The purpose of this exercise, after all, was to celebrate the power of a beautiful empty wave to teleport you into that moment. Huge thank you to everyone who entered.
And we had 16 finalists, but one of our favorite entries was eliminated on a technicality. It was a beautiful image, but there was a small surfer riding the wave. So here are the 15 finalists in the #almondemptywave
]]>Yes, Spring is upon us and we are starting to dream of warm beach days.
That's why, last week when the offshore winds were howling, we ditched work, called a couple friends, and took a stack of R-Series Surfboards to the beach.
R-Series Ditch Work Day from Almond Surfboards on Vimeo.
Get your quiver ready for Spring & Summer with the board you should never go to the beach without.
Browse the entire USA Made R-Series range:
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]]>Andy Nieblas, Nathan Adams, Austin Cooper and Conner Cooper swapped a pile of R-Series boards and Jeffrey Allee & Jake Lutz ran the cameras. (Video forthcoming)
It's hard to say who got the wave of the day... Andy got a really clean left on the 9'2. Nate surfed the 6'4 incredibly well, driving so much speed in the pocket. Austin found his groove on the twin fin 6'4, and Conner was sitting out the back picking off set waves on the 5'4.
Want to plan your own mid-week surf day?
Take my advice: Wake up at 4:50 am and get as much work done as possible, cut out mid-morning and surf the middle of the day, then scoot back to responsibility to end the day strong.
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]]>Here are a few photos that don't totally do the party justice, but capture the vibe a bit for those who missed it.
When it was all said and done Scotty ripped through like 62 burgers on his Weber.
Photos: Jake Lutz
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]]>To be honest, when we first showed up to the beach, my initial thought was "this might have been a mistake..." we wanted to surf on Saturday because that was the day of the 15 year celebration, but there was a 6 foot high tide and the ocean looked very lake-like.
At minimum, we could hang out on the beach and drink coffee.
After a few minutes a rogue 18" wave came through.
And then another...
And then one that was pushing a full two feet.
I had seen enough, I waxed up my new 9'4 Earl model and raced to get into my wetsuit before the rest of the pack.
What followed was two solid hours of hooting and hollering in classic #twofeetandfiring fashion... and I loved every minute of it. It truly set the tone for the day and reminded me of how much I love riding a longboard in under waist high waves.
Big huge thank you to everyone who ignored the surf report and joined us. Big thank you to Jeffrey Allee and Jake Lutz for shooting photos.
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]]>Watch the interview below, or listen on your favorite podcast streaming app:
Select Your Preferred Streaming App:
Chapters
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]]>Here is my simple mental checklist that you should run through every time you paddle out.
Repeat that list every time you surf.
I imagine you will want a little more explanation as to why those 4 phrases are helpful to your surfing experience. So, here we go...
If you want to make the biggest improvement to your surfing, start catching waves earlier in their formation. Regardless of what you want to do on a wave, getting in early with make your life easier.
Late takeoffs generally lead to clumsy bottom turns which lead to poor speed-generation, and low success rates.
Stiff legs and awkward center of gravity will spell disaster while surfing. The best way to fix this is to bend your knees and get your hips closer to the wave. If you are comfortable surfing from a controlled, crouched position, you will start to feel when you need to stand tall (which is less often than you think).
If you want more advice on this subject, check out Don't Be A Stiff-Legged Surfer
If you want to have any semblance of control over your surfboard, you need to get comfortable pivoting off of your back foot. Start with simply shifting your weight back to your back foot slightly and feeling the added control you have, as you rock the board rail-to-rail.
You can't turn your surfboard from the middle of your board and you definitely can't turn from your front foot. If you want more advice on this subject read 4 Tips for Improving Your Turns.
If you want to surf with speed and power, position yourself in the part of the wave where you are able to harness the most wave energy. This part of the wave is the pocket, the part right in front of the breaking section.
But more specifically than just being close to the breaking section, you want to make a concerted effort to get yourself higher up on the wave's face. If you find yourself down in the flats, at the bottom of the wave, there will be no energy to propel you and you will be swiftly overrun.
I still see surfers guilty of this every time I go to the beach, they catch the wave, pop-up, and position themselves in the flats right in front of the wave. The wave runs by them like a freight train and they are left wondering why they can't progress.
Surfboards are wave energy harnessing vehicles, designed to efficiently transfer the energy of the ocean into forward propulsion.
If you want to race waves out in the flats, get a jet ski.
