell starts rolling in slowly, peaks on Sunday with median onshore winds maybe chest high at the Cape, so Sunday at the right tides (high going low), it could be really fun! Tuesdaymay also have some morning offshore winds with the size dropping off some.
When I look at the buoys tonight, I will probably do an update for Sunday and talk about the wind speeds a little more accurately.
Have a Great Weekend and Enjoy Summer Waves! Three summers in a row we have had waves (not including Canes), so our God has been gracious 🙂
SCROLL BELOW THE SLIDESHOW IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE FULL SIZE IMAGES, CLICK ONCE TO OPEN, AND IF YOUR MOUSE SHOWS A + (plus symbol), click again, I have them at 1800 pixels wide, since they are zoomed out to much.
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An early drop-in by Lacey on one of the waves of the day 🙂 Image 1 of 10 shot sequence.
Lacey Gallery 1st ten photos. Today was a beautiful day at J-Ave! The waves were Chest high, some smaller, some bigger, with unexpected offshore winds past 8 AM, and unexpected sunshine. The next swell moving in was supposed to throw 20 mph NE winds by 8 or 9 AM, but our Awesome Creator (God 🙂 gave us an extended window of the whole neighborhood out in the water at some time or another. And our typical Boardwalk Commentators put in a little overtime, just to make sure everything went well, and so that all of those participants that shredded at least one wave, were commended at least once 🙂
Image 2 of 10 sequence. Lacey, dropping in to a nice big right, Sun was bright!
The first sequence is of Lacey (if misspelled i change it in the title later:) ), which which was done in 2 part, because as she dropped into one of the waves of the day, I was shooting right into the Sun, the camera had to time-out for 2 seconds after 6 shots, and then I
Beautiful bottom turn.........Image 3 of 10 shots. Johnson Ave., March 10 around 9:30 AM.
managed to pull 3 or 4 more shots on the same ride, but out of direct sun, and as she was getting closer to shore. It ended up being like 10 shots from the same wave, and if you look at the longboard on the sand, and how it re-positioned with the guy next to it, the span of her ride had to be close to 100 yards give or take. Just an awesome ride by Lacey, her style of takeoff, form and grace on that one!
Image 4 of 10 sequence. Possibly a hundred yard perfect wall. Photos by Oldwaverider
The next sequence is of Chad, on another of the bombs of the day, and trying to maintain a stance of modesty from his growing talent, he kept his re-entries in this chest to head high wave slightly conservative, so as not to frustrate others who are still learning to Surf 🙂
Lacey cruising along on one of those rare days of the year. The whole neighborhood was out. Image 5 of 10 sequence.
Sunday Surf; expect big overhead chop with 15 to 25 mph winds from the East. Probably head high plus at the Cape and 2 to 3 foot overhead down South in Satellite Beach.
I hope y’all enjoy the photos, and I apologize that I had to have the zoom out so much, but I literally could not see anything thru the viewfinder because the sun was so bright, so the best way to even get 4 or 5 pics in a sequence, is to have the zoom way out so you don’t have to move the camera too much.
Image 6 of 10 in sequence. The Sea Oats and the Sun competing for the Lens 🙂This is the same long ride by Lacey. Finally out of the direct sun, as she approaches shore. Image 7 of 10 in the ride.Bringing one of the "Waves of the Day" to a close, well almost to a close. Image 8 of 10 sequence.Image 9 of 10 on a perfect Johnson Avenue day, and ride by Lacey. Photos by OldwaveriderHer board hit a big shark.........just kidding. Image 10 of 10 sequence of LaceyChad catching a late drop in on one of the "Bombs" of the day. Image 1 of 7 sequence. Photo by OldwaveriderChad, Seeing that hollow section up ahead 🙂 Image 2 of 7 sequence. Johnson Avenue, March 10 2012K-ruisin, Image 3 of 7 sequence. Chad.Little head dip? Image 4 of 7 sequence. Johnson AvenueRail grabbin time to hold that steep high part of the wave. Image 5 of 7 sequence.and he keeps goin and goin 🙂 Image 6 of 7 shots. Photos by Oldwaveriderwhen you get a nice wave like that, who cares if it finally closes out.....Image 7 of 7
Don’t forget about Daylight Savings Time. (spring forward-fall back 😉
JOHNSON AVENUE SURF GALLERY– 2011 YEAR IN REVIEW, SORT OF (Sept thru Dec.)
