Secrets to Finding the Best Waves

"Look at the ocean, tell me what you see...So many of us look, but we don't see. The ocean is alive. The energy is there. Once you see it, it will tell you when and where..." -Sean Collins

Surfline's chief forecaster and president Sean Collins provides readers with all the tools necessary to find the best surf on every possible swell, in his book Surfline's California Surf Guide: Secrets to finding the best waves. His chapter about Long Beach reads:

"The surf: Long Beach? Yup. Before the federal breakwater was constructed during World War II, Long Beach offered up some of the biggest waves you could find in California on a south swell. Offshore Bathymetry in the San Pedro Channel does an incredible job of focusing long period south swells toward Long Beach, and actually right through one of the entrances in the breakwater. The US Navy and container ship companies at Pier J were puzzled for years by the random harbor seiching that would occur, often bouncing these huge ships against the pilings for no apparent reason, which would bring all work to a screeching halt. In the late '80s Sean Collins researched the issue as requested by the US Navy and found that problems were caused by long period Southern Hemisphere swells. Since then the Port of Long Beach has built inner breakwaters to deal with the problem. There are still some fun waves in Long Beach down around the south end near 72nd Place up through Claremont Avenue, but only on huge west-southwest swells, and on south-southeast hurricane swells. When everything is too big and out of control, it might still be worth a look."

Sean Collins has been a change agent for many. He has given surfers a different point of view on reading the ocean. After gaining his insight, many might even feel more strongly about removing the breakwater. This might be making them realize more about the ocean and are able to understand where the problems are coming from. As Sean Collins points out, "Surfers read the ocean. They watch the energy- the waves, the direction the come from, the time in between sets, where certain waves are breaking and where they aren't, the currents, anticipating change with the tides and more. Surfers prepare for when they paddle out and surf. So they will know. But most surfers dont look deep enough, further below the ocean surface." I feel that he has empowered people to look deeper and begin to understand the depth of the ocean and has definitely changed the way surfers use Surfline as a tool for surf forecasting.

For more information on Sean Collins, his new book, or about joining or using Surfline visit:
Surfline

Surf Savior

"It's a basic mindset we need to have in our society - don't leave litter on the beach, pick up after your pet, storm drains go right to the beach. Everything you do impacts the coast." -Michelle Kremer

Michelle Kremer, Laguna Beach Resident and Chief Operating Officer of Surfrider Foundation, was listed as one of the 2007 Hottest 25 People in Orange County accrording to OC Metro Business. Chris Trela's article talks about her fourteen year dedication to the Surfrider Foundation to protect the world's oceans, coasts and beaches. I think that it is important to remember that it is the world's ocean, and that there is no definite division between the Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic, and Indian Ocean, as well as the possibility of the Antarctic or Southern Ocean. All of the oceans of the earth are connected to create a world ocean, so we need to protect the beaches that lie before us each day along with others that may seem far away.

Kremer describes her involvement in Surfrider as "a way of life." I think it is important to realize her sleepless night and continued efforts to protect our coastline. The article mentioned that so far they have accomplished 57 victories out of the 150 formed in their strategic plan to be met by 2010. Her work is finally paying off with reports showing a decrease in local beach closure due to pollution. I think it is important to respect people such as Michelle Kremer, and help her to accomplish her victories because after all, it is our ocean too. Along with what she mentioned about reducing, reusing, and recycling, I would also like to emphasize on the fact that it is a good way to live. Hopefully we can all help to continue fundraising and awareness about the Long Beach Breakwater and possibly become one of the 150 victories that Surfrider will accomplish.

References:
OC Metro Business

Long Beach's surf forecast: Flat

Monday, November 5, 2007 A2 The Press-Telegram


SURF TALK AT THE AQUARIUM: A man can dream, can't he? Isn't that why we get up each morning, put on our pants both legs at one time, throw a bunch of food in the blender for our daughter's breakfast, drive her to school so we don't have to be the one to tell her where babies come from, and rocket off for the coast to see if they tore the breakwater down last night?

We have been on a losing streak. We've hectored three mayors, four or five city managers, innumerable council people and out-of-whack, out-of-work demolition experts from collapsed Soviet republics and still the big, stupid, surf-strangling complex of stone barriers stand out there like one of the seven blunders of the world, keeping waves out (as was its mandate) and keeping trash, garbage and roving bands of mutant bacterial colonies in (as was the unintentional, but nevertheless a fun little breakwater by-product).

Because Long Beach used to have world-class surf and now has something totally else, this must seem like a special hell for Sean Collins, the founder of Surfline and 976-SURF and one of the most famous surfers in the world.

Collins was going to be the guest speaker at the Aquarium of the Pacific Tuesday night, but, because his forecasting skills were urgently needed to study a brewing storm in Tahiti, he will be spared the specter of our surf-shackled stretch of California coastline.