If you do these things your surfing will almost certainly improve. If you do all 4 of these steps and your surfing still isn't improving, ask someone more experienced than you to watch you and give you advice, because something is amiss.
If you are serious about becoming a well-rounded surfer, keep repeating that list in your head while you're in the water.
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]]>For the surfer, an empty wave is a blank canvas.
Photos and videos of really good surfing are great, but nothing fuels the imagination more than a beautiful photo of an empty wave or lineup.
A really good surf-scape can transport you from your office to a remote beach, instantly mind-surfing your favorite board.
In celebration of the beauty and allure of an empty wave, we present our latest Almond community competition:
From March 1 to March 15, submit your favorite photos of empty waves and lined up surf breaks by tagging us and using the hashtag #almondemptywave
Only original photographs will be accepted—meaning you have to have taken the photo yourself. Submitting another photographers work will be grounds for immediate disqualification from the contest.
We will share submissions along the way and select our favorite finalists on 3/16/24. Then, the fans will vote on the final winner.
Grand prize winner will receive a $500 gift card to Almond Surfboards.
As always, contests like this are meant to be a fun way of engaging our community near and far so take your camera to your favorite surf break or comb through your Lightroom because we want to see the surf breaks and empty waves that fuel your imagination and excitement.
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Among the notable early responses are two things:
Well, then I have good news...
Today is February 29th, a bonus day that comes around every 7 years. Meaning, you technically do have an extra day this year.
So the question is... how are you going to spend your extra bonus day?
According to the survey results, for 43% of you the answer is "to go surfing."
However you choose to use your extra day, make it count.
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]]>Depending on your surfing background, you may have strong leanings one way or the other. Or if you're more of a surfing generalist you might be thinking "can I have both?"
Well the answer is yes, you can have both.
While the expression of each surfing maneuver is incredibly different, the principals are more alike than you might think at first glance.
In order to do either, you must:
The only difference is, when you are getting barreled you are stalling on a wave that is likely head high and you are trying to stay deep before generating the speed to get safely out to the shoulder.
With a noseride, you are likely riding a wave that is less than chest high and you need to set the tail of your board as deep in the breaking section as possible. This is the only way the laws of physics will be working in your favor enough to cross-step your way to the nose—the board must be firmly locked into the pocket of the wave with your tail buried deep.
If your 2024 surf goal is to get your first barrel, we have an article for you:
If you are looking to improve your noseriding, we have two crucial articles for you:
Whatever your surfing goal is this year, let us know how we can help you get there. The first step is get in the water as often as your schedule (and the conditions) will allow.
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]]>It's hard to believe, but we first opened the doors of Almond Surf Shop a decade-and-a-half ago.
I remember the day I got the keys to our humble little 400 square foot shop on Old Newport Blvd. I had never worked retail before and had a vague idea of the brand I wanted Almond to become.
Up to that point, we had been making some screen printed t-shirts and had shaped less than 40 surfboards. I had been posting on a blogspot account and was eager to soak up as much information about surfboards as I could gather.
Now, 15 years later we have built nearly 10,000 custom surfboards, several thousand more R-Series (our answer to the typical soft top), and met and interacted with tens of thousands of folks from all over the world.
Some of the early values that we hold:
We are very thankful to get to build products we believe in for people we like. Thank you for all of the ways you have made the last 15 years possible.
On Saturday, March 9th we are going to be celebrating the 15 year anniversary with two events:
We hope to see you on the 9th!
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Does staring at a blank custom order form intimidate you?
Would the right board help unlock a whole new untapped element of your surfing experience this year?
Then this email might be just what you have been waiting for...
Introducing Built-to-Order Surfboards from Almond
Each of our models, available in several of our most popular colors and sizes, built-to-order in just a few weeks.
Simplify your decision-making process and get the Almond model that will usher in a new season of surfing for you.
Been dying to try the new Mini Walks on Water? Or the new Rover model? Let us build one for you in just a few weeks.
Browse Our Entire Range of Built to Order Surfboards
Let's get you off this device and out in the water!
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Twin fins, because the fins are positioned way out near the rails, create more lift, allowing the board to skate across flat sections quite easily.
Because of the placement of the twin fins, the rider is encouraged to get the board on rail as much as possible—whether using the inside rail to climb the face or the outside rail to initiate a turn.
This loose rail-to-rail approach is part of what makes twin fin surfing so pleasant; and enjoyable to watch.
We have a few new designs being worked on in the Almond Surfboards twin fin testing lab, so keep an eye out! In the meantime, enjoy our Sandia Fish, Sea Kitten or a more unique custom option – the Pleasant Pheasant ordered as a twin.
