Surfing the Terminator
DogMan's LinksSurfing the Terminator
Surfer poised to launch from shore, swirling white water biting his knees. Weekly Feature: Surfing the Terminator
Most PWR and DMC readers know of DogMan's penchant for dawn patrol and night surfing. It's late autumn in DogLand, an excellent opportunity to surf the terminator. Twilight hours are extensive, morning and evening. Summer fog is a memory; clear starry skies, fantastic sunrises and sunsets blossom. Weather is clear and brisk; non-stop swells serve wave orgies for Northern California surfers.
Steamer sunrise, empty peak curls into history unchallenged. What is It?
The terminator is that ever-moving line running North/South around the Earth dividing daylight from darkness. Near this line available sunlight is horizontal, tinged red, yellow, peach and apricot. The ocean is a special place near the terminator, and surfing is a special joy.
Steamer sunrise, surfers paddle to Middle Peak A frame. The Photo Quest: Steamer Sunrise Start
This column is a photo pheature illustrating terminator surfing in Santa Cruz. It started one Saturday, a search for pictures mixing surf and sunrise. Found it at Steamer Lane. The hefty double O swell and fat high tide added to the photo op.
Solitary Lane surfer sits on the shoulder contemplating a breaking wedge as tall as his house. 
The Lane: lonely surfer struggles to get over the lip into an overhead wedge. 
Sun descends on a desolate break. Who will catch the last shadowed wave into darkness? Late Afternoon, Far Far Away
The end of the day found me scouting pictures featuring surf and sunset. Fast ebbing tide and large waves tickled my lens. At the far reaches of DogLand an unnamed reef sporting gnarly boils, crunchy triple O waves, and a few hearty wave riders feasting at the terminator.
Goofy foot surfer cuts back into double O wave, a wall that goes forever. 
Front side right headed for closeout. Where's the back door? 
Waves stacked four deep buried in late afternoon mist. Surfer stubbornly slotted in triple O wave. Wave hollows over shallow reef. 
"Only" double O, check the lengthy section in front of this lucky wave rider. Notice the boil right in front of him. 
Sweeping bottom turn puts surfer in good shape for return to lip. Speed abounds. Sunset in Town
While driving home the sunset went ballistic. Pulled into yet another surf break in town to snap the wave riders from long distance while the sun sparked cosmic fireworks in the heavens above. Who says the Creator has no sense of style?
Foreground pelicans, background surf break, crane on the cliff, sun blazing the sky to a glorious inferno. The Proof is Here
Here are the results; enjoy the colors, the emotions, the waves, and the images of surfing the terminator.
Distant surfer rides right one more time while the sky rages, end of the day, suring the terminator.
CU Out There,
DogMan
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