King of the Peak

Chundering chop chunks, wind, wind, wind and high tide shore poundage were the order of the day down at the Quiksilver, King of the Peak Surf Competition at Sebastian Inlet.

Yet still they managed to eek out a spray-throwing cutback, and aerial manuevre or seven, a tail slide, a...


Sean even paddled out into the increasingly big chocks of chunk. Below left.



A core group of surfers knotted themselves just outside the northern limits of the contest and at times I could swear they were trying to show up the competitors who each paid their $100 fee to have a go at the Quiksilver King of the Peak title. The more I think about it, I know they were trying to show them up and often did with the variable condition of the sea state at any one time.
Granted some, in this group, were in fact competitors keeping limber between their heats.


Out Sean paddles right into the mix and does a decent job getting four lefts and two rights. There's everything gratifying about watching your son go where, practically speaking you can no longer really go.


I dove in with a Boogie Board and a pair of fins since the longboard would not have been a good companion in all the foam, wind and slosh. The whole thing had me pining for the days when I rode a shortboard with a very pointy tip.


All in all, though, a successful week-end of surfing with Sean. I even lost a bit of weight.


Dad's weight now: 244 lbs, after lunch.