If smooth stability is what you are looking for, a single fin is the setup for you.
While most would describe single fins as purely “cruisey”, the reality is that a well-executed bottom turn can side-load that fin, releasing with a slingshot of speed and energy.
Because the single fin brings all of the fin area to the center of the board, the board will generally do more sweeping, arcing turns. (Think: less sudden changes of direction than other fin setups). The single fin is synonymous with elegance and grace compared to its more fast and aggressive twin fin relative.
Most of the single fins you will see in the lineup are in the mid length to long board category because in conjunction with the fin you are also using your rail line to hold the board on its’ desired trajectory.
Preference between twin fins and single fins is going to come down to two things:
While single fins have more stability, they lack the get-up-and-go speed generation of a well-tuned twin. The speed of a single fin comes more from the line that you draw on the wave than it does from pumping up and down the face.
Single fins are suited for long, typically slower and softer point breaks; think 1st Point in Malibu or SanO in San Clemente. These longer, rolling waves cater to the type of slower and elegant wave riding that single fins exude.
Twin fins also like a point break where the face can be carved up and down. But these boards also work in faster beach break. The lift from twin fins allow the surfer to get the board surfing quickly down the line.
Choosing between a twin fin or a single fin largely depends on your preferred surfing approach and the types of waves you are surfing. Single fins commonly have more stability where speed comes from glide on the line that you draw. Twin fins are known to be fast and loose, where speed generation is through pumping and lift from the fins.
If you are curious about feeling the difference between the types of surfing approaches from the single fin or twin fin, come to our Early and Often Surf Club held monthly in Newport Beach where we have an array of boards (single and twin fins) to experiment with. We are working on adding San Diego and Los Angeles Chapters as well!
Our knowledgeable staff is always eager to discuss board theory at our show room in Costa Mesa or over the phone.
In the meantime, don’t forget that with the right equipment and the right attitude, even two foot waves can be firing! We will see you in the lineup!
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]]>Most folks thinks of the beach and surfing as Summertime pursuits, but the reality is the best waves are waiting for those willing to suit up in rubber and brave the colder waters of Winter.
The surf these last few days supports my case.
I don't want to hype the swell and crowd the lineup, but the surf has been pretty epic over the last week.
We had a great showing on Friday morning for Early & Often Surf Club, and most of us surfed all weekend and into the week.
Then, Nate, Austin, and Conner scored again just yesterday morning before the rain arrived (photos forthcoming).
The beautiful part of being a year-round surfer is exactly that—surfing year-round. The variety of waves you encounter over the course of the year makes you better at reading the conditions and therefor a better and more prepared surfer overall.
Don't wait for the water to warm up, suit up and paddle out. We will be in the lineup waiting for you.
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]]>Natalie Gerding of Santa Cruz, aka SaltyNat, is on Day 66 of her "100 Days of Surfing in a Row" challenge and today is she is pausing to break down her surfboard quiver.
Much to our delight, it's a very Almond-heavy quiver.
And she has some honest thoughts on how her quiver came to take shape.
We're so impressed by Nat's commitment to her 100 Day Surfing Challenge and we're soooo stoked to hear her feedback on her Almond Surfboards.
Keep it up, Nat!
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That said, we are rapidly approaching the 6 year anniversary of when we first introduced our rugged and recyclable R-series line... and stuff happens in six years.
If your R-Series is beat up from the feet up and you are considering recycling it, we are doing an R-Series Recycling Drive for the next 2 weeks.
From today through February 15th trade in your heavily used R-Series Surfboard and we will give you a $100 credit towards any new surfboard.
R-Series Recycling Video from Almond Surfboards on Vimeo.
This helps in two ways: it keeps surfboards from ever seeing the inside of a landfill and it keeps your quiver fresh and useful.
Note: If you don't live near Costa Mesa and you have an R-Series you want to recycle, shoot us an email and we will try to help coordinate logistics for getting your board back to us. Keep in mind, however, that you will be responsible for covering the costs of shipping.
Thanks for participating in this Recycling drive. We're looking forward to many, many more years of great waves ahead.
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]]>It's an excuse to engage with the Almond tribe outside the walls of the shop—and in the place we love most... the surf lineup.
Historically, our surf gatherings have tended to align with pretty meager surf conditions... but such was not the case today. Just as the forecast promised, the waves were properly good this morning.
