Hey bro! Always nice to hear from you. I've since moved into a home...a floating home actually..on the Fraser! I will be on the water tomorrow..if it's good. I'll also bring the passport and SUp..just in case. See you out there!
gabrielb wrote:Hi,
I was surfing wreck beach 2 days ago. Going down those stairs at 7am, nobody around, in the dark, made me realize I may need to use the buddy system. So anybody wanting to learn to surf this is the time.
Wreck beach has a spit 150 meters north (can't post inline picture, goggle map it). When Johnston strait ( http://www.ikitesurf.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=133 , "sisters" ) is more than 25 miles/hour NW wind, the UBC spit has a left break, Acadia may have no wind but surf still breaks at the spit. It's a rocky bottom, sandy at wreck beach. You need a full wetsuit over 5/4mm, 5mm booties, 7mm gloves (a must) ... that will allow you to surf for 4 hours with no cold. Pick a surfboard from craiglist for $175 (it seems there are many surfers around, but none in the water) if you are 6 feet tall get a 7' board with some volume, over 1 foot over your height at least (wind waves are forgiving, excellent for beginners), avoid longboards (picking waves next to the shore needs a quick exit), avoid shortboards under 6.5' (soft waves will pass you, unless you are a swimming champion). Vancouver surf usually lasts 3 hours, 1 out 3 times is crappy, and depends on the tide as well. Sessions are usually every 3 weeks. If you want to start surfing it will take 5 sessions to properly float on your board and paddle + wave selection. On your 6th-9th session you'll kneel surf on your board, 10th session you'll stand up, as long you are in some ok shape. Ambleside has surf as well, when conditions at wreck beach's blown out. So, if there are any windsurfers wanting to pick up surfing, I'll post next session (Ambleside / wreck beach) I'll help with your learning. It may look stupid at the beginning, good for your brain/well-being thereafter.
gabriel
Richi wrote:Thanks for the insight Gabriel. Please keep us informed as to when Wreck beach could happen, whats the optimal tide for wreck?
gabrielb wrote:tide range (coming in ) | Halibut Bank Wave Height min | Place to surf
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4-8 feet 0.7 + Sandy Beach Ambleside
8-11 feet 0.6 + Capilano River Ambleside
10-13 feet 0.7 + Pebble Beach Ambleside
or Dunderave Pier or 29th
or Wreck Beach (see Note)
14-16 feet 0.6 + UBC spit
Note: if there is no NW wind at Jericho beach (12knots+) then you need 0.8+ wave height for Pebble Ambleside to deliver. If Pebble Ambleside is blown out then go to Dunderave Pier or 29th (it's sheltered from wind). If wind in strait is North-North-West then go to Wreck Beach, skip all others.
Most fun to surf: Sandy Beach Ambleside, 1.2+ wave height, tide 4-8 feet coming in, no wind at Jericho (i.e glassy conditions, shoulder height, long ramp for speed).
I'll post next session soon.