Dress Rehearsal (Linda Mar)

I've entered my first surf contest. It's a low-key event put on by the local Surfrider chapter which so far has attracted only two other female surfers of a desired field of six. Frankly I'm not sure I'll like competing - I've always thought of myself as more of a soul surfer - but it's a good way to get my feet wet and see. And though I have no illusions about my middling skills, and I'm still somewhat hampered by the wrist brace, them's pretty good odds. I'd hoped to rope some of my surfer girl friends into joining me, but alas, I'm going solo. Today was a dress rehearsal of sorts, since similar poor+ conditions are expected Sunday afternoon at Linda Mar, with perhaps a more favorable wind.

This post suggests trying to get used to catching a few good waves in a 20-minute period, so I wore a watch today at Linda Mar. In my first 20 minutes, I rode a nice right reform just after I paddled out, then spent the next 15 minutes struggling back to the lineup through an onslaught of sloppy short-period windswell whitewater. I did better in the next 20-minute segment, bagging 3 respectable rides out of 4 waves caught, without getting stuck long on the inside. 

So it could go badly or well on contest day. I'll take my buddy Manabu's advice: "Do you own best, and see where you come out." 

Surfline: Sets hitting the 3-4' zone. Mostly sectiony lines with soft crumbly shoulders. Light+ surface texture/bump. Mainly NW windswell on tap across the region today, with minor South swell sent up from hurricane Emilia. The better NW windswell exposed areas offer surf in the 2-4' zone, while some of the standouts produce occasional head high waves. Meanwhile, good south exposed breaks are picking up occasional 2-3' sets off the tropical swell. Onshore flow prevails this early morning for tattered conditions at most locations. Buoy 46012: (Wave) SWELL: 5.3 ft at 8.3 s NW 53 / WIND WAVE: 3.9 ft at 6.7 s NW / WVHT: 6.6 ft / APD: 6.1 s / MWD: 322° (Met) WSPD: 16 kn / GST: 21 kn / WVHT: 6.6 ft / DPD: 8.0 s / WDIR: 300° / ATMP: 55° F / WTMP: 56° F. Tide: Over 3' falling slightly.