We had a few of our newest surfboard models available to try, including the 5'2 Mini Pleasant Pheasant, the 5'2 Rover, the 6'3 Twin Fin Pheasant, and the 7'6 Mini WoW.
Huge thank you to everyone who joined us. Here are a few photos of the morning courtesy of Jeffrey Allee (on land) and Jake Lutz (in the water).
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We have been surfing—and advising surfers of all levels on their equipment—for 15+ years, and we are very confident that this is the ideal board for novices who are looking to get reps and build foundational skills that will translate into a lifetime of surfing success.
If you are a beginner surfer starting your wave-riding journey, the 8'0 R-Series Joy is the board for you.
This versatile mid-length is big enough to allow you to catch waves, while not being SO big that it becomes unwieldy to manage.
The rugged foam construction travels through the water like a fiberglass hard board, but has the safety and ease of a soft top.
At 8 feet long and 72.2 L it fits neatly in the center of our surfboard offerings, in terms of overall size... which means starting with the Joy is an awesome segue to either going up to a longboard or going down to a shorter board.
Our deep desire is to build gear that sets you up for success, regardless of the conditions at hand. As we like to say around here, with the right attitude and the right equipment, even two foot waves can be "firing".
If you are serious about learning to surf,
Questions? Shoot us a note or swing through our shop: 1720 Santa Ana Ave in Costa Mesa, CA.
]]>My brother decides on the 8’0 Joy. We are the only ones out riding 300 yard waves, lending no other option but to walk back up the point due to strong currents. My brother and I trade boards throughout the session and ride multiple waves together because there is so much face.
I found great maneuverability on the Pheasant, carving back and forth between the pocket. The Joy with a single fin, had incredible drive, and was a pure pleasure simply taking a high line and enjoying the speed and projection it provided.
The next three days were back to back swells with more of the same. Surf and coffee, surf then beer. Repeat.
After being sun crisped and filled to the brim with dust for four days, it was about time to go home.
Although Almond prides itself on being the best board for small conditions, I was pleasantly surprised on how incredibly well the Joy and Pleasant Pheasant performed in double over head surf. There is no greater pleasure in knowing your equipment can handle many different wave forms. The Rover, Pleasant Pheasant and Joy served as my perfect Baja Three Board Quiver.
And the next time you think to yourself, “Should I paddle out or go on this adventure”? May this little Baja journey remind you, it’s always worth it!
Words: Austin Cooper
Photos: @farmanimal
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]]>And although you may not have seen many from us in the past, the Rover is actually a thruster. Yep, flip over the board and cast your eyes on the tail... you will find three Futures fin boxes.
As we like to say around here... with the right attitude and the right equipment, even two foot waves can be firing; and with the Rover you can now push the boundaries of those waves with a board designed to give you maximum control and rip-ability.
I don’t know about you, but I love riding my grovelers like my mid lengths. And my mid lengths like my grovelers. However, I tend to ride my groveler better like a mid length.
Both classifications of surfboards pack volume and are ideal for generating speed on a wave.
I love the freedom to easily slide one leg forward and all of a sudden be “Cheating 5”. They turn much easier. And if you pack foam into a board like the Rover, it can paddle, glide and generate speed almost as good as a bigger mid-length board.
I recently did a trip to some right hand points and did some serious research and development and came to a few conclusions on the Rover:
Sidenote: although not recommended ideal use... due to the conditions in the ocean when we arrived to the spot, I ended up surfing the 5'2 Rover in double overhead waves and it held very well. It maintained speed and was able to turn. It was harder to control but surprising how well the board performed in waves much bigger than intended.
If you want to try or see this new model, come to the next Early and Often Surf Club meet-up or swing by the shop and take a look! And I’m always keen for a surf chat.
-Austin
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]]>As you feel the board accelerate, you take 1...2...3 cross-steps back to the middle of the board, setting your inside rail again to re-find the pocket of the wave.
This rhythm of finding the pocket of the wave, finding the nose, and then finding the pocket again is an exhilarating sequence, repeated as often as possible by surfers who have developed the skills to do so.
Mastering the ability to comfortably get to the nose and back requires three things:
The first thing that has to cooperate in order to noseride is the wave. You want to be positioned deep in the pocket on a peeling wave that isn't going to close out in front of you—ideally around waist high.
Look at Andy here as he stalls his board in order to find the pocket of the wave:
Once he is deep enough (close to the breaking section) he can begin his ascent toward the nose. He takes small steps, one over the other, with his eyes fixed on his destination.
