Readers Respond




DogMan's Links

New! Check DogMan's OnLine Shop!

Email DogMan

DogMan's Podcast.

Check DogMan's New Book.

Visit DogMan's Website

Six Years Ago on DogMan's Chronicles

The Green Room

Readers Respond

Click to go to Specific Section

Preliminary Thoughts
Leo Responds
Mirko Responds
VR Responds
RB Responds
RB's Hint For Staying Warm While Surfing Cold

Why Epublish Surf Pix?

Time for a column about email to DMC; this week the subject is surf pix. Why post pictures of surfing anyway?

Here's the main reasons to put pix in the surf columns:
  1. Of all the features in the DogMan Chronicles, the surf pix stimulate the most email response, by far. In some wayz this proves the pix are the most popular part of DMC.
  2. Pix are intended to share the stoke of surfing. Most of us like to read about and look at pictures of surfing. This helps bridge the times between sessions in the water.
  3. The pix are NOT intended to spread publicity about secret spots. It's not necessary to show easily identified landmarks; it's enough to show surfers shredding fun waves. This is typical of major surf mags, and the mpegs on PWR.
  4. The pix are NOT intended to be a contest or game of "guess the break."

Guess the Break

I like to look at surf pix, and I have to admit that I try to decode or guess the breaks where they were taken. I use cryptic captions, wave shapes, surfers and their equipment, as well as my experience and knowledge to identify the places I see in photos.

As you might guess, this is the nature of most of the email to the DogMan concerning the pix; "Hey! Where is that break anyway?" Number two most popular email is "Hey! Quit exposing that break for the kooks!"

So here's a sample of recent email responses to the column, and my replies. Feel free to keep playing the game of "guess the break." The only prize is one you'll like; expanded knowledge and awareness of waves and surf spots.

Back to the top of the feature

Leo Emails to Play the Game, Where's Decoys?

"So I think the unwritten rules of the game are that I get to guess the spot and you can either blow me off or say I'm wrong. Based on the pix (taken at high tide, which makes it tougher to guess) and description (works on a high tide, 2xo on thurs) I'm guessing decoy's is _____. I'd love to hear back yea or nay, but won't be upset with no reply."

Judges Decision on Leo's Guess

Leo's guess is incorrect, but he does display a fair amount of local knowledge. Here's the Decoys "clue" that I sent Leo. This spot is called Decoys because it can be totally filled with surfers bobbing in the water waiting for waves *when* *it's* *totally* *flat*! Reminds me of the hunting decoys used to attract ducks.

Leo Responds To the Next Clue

"Thanks for the extra clue. I think I'll need a bit more time to figure this one out. ______ was a bad guess, the inside section there is hollower than in the pix, and even with the high tide you would see whitewater from the finger reef, but I was stumped for a better guess.

"I've surfed most of the name spots between _____ and _____, though I rarely surf town anymore since my tolerance for crowds has really dropped after getting used to beach breaks and some of the lesser surfed reefs. That said, I'll probably surf _____ tomorrow since I have to pick up a board I had repaired at Arrow.

"I'll write you back when I have a better guess :-)."

And here's Leo's better guess:

"I saw the pix, so now I'm guessing decoy's is _____. I never surf this spot in the winter so it's still a guess, but the sand texture looks right, the distance to the reef seems about right, it has the big bluff behind for the shadow pic, and it's a popular summer spot so gets crowded when it's absolutely flat.

"While I'm at it, I'm guessing tres amigos is _____, and highlander's is _____.

Leo's Final Tally

Well, Leo guesses about the "real" names of three different breaks with this last email. He's doin' good, got two out of three correct. Which two you ask? Ha! that ain't in the unwritten rules! :>}

Back to the top of the feature

Mirko, You Da Man!

Mirko also wrote to DM wrote about Decoys:

"decoys is ______ for sure!!!

I LOVE THAT PLACE..."

Judges Tally Mirko's Guess

Mirko's guess is incorrect. But you gotta admire his passion for the break he thinks is represented in the Decoys pix.

Mirko Overrules the Judges

When told that he guessed wrong, here's what Mirko had to say:

"Nice try DOGMAN..
I aint falling for that..
Hee hee..

See you out at _____...AKA...DECOYS."

I like a man of conviction, and Mirko qualifies. Unfortunately he's wrong. The great thing about this game is that there is no penalty for wrong answers!

Back to the top of the feature

VR Sees Himself in the Pix

Got an enote from VB, whose friends insist he's in the pix from last week's column. Here's his response:

"Dogman: I think I had a chance to chat with you around 7:15 before heading out on Saturday morning - you had just gotten out and were shooting pictures on the bluff - I was the tall guy with the Pearson Arrow longboard. Thanks for posting the pictures because my buddies insist one of them is of me - the "behind the section" shot - they could be right because I was spending alot of time near the boil on the middle peak. As you know, surfers love seeing shots of themselves because the experience is so fleeting and nice to have on film so I appreciate having one from such a memorable day - I ended up having some amazing, long screaming rides. Also wanted to thank you for keeping the location's whereabouts under wraps - It's a special place that seems to be getting a little more interest every year. Hope to see you out there although you seem to always be getting out before the rest of us show up."

DM Responds to the VMan

V, Yeah I remember you, 'cause talked with me on the cliff after I got my ass kicked out there. It was an incredible day with awesome waves.

Back to the top of the feature

RB Steps in to Guess the Break

Then there's RB, who is concerned about the one spot in the pix he recognizes, but admits he doesn't know where the other pictured breaks are located:

"I have always enjoyed your web site and up to date reports on conditions. However, I was wondering if you might tone down the _____ coverage. At the very least, please be careful not to show landmarks. I've surfed there for years, and it appears to have been discovered by more people in the past year. Heck, do more on _____ and ______ - I still don't know where they are! I promise to give up some waves to you (we are often out there together in the AM.)"

Politeness Counts!

Well RB was such a cool guy, I canned one pic from the thumbnails that showed just a hint of rock along one edge. Once the page o' pix is ready to epublish, editors review and strike any photo deemed inappropriate. In this case the editorial decision said the pic was ok, but I removed it due to respect for RB. Also I want to get some waves from him ;>}

Back to the top of the feature

RB's Suggestion for Stayin' Warm While Surfin' Cold

One last item: RB also had a great suggestion on the "Surf Cold, Stay Warm"column:

"Also, your piece on staying warm in cold water was great but you forgot the key advice - pee your suit often!"

This brings to mind a story I heard from a diver a while back:
"There are two kinds of people in this world: There's the kind of people that pee in their wetsuits, and there's the kind of people who lie!"

That's The End of This Feature

So that's about it. Keep those ecards and eletters comin'. I'll keep writing the best surf column I can. Got stories, suggestions, pix? Just send them to DogMan via email. Got gripes, threats, foul language? Just send them to:

president@whitehouse.gov

Naw....... Just kidding ;>} Send them to DM too. Helps to be polite tho.

CU Out There,

DogMan


Email DogMan