Subbing for him in the Aquarium's Honda Theater at 7 p.m. Tuesday will be a pair of Surfline wave experts: Kevin Wallis, who is charged with developing and supervising the daily forecasts for California, Hawaii, Baja and mainland Mexico, Central America and the Gulf of Mexico; and Graeme Rae, who holds a doctorate in ocean engineering and who now serves as the product manager for Surfline.com.

The duo will be detailing that Tahitian storm and talk about its potential effect on waves in California (where permitted). Not sure if they are going to demand the explosion of our breakwater. We shall see, shan't we?

The worst-case scenario is you'll learn a lot about surf and such businesses of surf as surf-forecasting, although the easiest job in the world still remains that of Surf Forecaster for Long Beach.

The cost to hear the Rae and Wallis show is $7; $4 for aquarium members. Call (562) 590-3100.


(photo courtesy of Long Beach Press Telegram)

This article was published on Monday, November 11, 2007 in A2 of the Long Beach Press-Telegram. I feel like Tim Grobarty delivered his message about the surf talk at the aquarium in a relevant, yet amusing manner. I wanted to bring this article to your attention for a few reasons. One obvious reason was to inform everyone about this event happening tomorrow at the Long Beach Aquarium. This will be a very informative meeting that will give many people a new perspective in surf-forecasting. Some people may have previous knowledge which they use to study or determine the waves, some may still be learning and use their tide book as a guide, and others may just enjoy turning up every morning with a cup of coffee in one hand while watching the early morning waves roll in through the fog. Whichever category you might fall into, any information from a perspective of an ocean engineer will be insightful. The words Grobarty chose to describe his perspective on the breakwater were brilliant. I found his intro quite amusing when he ended his dream of rushing off to the coast to see if the breakwater had been torn down the night before. I am sure that many of us have dreamed of the day when the Long Beach breakwater will be gone and there will be waves and a clean beach. He also reminded us of the flat surf in Long Beach by making a joke as to forecasting the surf in Long Beach as the easiest job. This article is yet another reminder of what Long Beach is missing and that the breakwater is causing Long Beach to have no waves. Although this seems to be an ongoing dream, we can all make a difference and turn this dream into a reality. Help to bring waves and a cleaner beach back by supporting the Sink the Breakwater Campaign.

References:
The Press-Telegram

In my recent post, Selling the "Good Points", I had no intention to blame Laurie Manny for how she is trying to get people to buy the Alamitos Bay Condos on Ocean Blvd. One of the reasons I bothered to mention Bob Maguglin's statement was that it is fair to sell what good points you have. If Long Beach was such a bad place to live in, I would not be trying to sink the breakwater, or rather reconfigure part of it. There are many good points to living in Long Beach, I just feel that there is also a lot we can to do help improve it. One way to do this is to improve the water quality of Long Beach by removing part of the breakwater.

Anyways, the reason I am writing this is because I was looking for information to make a post about, and I happened to see another post from the Long Beach Real Estate in my google search. Little had I known, I was linked to a post in response to my Selling the "Good Points" post. Laurie Manny had read my post, and I seemed to have offended her, yet these were not my intentions at all. She is doing a great job as a realtor, and I constantly see her posts and interactions amongst the community. I would like to apologize for this. I was also mistaken for being a part of the Surfrider Foundation, which she criticized for making this, and I would like to make it apparent that this blog has no direct connection with the Surfrider Foundation. I use a lot of information from the Surfrider Foundation in order to inform people about their campaign, but I am blogging to change something as a requirement for a college class I am enrolled in. Again, I apologize for this misunderstanding and would like to remind everyone that although Long Beach Real Estate may have some low prices at the moment, there are prestigous condos worth buying at this time. Once we can figure out how to raise money and sort out the best possible way to reconfigure the breakwater, many of you might be able to enjoy the beach outside of your home.

Surfrider Foundation:Sink The Breakwater Campaign

Surfrider Foundation's Long Beach Chapter believes that, by reconfiguring the 2.5 mile long southern end of the Long Beach Breakwater, we can improve water circulation and water quality and hopefully bring back some gentle rolling breakers to Long Beach... once hailed "Queen of the Beaches" in California.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_T4A8zY4z0

Selling the "Good Points"

“We sell Long Beach as a place with a protected, secure beach,” says Bob Maguglin, director of public relations for the Long Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “You know, you sell the good points of what you’ve got—and in Long Beach people don’t have to worry about riptides or rough surf. But if the breakwater were ever to come down and the waves were to return, we’d sell it as a surfers’ beach.”

-the District Weekly


Prices are at their lowest in years for property in Long Beach with ocean views (Long Beach Real Estate). According to Laurie Manny, a Long Beach realtor, the Alamitos Bay High Rise Condos along Ocean Blvd are desirable condos at a low price. She feels that this is a good opportunity for people to buy these prestigous properties with incredible ocean views and upscale desirable buildings. This Long Beach community is protected by the Long Beach Breakwater where residents can enjoy calm waters and enjoy beautiful sunsets. Manny tells us that this is a 'to die for' ocean view for this upscale beach lifestyle. If these elegant buildings overlooking the Long Beach Harbor are so upscale and desirable, why is it that there are 62 luxury condos for sale as of September 29, 2007?