Read: Simple Tips to Improve Your Cross-Step
Just because a board is close to 9 feet in length, does not mean it is a "noserider". Andy prefers the full outline and boxy rails of the Walks on Water model. This board is designed for maximum stability under foot and encourages active footwork by the rider.
As a world-class surfer, Andy could probably noseride a door, but the right equipment makes all the difference; particularly when you are building confidence and honing your skills.
If you are looking to add noseriding to your surfing repertoire this year, take a close look at Andy's signature noserider, the Walks on Water.
And don't just take our word for it, this model has 21 verified customer reviews and every single one of them is 5-stars.
Equip yourself with the proper equipment to take your surfing to the next level this year.
Not sure which board you need?
]]>This is advice that I believe most people need to hear—myself included.
Let’s tackle the work part first…
Many people pride themselves on being a Jack of all Trades at work. As an entrepreneur for the last 15 years I can relate to the need to wear a lot of hats.
During any given week I am:
- calculating margins in a spreadsheet
- filling out customs paperwork for an international shipment
- collaborating with Griffin on a new surfboard model idea
- writing a short article that our customers will find useful and inspiring
- drawing-up stock boards to fill the racks of the shop
- fixing an issue with our website
- pausing to talk to a customer in a way that makes them feel truly heard
- taking out the trash
- ...and making strategic decisions about where we should best invest our time & energy as a team.
But there will always be a ceiling for the Jack of all Trades.
Do you know who I call when I hit that ceiling? A specialist.
When an issue with the website is above my ability to fix, when I need new illustrations to keep our soft goods range looking fresh, when I need more advanced reports, when it comes time to actually shaping/glassing/sanding/polishing the surfboards, when we need proper photos taken, when I want to combine all the recent articles into a neat little guide book… I call a specialist.
Specialist have dedicated themselves to their craft and are paid accordingly. Typically, the more specialized the skill the more they can charge.
If you find yourself in a position where you are a Jack of all Trades in your work and you want to progress in your career, pick something to specialize in and master it. Better yet, pick a sub-specialty. The more specific your skillset, the more valuable your expertise.
The surest way to increase your earning potential is to specialize in a single skill and do that thing as well as anybody.
Conversely…
When it comes to leisure and recreation, I believe the exact opposite is true.
Do not become a specialist.
Specializing in a single pursuit narrows your view of the world. Recreation is meant to broaden your horizons and open you up to new experiences.
In 99% of cases, I think it’s better to be a curious, competent intermediate than it is to be a genuine expert when it comes to recreational pursuits.
The temptation for the single-specialty expert is to become so obsessed with their craft that they narrow in on one way of doing things. There’s a right way and a wrong way—and if you don’t do it their way and use their equipment you’re doing it wrong.
The further you climb up the recreational pyramid the more clouded your vision becomes. Don’t fall into the trap. Remain an eager intermediate in as many disciplines as you find interesting. (Which isn't to say that you shouldn't borrow knowledge, tips, and wisdom from those further up the pyramid than you.)
Much more prepared for life is the person who is reasonably competent at surfing, sailing, wood-working, diving, fishing, game-spotting, open fire cooking, horseback riding, sand castle building, jerky making, fly-tying, and reciting poetry than the fellow who has mastered a single pursuit.
Unless you plan on becoming a guide, there is no practical benefit to being hyper-specialized in your leisure. So dip your toes into anything and everything you think is interesting. Read from the experts, study those more experienced than you, and don’t expect success to come right away.
Invest the time, commit to the process, and carry your experiences with you like an invisible merit badge. One of the great mysteries of life is that lessons from one area can color in some wisdom in a completely unrelated pursuit.
Lastly, be more interested than interesting. The most curious person at the party will always leave a more positive impression than the fellow who wants to convince everyone he meets that he is something special.
It is my opinion that you should strive to be a specialist in your work and a generalist in your leisure and good things will come in both arenas.
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]]>Whatever the wave throws at you, navigate it in the name of longevity.
Part of the challenge of surfing is mastering the ability to read what the wave is doing (or about to to) and react to it with cat-like quickness. This requires a working knowledge of the tendencies of the waves you surf most often and a familiarity with your equipment that only comes with time and repetition.
Focusing on length of ride will force you to make decisions that help you navigate obstacles instead of simply hunting for one quick turn and a kick-out.
Prioritize length of ride every time you paddle out, and I believe your surfing will improve.
Tip: In general, stay as close to the pocket as you can because that is where you channel the most wave energy and harness the most speed.
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]]>After a few moments confirming the concurrence from the boss, I snagged a spot. Little did I know how unique this opportunity would be.
