sup yall, had to check back in here after the pacific mega-swell. did people get sick after surfing in all that runoff? seems gnarly, although maybe with all the repeated rain you've had this season there were already a few good flushes beforehand. hopefully there were a few fickle tucked away points working where you could beat the psycho crowds
just wrapped up a few really fun swells here in the northeast, nothing too crazy but we have had warmer-than-average air temps (like 40-50F air, 45F water) with decent waist-to-shoulder size waves showing up once a week or so since before christmas, so i'm psyched.
on the topic of wavestorms, i fuckin hate em, i've tried some soft tops over the years and they just feel so heavy and soggy and annoying to move around. i honestly think they're harder to surf, and their only real selling points are that they are a little bit safer for a total beginner (or a crowded summertime beach). maybe some of the newer fancier brands are better, idk, but if you keep your eye on secondhand type websites you can get a real board for a reasonable price.
and on the topic of swimming, i think if you arent comfortable swimming out to a given surf spot, you probably shouldnt take a board out there either. Not trying to gatekeep, just thinking "safety first" after years working as a lifeguard when i was younger. too many people think a surfboard is a crutch (which it can be, under the right circumstances), but it's also potential liability (it could hit you in the head, or give you a false sense of security, for example)