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John thanking our Creator for these gifts 🙂
SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE AT 8:30 AM; THE SMALL INCOMING SWELL WAS 3.5 FT AT 11 SECONDS AT THE 120, BUT……….it stopped coming in at 11 PM last night (Saturday night), which means about 8 or 9 hours travel time to our beaches, so it was here at maybe 8 AM, and then dropped to 2.5 ft at 10 seconds at the 120 at Midnight which is not the minimum we need for a swell to hit the beach. We need about 2.6 to 3 feet at 10 or 11 seconds to get a ground swell that is ridable here (Ross at CFL surf figured that one out). Sorry folks, no waves. Maybe a ripple for SUP’s and big long boards when the tide gets lower, but the winds turn onshore by noon. But have a great Sunday anyhow with the nice weather 🙂Back to Friday nights update post below……..
CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW TO SEE LARGER HIGHER REZ IMAGES…
Slept thru the New Year…;)>
A few Johnson Avenue Surfers, 2011 year in review………………photo gallery 🙂
Big, No. ……….Possibly fun and rideable, yeah 🙂 Tonight an Easterly Swell is creeping in and kicking out the steep NE swell we’ve had.
Thursday was great, waist high plus in Satellite, perfect glass, light 5 to 7 offshore winds. It was even comfortable without any suit. Yeah, I did have a rash guard on and it was 1:00 and a nice 60 degrees, so yeah that did help.
Brother Chad...
Anyhow, Saturday morn should bring some knee to rib high waves from the Cape to Satellite.Light offshore winds SW to West most of Saturday around 3 to 6 mph. I’d say, if it ain’t big enough
Oldwaverider....T.S. Maria
here at the Cape, pick your spot in Satellite at mid-tide high going low and you should have some waist high long lines somewhere.It will be 52 at daybreak, but by 9 AM sunny and 60 ° , so if you don’t want the suit to bog ya down, it will be rash guard-able.
Dr. John...
Sunday, should be 6 to 9.5 inches bigger on the face, same air temps, offshore from the NW,
Dave the Ripper.......
but……………………….., it will turn onshore by Noon or earlier. So if you’re gonna do Church, do it at 8, and be in the water by 9:30. May have some rib high waves down South and maybe some thigh high at the Cape.
Sunny (Daniel)....
DON’T FORGET CAPE CANAVERAL FRIDAY FEST TONIGHT!The band is “Vilifi” and they are damn good. (scuse the french). The Fest goes from 6 to 10 PM, great food, great beer, awesome local Art
Bouncer Ron (Mr. High Tech actual :)..............Unknown Gator Girl.........Brother MIke from Lakeland..............Unknown female at Johnson Avenue............Unknown guy Johnson Avenue Surfer...Same unknown guy, but just a nice J-Ave line to see............A shameless 2nd shot of Oldwaverider, going left................:)Dave the Ripper, going backside, prepping to get some air before this puppy closes out 🙂 Photo by ChadSunny (dave the rippers - protege:)) making a "made easy" re-entry, from a nice glassy day in South Cocoa Beach. Photo by Chad
talent, Vendors, and ya may meet your future companion, hey whatever !
Have a great weekend!