The next few weeks of anticipation included watching highlights, overthinking what to bring, and how it would all play out... the next thing I know I’m halfway down the 10 freeway with a relative idea of what would entail that late afternoon in early 2024.
We pulled up to a renovated waterpark off the 111 highway amongst the palm trees and cactus of Palm Springs feeling the anticipation building throughout the day. Checked in and posted up with friends on the poolside with chest-head high sets reeling through the pool, with San Jacinto peak in the background, everyone with the same levels of excitement reverberating through the space.
Our time slot showed up quicker than expected, suited and queued up to figure out
how the peak was going to be split, it made for a seamless line up: 6 rights and 6 lefts, divvied up over an hour session, if you blow your wave, you miss out. After having surfed Waco Surf, I knew the perfect board for this wave was going to be the 5’4” Secret Menu R-Series, and I couldn’t have made a better choice. Rotating between one of the three set waves made no difference in the idea behind catching the waves early and often.
Before I knew it, the session was wrapping up and I couldn’t have been happier with my board selection. With the early entry, paddle power, and ability to work through the pocket, it reaffirmed the idea that the Secret Menu was the best board to bring out, whether to a fun beach break in the middle of summer, or an artificial wave 115 miles from the nearest ocean.
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]]>With that in mind, we are going to start treating our space more like a showroom and less like a surf shop for the season ahead.
What does that mean?
The Almond Showroom will be open to the public on Fridays & Saturdays from 9-5 and by appointment from Monday through Thursday.
Want to swing by and grab a t-shirt, coffee mug, or just hang out and look at surfboards?
Come see us on Fridays & Saturdays when we put away the sketchbooks, tech packs & laptops and open our doors to the community at large. Surf shops remain an important social center and place to exchange stories and ideas... now we just have a more dedicated time for it.
And yes, we will continue to do our monthly Friday morning surf meet-ups, our weekly New Board Friday deliveries from the glass shop, and our periodic special events at the shop.
Questions? Shoot us a note anytime.
Thank you for entrusting us with your time and surfboard quiver... we're committed to your lifelong enjoyment and are striving to build the best products we can to serve you.
]]>Equipping you for a lifetime of enjoyment in the surf goes well beyond just building you great equipment... we also want to equip you with the tips and techniques to squeeze every bit of enjoyment out of every time you get to put life on pause and paddle out for a surf.
A. Get Lucky
B. Know when and where the conditions are lining up.
How many times have you been promised waves, sacrificed precious sleep to wake up before the sun, only to get to the beach for it to be very small?
I sure have. Too many times that I’d like to admit.
If most of the surfing community is only checking one source for their wave forecasting, then everybody is going to be eyeing the same hyped swells. If you really want to outsmart the pack, you need to look beyond the live camera feed to find waves.
Surfline, to their credit, is an incredible first indicator. I use their long-range forecast to put swells on my radar 14-17 days out. Now, predicting swells that far in advance isn't a perfect science, but it will show activity in the water.
My next step is to go to windy.com. This application is an interactive weather forecasting service that shows what is happening world wide. It’s always fun looking at what’s happening in Tahiti, Chile and Europe all in a quick glance. Use the Forecast Model ECMWF at the bottom of the screen. This is a great “global model” – much more advanced and accurate than the GFS option.
For a closer more local region in my area of Orange County, I use the Forecast Model NAM on the bottom right hand on Windy. The North American Mesoscale is a great forecast system for sooner and closer windows (two to three days out). I will check Windy for wind and swell in the region I want to surf.
Lastly, I go to 17ft.com which is a buoy reading system that shows what is happening in real time. This will give accurate and up to date info on the swell in the water. It gives feet, seconds and direction of each swell. For example, an 18 second period swell is mostly produced from a storm very far away and has groomed into longer and stronger swells. 18 seconds or more is a big swell with most likely very long waits in between. And anything with west in it, 260°-285° be weary of island blockage from the Channel Islands for all you OC and LA folk. But I can devote a whole article covering feet, seconds and direction of a swell in the future.
In the meantime, I will cross reference all this info with Surfline and see what they are saying. I typically check the surf forecast every 3 days or so in the morning on my computer with a cup of coffee. It shouldn’t take longer than 15-20 minutes to understand what the ocean is doing.
After that, it’s all up to the surfer to decide where he or she will go! Don’t get caught up going to the marque spots. Remember, you did your homework! It’s time to reap its benefits of uncrowded, good surf with just your friends!
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