Granted, any beach home is desirable, but I believe that Maguglin's statement applies here. Long Beach needs to use their good points to sell their property. One way of selling this property is to use the Long Beach breakwater as a positive influence on the community, something which is protecting them and providing a calm ocean view, which is fair enough. People have known for ages that Long Beach does not have waves, and many people may have bought this property specifically for that reason. With beautiful property such as this, it is a great time to buy as Laurie Manny tells us. The next step is to begin questioning the affects the Long Beach Breakwater has on the beach community. If a small portion is reconfigured, the outflow of water will help to possibly restore waves, or at least better water quality. Long Beach is a beautiful place to live; however, calm waters and beautiful sunsets may not be enough. It is nice to have a beach with a bike path, but it is hard to want to walk across pollution and debris to get to it. Some people might enjoy watching gentle waves hit the sand. I feel that watching bigger waves is an attraction for all whether you surf or not. I would argue that most people who want ocean views not only want an ocean breeze and the ability to view beautiful sunsets, but also a clean beach, good water quality, and waves.


(photos are courtesy of Long Beach Real Estate)
The District Weekly http://thedistrictweekly.com/dwweb/?p=351
Long Beach Real Estate

Respect the Beach

There are many opportunities to get involved and support the Sink the Breakwater Campaign along with other environmental issues. One good way to support is by joining the Surfrider Foundation in order to help confront water pollution, beach access, beach loss, and other serious concerns facing your beach. By visiting their website, Support Us, you can join or renew your membership, make a donation, or give a gift. All contributions will make a "lasting contribution toward a better world and ensure that our oceans waves and beaches are protected for generations to come" (Surfrider). Everyone can make a difference no matter what the contribution.



Everyone can make a difference daily as well. The following is a list from the Surfrider Foundation of twenty different ways to help the environment.

1. GET YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER
Sweep your driveways and sidewalks. Put your trash in the can instead of the gutter. Use your lawn dippings to fertilize your lawn.
2. PULL YOUR OWN WEEDS
The less herbicides and pesticides you spray, the less you will swim in on the weekend.
3. PLANT DON'T PAVE
Let the runoff water soak into the ground. Landscaping looks better and creates oxygen.
4. SCOOP THE POOP
Unless you like to swim in animal poop, make sure you and your neighbors pick up the droppings.
5. REPORT FULL CATCH BASINS
The Department of Public Works should clean a full storm sewer.
6. FIX YOUR CAR LEAKS
More oil enters the beach from urban runoff than from tanker spills. If your car drips, the oil will find its way to the ocean.
7. DON'T BE A DRIP
Low-flow shower heads, drip irrigation and low-flow toilets conserve water. Repair any leaks.
8. MINIMZE WATER LOSS
Water lawns in the mornings or evenings. Water deeply and less often for happier plants.
9. USE NON-TOXICS
Vinegar or bakind soda clean very well. Buy eco-sensitive products now available on the market.
10. OIL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL
Recycle your motor oil at a garage. Don't dump it into a storm drain.
11. RECYCLE ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH
Recycle reusable materials. Call 1-800-RECYCLE for drop off location.
12. BE AWARE OF STORM DRAINS
The trash and toxins that are dumped on the street run straight to the beaches. If we reduce the amount of slime that goes into our storm drains, our coastal waters will be protected.
13. QUIT USING STYROFOAM
The coffee generation brings its own mugs. Let the shop owners who use styrofoam know you disapprove.
14. PEOPLE CAUSE POLLUTION, PEOPLE CAN STOP IT
Next time you see some trash, pick it up.
15. JOIN A LOCAL ACTION GROUP, GET INVOLVED
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. Check the facts and vote. One more voice does make a difference.
16. COVER YOUR TRAILS
Take household hazardous materials and containers to a local collection program for disposal.
17. CONSIDER, CONTROL, CONSERVE
Recycle reusable materials. Throw litter into trash cans and keep cans tightly covered to prevent foraging by animals.
18. DON'T WATER THE DRIVEWAY
It won't grow. All that water washes to the beach.
19. TALK AROUND TOWN
Because most people don't realize they are contributing to non-point source pollution, spread the word and get your neighbors an co-workers involved.
20. HOLD ONTO YOUR BUTTS
The beach is not your ashtray.

Another way to help the environment is to write, call, fax, or e-mail your Congressional representative, Senator and the President regularly to let them know your concern for pollution and support for stronger environmental laws.

If you have been sick lately and think it is related to your ocean water contact, please visit Surfrider Foundation Ocean Illness Form.

There are so many ways to get involved and help protect the ocean and our environment. Pollution in Long Beach is worse because the Long Beach Breakwater has stagnant water where trash tends to remain, but we cannot use that as an excuse. We need to start helping the problem by taking action everyday in order to help improve our beaches. Please help to keep our ocean clean. Respect the beach.





Surfrider