Oldwaverider
Oldwaverider Film Ministries (one day 🙂
SUNDAY 4 :15 PM UPDATE! The 120 buoy jumped from 5 feet at 5 seconds from 1 AM this morning to 8.5 feet at 8 seconds at 2:00 PM this afternoon. Not that this is a surprise or anything, but I bet we have some overhead waves right here on Johnson by 9 AM Monday (since most of this swell is from direct East, we could have a lot of overhead waves Monday 🙂 And, with 15 plus ENE winds but at 9 AM dead high tide, it could be big and fun! Or, if you’re up for a 30 minute paddle out, head down to Satellite Beach for some 4 to 6 foot overhead chop chop to paddle out to 😉 Here endeth the Sunday afternoon update for Monday. Below is the long range thing I shared briefly from last night 🙂
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Chad snagged this set with a wall that held up all the way for 6 or 7 shots. He had a nice late drop on this one. Image 1 of 6 shot sequence. Photos by Oldwaverider
If you want to see the full size photo, scroll down below. Click on the image once to blow it up, and once again if you see your mouse with a plus sign.
We still had some waist high waves at Johnson Avenue, even some chest high sets rolled through for Chad out there. It was a little cleaner before noon, but it looked fun even from 2:00 to 2:40. Chad must have got 10 or 12 waves in the 35 minutes I was on the boardwalk, lefts and rights. I believe he frustrated the 5 newbies with foam boards in the water next to him, cause they got out of the water after his 4th or 5th ride in a row 🙂
Image 2 of 6 sequence, Chad on the best size wave I saw, NE windswell at Johnson Avenue on December 10 2011 around 2 PM.
Incoming surf…………..We have a huge low pressure at sea rolling in with a big ole windswell, bring waves for at least a week so it appears. Looks like some overhead days starting by Monday and continuing overhead through Friday. The overhead may be down South, but
There was definitely enough size to work the wall, as Chad gets a re-entry. Image 3 of 6 DSC05127
we’ll at least have some 3 to 6 foot faces hitting the Cape, with mostly onshore winds for 5 to 7 days straight.
We got waves and more waves 🙂
When it starts to show very clean light onshores and a chance of offshore winds, we’ll let ya know.
Same wave, Image 4 of 6, Chad.Chad, Image 5 of 6 shot ride sequence.Last shot of Chad on this nice walled up right. Image 6 of 6.Chad on another right. Image 1 of 5 shot sequence. Photos by OldwaveriderImage 2 of 5 on this right of Chad. Johnson Avenue on the remaining NE wind swell we had.Image 3 of 5 in sequence. Chad.Image 4 of 5 shots. Chad caught over 10 waves while I was there, and these 2 held up the longest.Image 5 of 5 shot sequence. Chad
Chad caught the wave of the day for this swell, (which was in another photo gallery) but we are all impressed with his technique and ability of using no wax on his board and yet hugging this left for a fairly long ride. Image 1 of 3 in sequence. Photos by Oldwaverider
OK, IT’S NOW SHOWING OFFSHORE WINDS FOR WEDNESDAY MORNINGUNTIL 10 AM. SW around 5 to 8 switching around fast to NNW by 10 or 11 AM. The Cape, CCB and Satellite models are showing the same thing for Wed. morn; so we’ll see what happens 12 hours from now 🙂
That also means, that Wednesday showing 5.5 ft of swell at 10 seconds, means head high for us and 2 to 3 foot overhead faces in Satellite.
Thursday is showing offshore but the swell drops to waist to chest high instead of the size I mentioned last night below.
Back to last nights update below>>>
THE BEST YEAR OF WAVES CONTINUES……………:) It’s hitting 10 feet at 11 seconds at the 120 a couple hours today. The 20 mile buoy hit 9.5 feet at 10 seconds, so this swell is peaking in size and power for Monday.
Monday the waves should be chest to head high with sum rogue sets at the Cape, and in the morning, we may have winds less than 15 mph, while it brings in the rest of the swell. Then by Monday late afternoon, the winds should drop off even more.Satellite Beach should be a couple or three feet overhead at least.
Backsiding the no wax board 🙂 Image 2 of 3 in sequence.
Tuesday, the winds could be less than 8 mph out of the East in the morning, and will be chest to head high again at the Cape, and could have some really clean shape. A couple feet overhead at least down South.
Image 3 of 3. I ran out of film, otherwise I would have had more shots on this ride.
Wednesday size drops a little maybe a foot on the face, again with even lighter winds out of the East.
Thursday, is throwing fits, about when it may be offshore. It was morning, and now, it’s showing around Noon when it goes SSW or SW, and then blows offshore till dark. The size at the Cape, should be stomach to chest high glass, and head high plus glass down South in Satellite Beach. I won’t know the 80% accurate winds until Tuesday lunch time.
Fridaywaist high at the Cape and chest down South with offshore winds in the morning. Chilly Friday morning, perhaps below 60°.
We ought to have at least 3 or 4 really fun days of waves in a row, at least Tuesday through Friday 🙂
Full size images below if you want to click on them and see full screen.
Chad, on the shoulder high wave of the day, Image 1 of 6 shot sequence, Tropical Storm Maria Day One at Johnson, photo by Oldwaverider
CHAD PHOTO GALLERY, but first our Surf update…
QUICK SATURDAY 2 PM AFTERNOON UPDATE, Sunday is still showing NNW winds in the 10 mph range in the morning until noonish, so up North is the place to be. Okay, back to Friday afternoons report below…
Hurricane Ophelia a Category 3 Hurricaneis projected to start moving Northward tonight, which is why we have more groundswell waves coming in Saturday night/Sunday morning.
(A Cat 3 cane only 1100 miles out would normally throw much stronger waves our way, Ex. Hurricane Florence in 2006 a Cat 1 threw double to almost triple overhead waves between Playalinda and Satellite Beach, which was 950 miles offshore. Hurricane Bill in 2009 a Category 2, about 900 miles away through triple overhead waves to Daytona and double overhead here in certain spots, but I believe Ophelia having lost its lateral push after falling apart, may only be giving us some breadcrumbs 🙂
Chad, image 2 of 6 shot sequence, Tropical Storm Maria Day One at Johnson, photo by Oldwaverider
Saturday night the ground swell rolls in with some pretty substantial onshore winds…but, Sunday morning at daybreak, size should be stomach to shoulder high depending on your spot. The winds at the Cape look to be offshore around 10 mph NNW (based on the models of Ophelia moving North again), so that should be a no brainer as to where the best place to surf would be based on winds. Sunday should be fun, granted NNW at 10, don’t necessarily mean mirror glass, but it does mean glass for the Cape 🙂
Chad, image 3 of 6 shot sequence, Tropical Storm Maria
The winds could hold Sunday until Noon or 1 PM, so you can still thank God and surf in the same morning; however you choose to do that is your call 😉
Chad, image 4 of 6 shot sequence, Tropical Storm Maria
Okay, Monday, still looks like decreasing size with strong onshore slop, but we won’t know for sure until Saturday morning. (we can only call winds 48 hours or less before the surf time )
Tuesday looks like another swell Correction: A Nor’easter not Philippe starts rolling in bringing those huge waves you see on the charts, ENE (Tropical Storm Philippe starts rolling in from the ESE and by Wednesday mid-day it gets big with big onshore winds. It looks like Thursday the big gets bigger with a few feet overhead in size with 15 to 25 mph ENE winds, depending on surfing South or at the Cape maybe shoulder high.
Chad, image 5 of 6 shot sequence, Tropical Storm MariaChad, image 6 of 6 shot sequence, Tropical Storm Maria
The photo gallery of Chad here is from Day one of Tropical Storm Maria here at the Cape on September 13 2011.
They don't have any pictures of the beautiful 3 choice draft beer and wine trailer, but just so you know, the Fest is Kid friendly 🙂
Oh, Don’t forget, next Friday is our Cape Canaveral Friday Fest, so you get to support our local Artists, Vendors, public schools when you buy their draft beer at the beer-booth 🙂
The next Friday Fest is scheduled for October 7th from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm.
Activities will include a variety of food vendors, an assortment of novelty & craft vendors, children’s activities including bounce houses, a giant slide & a rock climbing wall, live entertainment along with beer & wine.
Live entertainment will include “Mo Geetz” on Taylor Avenue & “Lonnie & Delinda” on Poinsetta Avenue.
The fun will take place on Taylor Avenue & Pointsetta Avenue.
Full size images below if you want to click on them and see full screen.
Dr. John pulling a hard right bottom turn, the first real day of Tropical Storm Maria, at the Cape.
The photos here are from the Cape today. It was thigh to waist high and glassy early at the Cape, but we all got out late…Or at least I did, okay, had some work to do 🙂 Down South I haven’t heard but I assume it hit chest high solid today. Dr. John for the first two pics, then Ron, followed by Chad.
(My apologies, I left the camera on full zoom from taking 250-300 yards out pictures down South from Hurricane Katia last Thursday, so the centering got screwed up on a lot of these pics, still learning my friends camera 😉
What is Maria gonna bring us for Wednesday and Thursday ? Besides Sea Lice and Jellyfish? (actually I didn’t find them to annoying but for some, the reactions to the Lice were more intense)
Wednesday will be close to chest high for the Cape and Head high plus down South.RC’s will probably have a few one foot overhead drops…yeaaaawwwwwwwww! The Cape should have 8 mph NNW winds until around 10 AM, then onshore. Satellite Beach is showing NW winds until 10 AM so actually, Satellite Beach with light NW winds, that is the place to be. It will have some overhead drops and shoulder high lines.
Dr. John on a medium size left for the day. Maria day one at the Cape.
Thursday, about the same, the period of the swell drops a bit and maybe the size 6.4 inch drop, almost chest high Cape, head high down South.The winds though are better, 4 to 8 mph WNW winds at daybreak so down South will have the size and form. The winds swing around to NNW by 11 ish so don’t wait around to get out 😉
Friday, who cares? Just kidding; Probably waist to stomach at the Cape, and chest to shoulder high down South, and probably a few hours of offshore winds until 10. Wednesday night I’ll have a fix on the actual wind direction and speed.
We may have a NE’ r wind swell coming in Friday and Saturday but don’t expect much from it.
The pics are from the neighborhood taken late around 9:30 to 10 AM, it was already blowing N, but still fun waves and the shoulders held up great so we may be in for a really sweet session Wed and Thurs if the swell gives us that kind of
Chad on the wave of the day...with no wax on board 😉Ron on a perfect medium size 'backside' right.
Full size images below if you want to click on them and see full screen.
Chad coming off a nice glassy lip in South Cocoa Beach. May 14, 2011, a nice Saturday morning session with his son Chase.
This was Saturday morning May 14, 2011 in South Cocoa Beach.
Chad with his son Chase, Sunny, Jim and Dave the Ripper caught a great surf sesh from a 3 or 4 day swell, nice and glassy, yeah there were closeouts, but definitely some great waves in the waist to stomach high range, with maybe some bigger sets.
Chase, (Chad’s son) came along to put on a show (see photos below 🙂 along with the surf sesh. Even if the waves were flat, it wouldn’t have been boring.
Also, the incoming wind swell for Memorial Day Weekend looks like it’s kicking in a tad more size and power. And it may even rollover till Thursday now, and………bring in some waves Sunday morning instead of waitin till the afternoon.
By Sunday afternoon, we should see some waist high waves at the Cape here, yeah 10 to 20 mph onshores, but like I said yesterday, we aren’t supposed to have waves by now, so get excited. Monday ought to have some fun chop, with a drop in the swell
Chad dropping in on a nice glassy right...Sun, glass and warm water...same wave as aboveA good day 🙂
by late afternoon/evening.
Then Tuesday, the size may kick in to maybe some chest high waves at the Cape with bigger sets down south, though the period (power) of the swell drops off until Wednesday some time where the size drops but the power kicks in a little
Chase thinking, not a care in the world...and spending a great day at the beach with the "Old Man :)"figure it out 🙂 ...ChaseChase agrees, it's a great Day!
more. Again, I don’t see an offshore winds window yet, but if we do, we’ll pass it on.
Johnson Avenue Surfers 